Saturday, February 25, 2012

Training the Picky Eater

By Paloma Novikov


Toddlers can be fussy eaters who refuse to try a new food at least half of the time. Approximately half of all toddlers fit this description, so it is no wonder that food issues are a source of stress for parents.

Planning healthy eating routines is essential to avoid concerns for example weight problems and eating issues in the future. Various techniques can really help your child pay a wider range of foods. It may be necessary to provide a food to your child as many as 10 various times before they decide to eat it. The issue is, a lot of parents get frustrated and give up before the fourth or fifth try.

Try and make foods fun. Colorful foods like carrot sticks, raisins, apples, grapes, cheese sticks and crackers can all be fun and healthy options for your growing toddler. Explain to them that eating good food is essential so they'll grow big and strong, and how it will help them run faster and play longer.

Children learn behaviors off their parents. If you restrict yourself to a narrow selection of foods, your child can take notice and copy your caution. Don't limit your child's food variety to only those foods you prefer. It may be that your child's tastes are different to yours, and maybe you are merely serving them foods they don't really happen to like. Try to create one example and check out a variety of foods before your kid. It could encourage them to do the same.

If your kid appears healthy and energetic, then they are eating enough. If you are still concerned, stay attuned to how much food they actually eat over the day. Children usually graze constantly, as opposed to restrict their eating to three meals a day like adults. You might be amazed how those little handfuls and snacks add up. For more reassurance, check your child's growth and weight charts, or talk with your little one's pediatrician.

Try not to worry, and remember, that unless a child is ill, they will eat. Children are very good at judging their hunger and fullness signals. Try to stay relaxed about mealtime and offer your child a wide variety of foods, and most importantly, remember to set a good example by trying a wide variety of foods yourself. You may discover you and your toddler share a new found favorite food!




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