01/06/2022
Feeding should be enjoyable and not problematic. Here are a few reminders to help during mealtimes
Picky eating - a habit that includes eating a limited amount of food, unwillingness to eat familiar foods or try new foods, having strong food preferences, or consuming an inadequate variety of foods.
Prevent picky eating by starting complementary feeding as scheduled and progress food texture, offering a variety of foods, and providing balanced meals.
MANAGING MEALTIME MELTDOWNS:
SET THE MOOD
Make mealtime family time and be a role model. Eat a healthy meal, including at least one favorite food of your child. Resist the urge to make another meal. Have the same feeding time every day. If they refuse to eat, they will make up for it at the next meal. Avoid giving milk or juice before mealtimes.
CHILDREN’S CORNER
Playing/interacting with food is important, so let them feed themselves. Read kid-friendly cookbooks together and let them pick out new recipes to try.
PARENT’S CORNER
Pressuring kids to eat, or punishing them if they don't, can make them actively dislike foods. Your child may associate mealtime with anxiety and frustration. Offer new foods in small amounts and wait a week or two before reintroducing the same food. Giving dessert rewards can make the reward even more exciting, and the food you want them to try an unpleasant chore.
FOOD ADVENTURE
Food chaining (Watch out for our upcoming post!)
Remember: YOU PROVIDE, YOUR CHILD DECIDES.
*Certain causes of picky eating are of medical concern though and if suspected, it’s best to consult your pediatrician.
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𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘳: 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘋𝘔 𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘯.
