In most of the world, kids eat what adults eat, and “kid-foods” do not even exist. Culture and climate dictate what foods their bodies need to be strong. Learning to like nutritious foods is as important to children’s health and development as learning to walk, read or talk.
As parents, we tend to assume that pickiness is a permanent part of our child’s character when in fact it is a normal, temporary developmental phase. Pickiness usually starts around age two and peaks at age three or four. Some children will be more picky than others but in all cases parents need to patiently persist and help them get over it. It is easier to change the eating habits of a five year old than a fifteen year-old! Foods that aren’t sweet, salty or fatty (like vegetables), may need to be tasted 12-20 times before they will be accepted. Think of all the foods you hated as a kid that you love to eat now. Research shows the most effective way to get kids to eat new foods is to have them involved in the preparation of the food. Fear of the unknown is replaced by curiosity.
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If you have a picky eaters, here are some mealtime strategies to try:
1: Think “Patient Persistence”– Every meal, encourage your child to taste the food without starting a power struggle. Eventually, they will learn to like it.
2: Have a “No other food on offer”policy – If kids know they can eat snacks half an hour after supper, you can bet they won’t eat much. Tell your kid that they don’t have to eat supper, but there is nothing else on offer that night.
3: Limit snacks before meals – hungry kids are always better eaters. Sometimes pickiness arises from not being hungry.
4: Role modeling – New foods can attract “the yucks.” A good line to use is, “That food isn’t yucky, you just haven’t learned to like it yet.” (Then take a bite and comment on how delicious it is!)
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