Keep a bowl of veggies and a plate of burger in front of your child – which one would he/she reach out for? More often than not, for the burger!
Children tend to opt for the tastier and not-so-healthy options when it comes to food. So while they may "eat", they don't necessarily eat options that are best suitable for their growth & development. This is what makes them picky eaters.
There must be many parents out there worried about their child’s nutrition. For a child that avoids veggies and fruits, the biggest problem is that he/she stands the risk of missing out on important vitamins and nutrition. You cannot force-feed a child, but you cannot let him/her miss out on important nourishment values either!
So, are you still wondering how to get your child to choose the veggies over nuggets once? Read on to find out:
1) Respect your child’s appetite:
If your child isn’t hungry, don’t force a meal or snack on them. Also, do not bribe your child to eat certain foods; that will only complicate things further. Force feeding will create a struggle between food and appetite and this will frustrate your child. And once they associate meal times with irritation, they won't want to eat at all. Serve him/her small portions to avoid overwhelming him/her and give him/her opportunities to ask for more.
2) Routine:
A routine creates a habit. Stick to the same time every day, so your child knows when it’s meal time and when it’s not. Even their body gets used-to with the routine, creating hunger pangs at the right time. This, in turn, will create fewer tantrums during meal times. Do not allow your child to fill himself/herself out with juices and snacks in between, that’d only make him/her lose his/her appetite during meal times.
3) Be patient:
When it comes to trying out new foods, be slow and steady with it because kids aren’t normally comfortable with experimenting. They might put tiny bits into their mouth and take it out right away! Your child might need repeated exposures to a new food before he/she might take the first bite. Keeping serving children with healthy choices until they become familiarised.
4) Make it fun:
Add chopped broccoli or green peppers to spaghetti sauce, top cereal with fruit slices, or mix grated carrots and other vegetables into soups. Funny looking sandwiches or roleplaying during meal times also works wonders! Make meal times more than just a nutrition intake period – make it fun and watch your children wait for meals!
Remember, your child’s eating habits won’t change overnight. Have patience and work towards building your child's appetite. We at The Learning Curve care immensely about your child’s nutrition. The food we serve is carefully prepared by a nutritionist so that we do not leave any stone unturned when it comes to fostering healthy eating habits in your child.
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