Help! My kids are fussy eaters
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Help! My kids are fussy eaters Last updated: September 25, 2014
Author: Jennifer Roche Category: Healthy eating
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It can be very worrying for a parent when their children are fussy eaters. I know, I have two of them. We all love our kids and Like Sign Up to see what your friends like.
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want them to have the best of everything, which includes healthy meals. But what do you do when your kids are fussy eaters? Rather than forcing food on them, which causes stress all round, here are some tips to help your children discover the joys of healthy eating.
“Why are my children fussy eaters?” Before you go blaming yourself, it’s important to realise that children’s tastes naturally change when they become toddlers. This is a survival instinct. Once your children are old enough to feed themselves, they are genetically guided to reject anything that tastes bitter or ‘strange’ to them. This dates back to primitive times when children would have been tempted to eat poisonous berries or other plants. Most of these would have tasted bitter so the child would automatically reject it. We would never offer poisonous foods to our children of course, but as far as some kids are concerned, broccoli IS poison!
Trying to bribe, beg or coax fussy eaters is an exercise in futility. It may result in a long-term dislike of that food, so we would recommend a casual approach. It can take up to 10 tries before a child will develop a liking for that food. Keep serving a spoonful on their plate and if they don’t eat it, don’t make an issue of it. One of these days they will.
5 Top Tips For Making Food Tastier Sweet and salty:
Children are fond of sweet or salty foods. We don’t recommend adding sugar or salt to your child’s food but caramelized onions, bacon bits or cooking veg in low-sodium broth can make your fussy eaters more willing to try it. If they like spices, try adding some mild curry powder.
Hidden vegetables:
Finely shred courgettes, celery and carrot into a tomato-based pasta sauce and they will practically melt away. You can also use this as a pizza topping. The same applies to a curry sauce. You can hide many kinds of veg, even fruit, in a curry.
Smoothies:
Take a handful of spinach, kale, carrot or shredded beetroot. Use dark berries to disguise the colour and banana for sweetness.
Cakes:
Carrot cake is a great way to hide veg. I have even cooked chocolate brownies containing courgette and pumpkin and my kids have been none the wiser. Chalk one up for Mum!
Cheese it!:
Most kids like cheese and adding melted cheese or cheese sauce to a vegetable dish is a perfect way to make it more appetizing. For extra taste, why not add bacon bits? Choose cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan or whatever their favourite cheese is and let them help themselves.
5 top tips to encourage interest in food Role Models:
Many of us will remember Popeye chugging down his can of spinach and gaining superstrength. This is a good way to motivate children. I bet if you told your youngster that Usain Bolt runs so fast thanks to runner beans he/she would gobble them down.
Cook with your kids: Grow your own:
Involve your fussy eaters in the cooking process. Let them crack eggs, tear lettuce leaves and handle food. You may have a future Gordon or Nigella on your hands. Give your child their own vegetable patch to grow vegetables from seed. They will be so proud of their homegrown produce they are sure to want to eat it.
Go shopping:
Take your child to the local farmer’s market and let them choose some vegetables to take home. Or bring them to a “Pick your own” fruit farm. If you are lucky enough to live by the sea, head to your local fish market and show your child there is more to seafood than fish fingers.
Healthy snacks:
Like adults, children can eat food “just because it’s there.” With this in mind, hide the biscuits and keep a bowl of fruit in plain sight. Encourage them to help themselves and give them plenty of choice.
5 top tips for enjoyable mealtimes Make shapes:
Alphabet spaghetti, dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets and smiley face potato shapes are all big favourites with kids. Why not do the same with healthy foods? Use cookie-cutters to cut vegetables and fruit into shapes or make funny faces on their plate with food. Making food look like something else can make it more appealing to fussy eaters.
Eat with friends:
A great way to encourage your child to try new foods is to have a friend eat with them. If your child sees their friend eating everything on the plate they may do the same thing.
Don't ask:
We know that giving children choice can help them to be independent but it can also nurture a nation of fussy eaters. Instead of asking your child what they want to eat, just make and serve it.
One meal to rule them all:
Cooking the same meal for the whole family means less work and expense while encouraging better eating habits for all round. You may encounter some resistance to start with but stand your ground. It will pay off.
Eat as a family:
These days, family members can be on varying schedules, which means everyone eating at different times. If you can make at least one meal a day an occasion where the whole family sits down to eat and be together, your child will appreciate mealtimes and will be more open to trying new foods.
Help others by sharing your advice. If you have a proven tip, we don't have listed, leave a comment and let us know. If you have a fussy eater on your hands check out: Cooking games for kids
Like Sign Up to see what your friends like.
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JenniferTHW
25/08/2013 21:51
Thanks Sinead. Feel free to share with any other parents you think may find these tips useful.
Sinead Ringwood
18/08/2013 02:00
What a really well written & informative article ! I'm fed up making 2 separate dinners at least once a week. Thanks for the tips!
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healthy-eating
Help! My kids are fussy eaters Last updated: September 25, 2014
Author: Jennifer Roche Category: Healthy eating
6095
2
0
It can be very worrying for a parent when their children are fussy eaters. I know, I have two of them. We all love our kids and Like Sign Up to see what your friends like.
