Helping Your Picky Eater
by Cheryl Tallman
and Joan Ahlers
Recently, Time magazine ran a
story called “Rethinking First Foods.” It was a great
summary of the latest information on the importance of feeding
your baby healthy foods in the first two years of their life.
The article had some very frightening statistics and comments
from experts in the pediatric field who paint a doom and gloom
story that confirms our kids are getting fatter. The problem
with the story was it left us, as parents, feeling defeated.
We’d like to pick up where
the story left off by offering tips that can make a difference
when it comes to developing your child’s eating habits.
One of the points brought up in the story is that parents tend
to feed their baby’s and toddlers “kid food.”
We all know what this is. Its pizza, chicken nuggets, hot dogs,
chips, etc. and we know this stuff is not healthy. So if it is
just as easy to open a bag of baby carrots as it is a bag of
chips why do are many parents reaching for chips over carrots?
Many parents say it is because they have a “picky eater”
and these are the only foods the child will eat.
What most parents don’t
realize is that all toddlers are picky eaters. And it’s
perfectly normal, even expected developmental behavior. It may
surprise you to find out that this behavior has very little to
do with the taste of food and is mostly about wanting control
of a situation. Most toddlers learn very early that eating is
very easy to control and it is likely to get a response out of
you. This makes it fun (for your kid, not you)!
The big challenge for parents
is NOT to give into this behavior, and DON’T fall into the
trap of offering bland, unhealthy foods as a replacement for
flavorful, healthy foods. This can be a difficult time. Here
is our advice:
Start early: Children form habits
that make them picky eaters. Habits are hard to break. You are
better off if you can prevent the habits from forming. At the
very first signs of finicky behavior, explain to your child that
it is not healthy to eat the same foods all the time. Serve a
good variety of foods at meals, and encourage your young ones
to taste new foods. New food choices can be described as "special
treats.”
Include them: Children are more
likely to eat something that they have helped make, so get your
children involved in preparing meals. You can also take them
shopping and teach them how to find and select foods. Involving
your kids in making decisions reinforces that you care about
their opinion and want to make things that they like. Never ask
"Do you want broccoli for dinner?" offer choices like
"Do you want broccoli or cauliflower for dinner?" Simple
choices make your child feel like they are the ones in control.
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