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During last July’s 5.8 earthquake, 3-year-old Bronwyn told her 1-year-old sister, “We’re going for a wiggle.” READ MORE
Middle Years (7-12)
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Getting your child to eat the right foods is an age-old problem. One almost has to wonder how the cavewoman was able to help her child thrive without the help of Flintstone’s multi-vitamins. I knew shortly after my son’s birth that I had a picky eater on my hands. Unlike my other two children, he didn’t nurse well and as he got older he refused to drink milk. Finding a green vegetable that he’d consume without gagging was next to impossible. Fortunately, he has gradually outgrown this phase and as a preteen actually eats a number of nutritious foods. But he still is not as adventurous as his siblings in trying new, healthy foods. Nutritionists, however, are quick to point out that this is actually very normal behavior for children in the middle years. “Parents need to understand that it sometimes takes 10 times for a child to see, smell and taste a specific food before they know whether they like it or not,” says Tracy Bryars, R.D., pediatric dietitian at Children’s Hospital of Orange County. One of the problems is that children’s taste buds are a lot more sensitive than adults. Strong flavors are a problem for many kids, which means that cutting back on spicy or aromatic seasonings is a wise move. If you have a picky eater, it’s best not to wage war over eating certain foods. “The most important thing for parents is that they avoid making a big deal over the matter,” says Bryars. “In many cases, a child will go through a phase where they don’t want to eat certain foods but this often will end as they grow older.” In fact, a lot does change as children enter elementary school and start socializing at the lunch table. Food preferences often are influenced by peers. “This can be a positive thing if they end up eating healthy food that they didn’t eat before,” notes Bryars, “but it can also cause some kids to choose not to eat certain foods because their friends find these foods unacceptable.” This brings to mind a formal presentation the principal of my children’s middle school made to parents of new students. He suggested that parents might want to think twice before packing an apple in their child’s lunch, since at the end of the day the school’s trash cans were full of uneaten apples. Bryars stresses that parents should never force their child to eat specific foods they dislike. “This can build bad feelings about food that remain for the rest of their life,” she says. To maintain a balanced diet, there are always healthy substitutes for specific foods, such as cheese and yogurt for milk, fruit for vegetables, and beans for meat. Extremely picky eaters should also take multi-vitamins. One trap that many parents of picky eaters fall into is becoming a short-order cook in an attempt to find healthy food their child will actually eat. This means that instead of serving their child salmon and steamed broccoli along with the rest of the family, they end up making him macaroni and cheese or a grilled cheese sandwich. Not only does this result in extra work for mom and dad, it also robs the child of having the opportunity to eat new foods. Instead of making a separate meal, experts recommend that parents stick to making one main dish as well as a couple of side dishes that they know the child will eat. “Involving your child in the menu planning, shopping, cooking and setting the table also makes them more inclined to eat the meal,” says Bryars. Regardless of the strategies a parent uses to get their child to eat healthy foods, it’s critical that meal times are as pleasant and relaxing as possible. In these busy times, dining together as a family and sharing conversation is essential in promoting strong family ties as well as memories that will last a lifetime. Carol Daus is a freelance writer who lives in Huntington Beach with her husband and three children. Tips for picky eaters • Pay attention to the presentation of food. Kids generally don’t like food mixed together. • Serve nutritious snacks. Snacks are just as important as meals and offer an opportunity for healthy eating. • Offer smaller portions. • Keep serving new food over again. Some young eaters change their minds about food preferences over time. • Don’t use bribery by stating, “If you want ice cream, you need to eat your broccoli.” (Children will swallow an unappetizing food but that doesn’t make them enjoy it; they usually end up hating it.) • Consult your pediatrician if your child’s body weight appears to be changing dramatically. |
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