How To Cope With A Fussy Eater In Your Family
Do you live with a fussy eater?
Do you live with a fussy eater?
Do you hear a groaning sound? That would be me pulling my hair out in frustration.
My son is a fussy eater and is one of those kids that defy all logic. One week he will like something, for example last week he happily ate a steamed salmon steak without complaint, but can I get him to even taste one this week!!!
They say prevention is better than cure, so spotting the signs of fussy eating, and then taking steps to remedy it before it becomes a problem would be better than trying to tackle the problem later down the line.
Maybe I will make that a topic for another day, as it may be helpful for parents with a young toddler. But for today I want to offer some help to fellow parents who are already at the end of their tether about their childs eating habits.
It may surprise you to hear what I am going to say next, but a great source for tips, advice, and other parents experiences with fussy eaters is actually Facebook. If you do not already have an account with them, I would highly recommend signing up for one.
I noticed one of my friends had posted something about her sons fussy eating habits on Facebook, and how it was making her so frustrated that evening their dinner actually ended up in the bin!
So in sympathy, I posted a reply and told her what I sometimes do when my son is being fussy about food. Before you knew it, there were so many people chipping in their suggestions that I thought it would be a good idea to compile some of their tips and pass them onto you.
If even one of these suggestions helps someone, then that would be great!
The first tip is not to make a big issue about a particular food being rejected. There is very little point in making a child eat a food that they just do not like. I am sure there are foods that you dont like yourself, and the thought of them may even make you gag.
Even if you are successful in getting your child to eat a particular food one day does not mean that they will now like it forever. It may be quite the reverse, and you may find the next time you give them the food; they reject it even more strongly than before.
Appetite has a strong factor about whether a child will eat or not. You may find that after a long and exhausting day, your little one will happily tuck into anything you give them and clear their plate. The same can be said when they are going through a growth spurt, which usually leaves them feeling more hungry during the day, so they may well be happy to eat what you offer them.
Trying to force a young child to eat a large plate full of food when he or she is not really hungry will only serve to frustrate your child as well as yourself. Remember that children have small stomachs, so cannot handle large amounts of food in one go, so dividing their food up into more frequent small meals or snacks will often be better than three large meals a day.
Take your child food shopping and let them choose something new and interesting from the fruit and vegetable isles. You never know, they may well pick something you have not eaten before, so it will be a new taste experience for you too!
Encourage your child to help prepare a meal. Maybe it could be something as simple as peeling and chopping a banana for the pudding, but getting them involved in the preparation will make them more curious about eating the end result. I remember helping my mother peel and chop the vegetables, and she would encourage me to nibble of raw carrots and the stalk of the cauliflower while we prepared the meal together.
Research has suggested than it can take up to eight or nine times of trying before a child may eat a new vegetable. So if you want them to eat green beans for example, try putting one on the side of the plate at each evening meal. If they leave it, then dont make a fuss after all its only one bean. Eventually curiosity will lead them to try it, especially if they see you eating green beans regularly.
If your child is trying to express some independence, then offer your kids a choice at meal times. For example, if you want them to eat rice and chicken, ask them if they would like rice OR chicken with their dinner. They will make the decision for themselves, so it will appear to them they have control over what they eat and not you.
by: mmnewbold
Voip Allows You To Check In With Family Any Time Of The Day Or Night What Is Family Dentistry? Overview Of Family Practitioner Alta Loma Halloween Costumes For Family Can Bring Great Fun Don't miss the Premiere of Family Guy Season 9 Episode 1: It's Sure To Be A Thriller! Preparing Your Family For an Emergency Kids Costumes - Halloween Costume Ideas For The Whole Family Reasons Why You Should Look Into Re-Mortgaging As A Viable Option For Your Family Senior Planning Should Be Easy, Beginning With the Family Home Finding Family Attorney Services in Ohio Having The Woodwind Family And The Recorder Family Documentary: The Legacy That Keeps On Giving How to Prepare my Body to Start a Family