by Bobby Coles

Created on: June 22, 2009   Last Updated: May 08, 2012

Raising healthy eaters is the result of proper modelling by parents. A picky eater learns that behaviour, much the same as a healthy eater has learned that behaviour. If you find that you have a child who is a picky eater, there are some strategies that can help you to get them eating a more complete diet.

New foods pose a conundrum for children that are picky eaters. Some children will talk themselves out of liking a food even prior to tasting. This leaves parents in a bit of a quandary, knowing that they need to broaden the dietary horizons of their children to ensure a healthy lifestyle.

The manner in which a food is presented is half the battle. Parents should always be positive when initiating a new food choice.

It is best to not try and mix a new food into an existing favourite, as this may lead your picky eating child to have an aversion to yet another food, one that they had previously liked. Picky eaters run the risk of depriving themselves of valuable nutrients and exposing themselves to diet related diseases. Introduce each new food on its own, as part of a meal that includes some foods that are tried and true.

Persistence is perhaps the best method for getting your picky child to eat new foods. Introduce new foods little by little, and make no mention either way of hoping that your child tries the food.

Often, a child will feed off of the anxiety of a parent, and will react to their actions and words. A laissez faire attitude may go a long way to getting your picky child to try and eat new foods.

Picky eaters tend to be the bane of parents, causing untold grief and stress. A child does not need to be a picky eater, since it is in the grasp of parental control. When attempting to introduce new foods, your child should not be presented the option of saying no thank you to the food.

This is the most common mistake made by parents. Allowing a child to say no to a food choice gives them control over the situation, which can be a dangerous road to travel.

A child should eat whatever is put on their plate, with the only exception being the portions. A child does not have to be willing to try new foods, but they should be encouraged to without option.

I recall having food placed on my dish that I did not want to eat, but my father would simply mention that he could always drop another dollop or two on my plate if I didn't finish what I was originally given. This technique was successful, because I did not want extra dosages of food that I considered to

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>