0
want them to have the best of everything, which includes healthy meals. But what do you do when your kids are fussy eaters? Rather than forcing food on them, which causes stress all round, here are some tips to help your children discover the joys of healthy eating.
“Why are my children fussy eaters?” Before you go blaming yourself, it’s important to realise that children’s tastes naturally change when they become toddlers. This is a survival instinct. Once your children are old enough to feed themselves, they are genetically guided to reject anything that tastes bitter or ‘strange’ to them. This dates back to primitive times when children would have been tempted to eat poisonous berries or other plants. Most of these would have tasted bitter so the child would automatically reject it. We would never offer poisonous foods to our children of course, but as far as some kids are concerned, broccoli IS poison!
Trying to bribe, beg or coax fussy eaters is an exercise in futility. It may result in a long-term dislike of that food, so we would recommend a casual approach. It can take up to 10 tries before a child will develop a liking for that food. Keep serving a spoonful on their plate and if they don’t eat it, don’t make an issue of it. One of these days they will.
5 Top Tips For Making Food Tastier Sweet and salty:
Children are fond of sweet or salty foods. We don’t recommend adding sugar or salt to your child’s food but caramelized onions, bacon bits or cooking veg in low-sodium broth can make your fussy eaters more willing to try it. If they like spices, try adding some mild curry powder.
Hidden vegetables:
Finely shred courgettes, celery and carrot into a tomato-based pasta sauce and they will practically melt away. You can also use this as a pizza topping. The same applies to a curry sauce. You can hide many kinds of veg, even fruit, in a curry.
Smoothies:
Take a handful of spinach, kale, carrot or shredded beetroot. Use dark berries to disguise the colour and banana for sweetness.
Cakes:
Carrot cake is a great way to hide veg. I have even cooked chocolate brownies containing courgette and pumpkin and my kids have been none the wiser. Chalk one up for Mum!
Cheese it!:
Most kids like cheese and adding melted cheese or cheese sauce to a vegetable dish is a perfect way to make it more appetizing. For extra taste, why not add bacon bits? Choose cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan or whatever their favourite cheese is and let them help themselves.
5 top tips to encourage interest in food Role Models:
Many of us will remember Popeye chugging down his can of spinach and gaining superstrength. This is a good way to motivate children. I bet if you told your youngster that Usain Bolt runs so fast thanks to runner beans he/she would gobble them down.
Cook with your kids: Grow your own:
Involve your fussy eaters in the cooking process. Let them crack eggs, tear lettuce leaves and handle food. You may have a future Gordon or Nigella on your hands. Give your child their own vegetable patch to grow vegetables from seed. They will be so proud of their homegrown produce they are sure to want to eat it.
Go shopping:
Take your child to the local farmer’s market and let them choose some vegetables to take home. Or bring them to a “Pick your own” fruit farm. If you are lucky enough to live by the sea, head to your local fish market and show your child there is more to seafood than fish fingers.
Healthy snacks:
Like adults, children can eat food “just because it’s there.” With this in mind, hide the biscuits and keep a bowl of fruit in plain sight. Encourage them to help themselves and give them plenty of choice.
5 top tips for enjoyable mealtimes Make shapes:
Alphabet spaghetti, dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets and smiley face potato shapes are all big favourites with kids. Why not do the same with healthy foods? Use cookie-cutters to cut vegetables and fruit into shapes or make funny faces on their plate with food. Making food look like something else can make it more appealing to fussy eaters.
Eat with friends:
A great way to encourage your child to try new foods is to have a friend eat with them. If your child sees their friend eating everything on the plate they may do the same thing.
Don't ask:
We know that giving children choice can help them to be independent but it can also nurture a nation of fussy eaters. Instead of asking your child what they want to eat, just make and serve it.
One meal to rule them all:
Cooking the same meal for the whole family means less work and expense while encouraging better eating habits for all round. You may encounter some resistance to start with but stand your ground. It will pay off.
Eat as a family:
These days, family members can be on varying schedules, which means everyone eating at different times. If you can make at least one meal a day an occasion where the whole family sits down to eat and be together, your child will appreciate mealtimes and will be more open to trying new foods.
Help others by sharing your advice. If you have a proven tip, we don't have listed, leave a comment and let us know. If you have a fussy eater on your hands check out: Cooking games for kids
Like Sign Up to see what your friends like.
0 Print
Comment on this article Display Name:
Email Address:
Comment:
Post comment
(1000 character limit)
JenniferTHW
25/08/2013 21:51
Thanks Sinead. Feel free to share with any other parents you think may find these tips useful.
Sinead Ringwood
18/08/2013 02:00
What a really well written & informative article ! I'm fed up making 2 separate dinners at least once a week. Thanks for the tips!
Join for
OR
FREE
By registering you agree with the Terms and Conditions
Most Viewed Articles Top 10 low carb lunches
See what a balanced diet can do for you
Healthy filling foods to kill your hunger
Does drinking water help you lose weight?
Calculating your recommended daily calorie intake
Top 5 Forums
1. Challenges 2. Weight loss tips 3. Exercise forever or never 4. Technical support 5. Feedback & ask a question Article categories Wellbeing Weight management Healthy eating Everyday health Fitness Motivation Healthy recipes
Contact T&C's Privacy & Cookies :(25) -- (05)
Get healthy on the go Try the Tesco Health & Wellbeing App
