References:
- Caring for Kids – When your child is a picky eater
- UnlockFood.ca – Say Goodbye to Picky Eating!
- Region of Peel – Picky eaters
What is a Picky Eater?
- A child who only wants to eat their favourite foods all the time
- A child who gets upset when a new food is provided
- A child who cries and is fussy at the table
- A child who worries when they have to eat away from the home
- Your child will have days where they feel like eating certain foods and days where they don’t
- It is common for young children to reject certain foods
- Children can be slow to accept new textures and tastes
- If you continue to offer foods to your child they may accept and enjoy new foods over time
- Forcing your child to eat can cause them to resist eating
How Much Food Should My Child Eat?
- If your child is growing well, you likely do not need to worry about how much they are eating
- Most children have an appetite that is appropriate for their age and growth rate
- As a parent or caregiver it is your responsibility to provide your child with healthy snacks and meals
- It is up to your child to decide what and how much they want to eat
- Learning how to listen to their body and eating when they are hungry and stopping when they are full helps them develop healthy eating habits
Tips for Picky Eaters:
- Children like deciding what to have for dinner, try to include them in the decision making process
- Allow your child to participate in meal preparation (pouring and stirring, etc.)
- Give your child 10-15 minutes notice before dinner to help them settle into having a meal
- Eat together at a table
- Avoid distractions like toys, books, and TV
- Offer a variety of healthy foods for snacks and meals
- Offer at least one food per meal that you know your child likes
- Give small portions of each food, and offer more if they finish
- Give them the opportunity to make choices when appropriate
- Encourage your child to try a bite of different foods at each meal
- Be a role model, your child will be more willing to try new foods and eat better if they see people they look up to eating the same foods
- Prepare one meal for the family your child will be more willing to try the meal if they understand they will not get their favourite food if they refuse a meal
- If your child refuses a meal, allow them to make that choice
- Avoid using food as a reward
- Threatening, bribing, and punishing your child can cause them to resist eating even more
- Try new foods at breakfast, when your child is usually the hungriest
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