Parents dealing with picky eaters, read and follow these tips
Picky eating in children is a common concern for parents, and some kids need parental support to eat adequately. There are many reasons why children might be picky eaters, and some use food as a way to control their parents.
Given the influence of parental behavior on children’s eating habits, it’s crucial to pay attention to specific nutritional tips to combat picky eating. Here are some guidelines for parents when feeding fussy and under-eating kids.SelMagzbrings you.
The best solutions for overcoming picky eating
Don’t be sensitive, and avoid showing too much attention
If your child suddenly dislikes a food they usually eat, don’t pay too much attention and let them eat what they like. After mealtime, if they didn’t eat that food, pick up their plate without comment.
However, if they explicitly tell you they don’t like beans in their food, don’t be sensitive and add beans again.BeansThis way, they will understand that their disinterest won’t attract attention, and they will eat their food.
Don’t be strict
If your child dislikes a specific food, don’t get upset and prepare another meal for them, but be careful that they don’t take advantage of this. If they see that this becomes the center of your attention, they will continue to do it to gain control.
Praise them
If your child eats well, praise them, and if you ask them to eat three spoonfuls for you, they must do it and shouldn’t refuse.
Take children’s food preferences seriously
If your child’s refusal to eat is not about the taste but the preparation, cook the food in a way that interests them. For instance, most childrenprefer fried potatoesover boiled ones and prefer raw carrots tocooked carrots.So, cook according to their preferences.
Don’t cook multiple types of food
Always prepare one type of food for your family to show your child that they should eat what the family eats. Never offer them several options to choose from because that makes them confuse home with a restaurant, expecting multiple meals every day, which sends the wrong message about eating.
Be decisive
If your child refuses to eat, don’t offer themchocolateor biscuits as substitutes, as they should know that if they don’t eat the main meal, they can’t have something else. If they skip one meal, don’t worry; they won’t starve or suffer from malnutrition from just one missed meal. So, don’t pressure them and allow them to leave the table when they finish.
Keep a healthy eating pattern
Snacking can prevent children from eating proper meals or nutritious snacks, so don’t buy or keep snacks at home. Families are the best role models and guides for children, and kids will eat what the family eats, so maintain a healthy diet andeat nutritious foods.Make meals visually appealing
If your child is a picky eater, you should make meals that are visually appealing to them. Prepare colorful dishes to encourage them to eat more. The shape of the food is also essential, and it can motivate children to eat. Most children prefer to hold their food and eat it, so finger foods that are colorful and attractive are preferred.
Encourage eating among peers
Children eat better in the company of friends, so if your child is a picky eater, create opportunities for them to eat with children who have good appetites, as children tend to imitate one another.
Film your child eating and other kids to encourage their appetite.
If your child is playing with friends, bring their food to the play area so they can eat with their friends.
Don’t turn picky eating into a game for children
As mentioned in another article in SelMagz, if you talk about your child’s picky eating with others, they will enjoy being the center of attention and may act up during mealtime. So, don’t discuss their pickiness, as it will only make them more sensitive to the issue.
Invite your child to the kitchen
It’s better to involve your child in meal preparation to create a positive association with cooking. Buy them fun plates and cups, and involve them in shopping for ingredients and let them help with the choosing.
Make mealtime enjoyable
Use various methods to bring joy and excitement to your child during meals, like serving their meal while performing a puppet show or drawing for them and filling in a character with each spoonful they eat, or tell stories or read books while feeding them.
Eliminate distractions during meals
Turn off the TV and phones during mealtime, as children are often more interested in playing than eating.
Pay attention to when they are hungry
If you force your child to eat when they are not hungry, it disrupts their inner appetite regulation. They know better than you when they are hungry, so let them eat when they feel the urge.
Solutions for children who refuse certain foods
Guidance for children whodon’t eat hard-boiled eggs:Mix egg yolk and white with 2 spoons of milk and cook it in oil.
- Grate cooked potatoes
- and hard-boiled eggs and add a bit of butter orolive oil.In the pot where you are making rice, mix in an egg and add half a cup ofyogurt
- (like tahchin).Drain the pasta, mix one egg with one cup of milk, grate somecheese
- in it and
cook withpasta.Use a bit of butter or milk to soften hard-boiled eggs.Beat the egg yolk and white and add it to thesoup. - Add egg to their soup.
- For children who don’t drink milk:Make pasta with milk and cheese.Create rice pudding
- and
cream
- for the child.
- Include yogurt and buttermilk in their meals.Add flour, butter, and milk to the soup.For children who don’t eat meat:Cook meat well and add it to
- haleem.
- Add rice to meat broth or chicken broth to make soft rice.
Cook and soften the meat completely and add it to legumes with a tablespoon of olive oil and a teaspoon of
- fresh lemon juiceororange juice.
- Make ground meat into meatballs and add them to meals.
- Use chicken or fish.If the child refuses meat, offer themegg yolks, egg whites, lentils, cheese withalmonds
- or walnuts,
- cooked kidney beans,
- unshelled peanuts, milk, and yogurt.Picky eating in childrenSolutions for picky eatingPicky eatersNutrition for picky childrenEncouraging picky eatersPraising children for eatingManaging picky eatersDealing with picky eating
