Fussy Eaters
They are the worry of many-a parent but for the most part, children who are fussy about their food will soon grow out of it. Fussy eating, sometimes referred to as food neophobia – a fear of new things, in this case, food - is in fact a normal part of development and is a phase most children will grow out of. Though reassuring for some, there will be some parents who can’t help but worry. For these parents, my opinion as a nanny (an opinion that should not be taken in place of qualified medical advice) is that whilst most children will usually grow out of this phase over time, if they are losing weight, are generally unwell more often or are not growing as much as you would expect, it is always best to seek medical advice from your GP.
That said, let’s look at the practical things you can do to encourage your child to eat a more varied diet. Bear in mind that different approaches will work for different children, and each one you take may be influenced by age and/or temperament, so if one technique does not seem to be having much of an effect, use a different approach. And whatever approach you use, how ever many you use, be consistent with your perseverance!
Relax! On average a child needs to be ‘exposed’ to a particular food before they learn to like or accept it, so just because they have turned their nose up at something once, it does not necessarily mean they are not going to learn to like it.
Older children need to feel they have some kind of control so give them a choice. For example, if they detest peas and broccoli, let them choose which one they want to have on their plate. You never know; you might get lucky!
Control what your child eats between meals as this can have a direct impact on mealtimes. If you fill them up with snacks, healthy or otherwise, just before a main meal, they are not going to be hungry enough to want to eat the food you have put in front of them. A general rule of thumb would be to give no snacks, only water, at least an hour before a meal is due.
As the saying goes, you can take a horse to water but you cannot make it drink, so if your child has an intense dislike of a particular food, don’t force them to eat it. Just having them accept it on the plate is a victory, and another step closer to them trying it, if not liking it.
Prevention is always better than the cure so give your children as wide a variety of food as possible when they are young. This exposure to a greater variety of flavours and textures will hopefully make it less likely that they will grow into a fussy eater.
Always have one thing on your child’s plate that they like. That way it will ensure they eat something, and may make the food they dislike less daunting.
What they know doesn’t hurt them so if your child likes something in particular, i.e. such as Spaghetti Bolognese or soup, try blending in other pulses, lentils or vegetables for that extra healthy punch. However, this is best done gradually as it will inevitably change the taste and texture slightly, therefore making it more noticeable and less palatable to your child!
Use a reward chart to encourage them to try new food. They could even work towards earning enough stickers to get their dream tea of burger and chips!
A child should always associate meal times as being relaxing and enjoyable, so please do not yell at a child even if they do not want to try the meal you spent hours making! Nor should you ever force a child to eat as this is very stressful for them (and you!) and can in fact have the reverse effect on them.
If they won’t eat the food, and you cannot convince or coax them to do so, simply let them leave it, but make sure you do not stop giving it to them until they have finally eaten it enough times to be sure of their dislike for it. Even then, it would not be a bad thing for them to learn to eat food regardless of whether they like it or not.
Give your children the feeling of having a little more control over what they eat by allowing them to help you make their own meal. This can be helpful to you as it is another pair of hands in the kitchen, and you are teaching your child the important life skill of cooking. Making their own meal will also give your child a tremendous sense of achievement, and it is more likely they will want to try the meal they have made.
Have tea with a friend! If your child has a friend over to play, it may motivate them to eat whatever their friend is eating. Even better, plan a cooking activity you can all do together. Whether you decide to make fairy cakes or pizza, anything can provide the motivation and encouragement your child needs to just try something.
This cannot be said too many times…Encourage, coax, motivate, but remember, don’t force your child to eat food if they really don’t want to. No matter how disappointed, worried or just plain frustrated you are, forcing them to eat something can sometimes have the opposite effect you are looking for, and the negative association you create with food and meal times will only make it all the harder to get them eating the healthy, varied diet you desire.
Encourage your child to help you search for different meals in brightly coloured, illustrated recipe books. Ask them to see if they can find a picture of something they like the look of. Undoubtedly, if you give them the recipe book they will go straight to the desserts chapter so when this happens, make a compromise. Tell them they can choose to try one dessert but they must also choose one main meal, and of course it is the meal they must eat first!
Ever wondered why sweets are so appealing to children? It is not only the sugar; it is the bright colours. Bright colours are pleasing to a child’s eye and make it more likely they will want to eat it. Use different food to make their plate colourful.
Food doesn’t always have to be presented in the same way. Ditch the plate once in a while for a kebab stick (be careful of the pointy end!). Eating with your hands can be fun too, so why not try a healthy wrap once in a while.
If you can, make sure you all eat together as a family so your child can follow in your example. Without over-acting it, let them see how much you are enjoying the food.
Take advantage of parties by playing games such as Guess that Food. Never played it? It’s simple. You have a number of secret plates on which each has a different food. Try to have as many different tastes and textures as you can, but make sure you include one or two foods you really want your child to try. It is worth pointing out here that you should be sensible with the food you put on the plates. Do not include anything that is unsuitable for children (such as chillies!), and, particularly when other children are involved, always avoid food that could potentially cause allergic reactions. For example, any form of nut and its derivates, fish, Once you have chosen the food (include a mixture of sweet and savoury), cover the plate and ask a child to pick one. After they have made their selection, blindfold them and let the taste-test begin. If they can guess what the food it, they get a prize. A handy tip…have a bucket ready for those who really don’t like the food!