20 Tips for Feeding the Fussy Kids
Thousands of parents wish mealtimes were easy with their children. If you are one of them, you know exactly how stressful it is to deal with a fussy eater at home.
Fussy eating is normal for children, especially on their first to three years. You will have to win over a lot of distractions – toys, TV, etc. Aside from these, most kids don’t like the taste of vegetables and fruits. They prefer sweets like chocolates, chips and candies. Also, children, especially toddlers, tend to binge-eat on one food at a time, which normally leads to vitamin deficiency. All these things can surely make your head ache.
But worry not. There are plenty of ways to make each mealtime less difficult for fussy kids:
1. Dip it.
Give your kid s some apple or potato sticks and pair them with their favourite dip. Most children love the idea of immersing food in a tasty dip such as cottage cheese, guacamole, fruit puree, cream cheese, peanut butter, and yogurt.
2. Learn some plating techniques.
Even adults get attracted to foods that are well-presented. Let your creativity unravel and be the best chef in town! Invest on cute plates and utensils that children will appreciate.
3. Add some toppings.
A plain vegetable dish may not look attractive and delicious to your child. The trick here is to add tasty, more familiar toppings like bacon strips, cheese, applesauce, or tomato sauce.
4. Make your own healthy menu.
So your child loves cakes and pastries? Why bake one for him? Instead of buying commercially made cookies and breads, you may want to make your own using healthier ingredients. For instance, you can make cookies from oatmeal instead of white flour. When baking cake, top it with almonds, pecans, and other nuts.
5. Keep healthy foods close by.
Research shows that people tend to eat healthier foods when they always see it. So keep your child’s favourite nutritious treats nearby. In the fridge, store them in a lower shelf so they can reach for it anytime they want.
6. Jive with your child’s eating habits.
If he loves eating pizza in the morning and fruits in the evening, so be it. It’s much better than not eating any healthy foods at all.
7. Be picky.
There are a lot of good food products available in the market but you want to pick those that contain high doses of vitamins and minerals. They include broccoli, spinach, cabbage, carrots, kidney beans, squash, fish and tofu.
8. Make the mealtime more comfortable for your child.
One of the reasons why children don’t like sitting still at the family table is that their feet dangle. Kids are more comfortable sitting in a child-size table and chair where their feet can touch the floor.
9. Let them cook.
Cooking is such a fun and enjoyable activity for children. Once in a while, let them cook their food. Surely, they would love to eat their own creations.
10. Roll with their mood swings.
It’s common for children to binge-eat in a particular day and eat a very few the next day. So don’t be surprised. Instead, take advantage of every single day that they feel like eating more. Prepare healthy treats and drinks.
11. Breathe and relax.
Usually, a wily toddler can sense if her mum is getting stressed and will play up to it. Sometimes, they refuse foods not because they don’t want it but because they are waiting for a reaction as a way to show independence, which according to experts, is a natural part of their development. So when your child refuses and noticed that you are irritated, it gives him power. So instead of wining, just relax, breathe deep, and stay laid back.
12. Disguise the food.
If your child doesn’t want vegetables, disguise them in their favourite dish. So if your child loves spaghetti, add grated carrot or any vegetable to the sauce. Blend healthy ingredients in their usual meal.
13. Serve some fruit juice.
For snacks, don’t forget to give your child a glass of natural fruit juice. They love smoothies too. You can combine their favourite fruits and blend them altogether. Add skim milk or yogurt and honey to make the smoothie more delicious.
14. Make mealtime a sociable occasion.
Whenever possible, eat together with your children and the whole family. Eating together allows you to set a nutritionally sound example to your child. It’s also a great bonding moment with him.
15. Help them develop a love for real food.
Chatting with your child during mealtime and telling stories about foods and their importance are ways to instil the value of food and nutrition to your kids. Let your child watch you as you prepare the meal and be ready to answer his unending questions!
16. Make sure they’re in good health.
If your child is ill, it is less likely that he’ll enjoy his food. Your child could be suffering from vitamin deficiency or any other health problem so it’s always ideal to schedule a regular appointment with your paediatrician.
17. Choose a lighter meal for snacks.
If you feed your child with lots of carbohydrates during snacks, it’s most likely that he will eat less comes lunch or dinner. Children enjoy their food more when they are hungry so instead of pasta and bread, give him fruit juice and some fresh fruits or vegetables for snacks.
18. Avoid pampering your child with sweets and junk food.
If you do not allow them to get used to eating junk food, they won’t crave for it and won’t even enjoy eating them. So instead of pampering them with chocolates and sweets after scoring high in their test or achieving something in school, give them other kinds of gift like a toy, book, etc.
19. Offer a variety of food choices.
You can actually teach your kids not to be picky at a very young age. Research shows that children, who are offered with a wide variety of foods straight from weaning, are more likely to accept them. At the age of two, only 4% of newly introduced foods are accepted.
20. Let them take vitamins and supplements.
There are clinically formulated supplements for picky eaters and those who have poor appetite. Talk to your paediatrician for guidance in choosing the best for your child.
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