Feeding difficulties
My son is a picky eater. There are days when he only eats spaghetti. What can I do?
Many parents face difficulties with lunch because many children only eat certain food or refuse consistenly to even try other food. Here are some tips that'll help you handle this situation
- try to eat together with your child, meals provide an opportunity to spend time together and act as a role model.
- Give your son an active role while eating. For example, ask for his help in preparing the table and serving. Having him contribute to the process will help a lot.
- - Offer the child small portions of the food you want. It is preferable for him to eat as much as he wants from the food available for everyone and to complete his meal with salad, bread and cheese.
- Include foods he likes in his meals along with some he likes less.
- Give your son the option to choose between 2 foods he prefers less. So he will try to eat one of the two.
- Don't be in a hurry to give him alternative options of his liking as this way he doesn't learn to accept all foods but knows that if he says no to one, you will give him another one he likes.
- Do not force the child to eat all the food but encourage him to at least try. Even if he misses a meal, offer the next one at the scheduled time. You will see that at the next meals your son will eat more and over time he will accept new meals.
- Do not use food as a means of reward or punishment. Great care is needed in the way we reinforce the consumption of a food by avoiding the phrases "If you eat this, you will eat that". You better use the phrase "first you will eat this and then the other".
- Present food in a smart and attractive way. For example, make designs with vegetables or add legumes to a salad.
This will make mealtime enjoyable for everyone.
Anesiadou Kassiani, nursery teacher
Kokkinou Sofia, kindergarten teacher
