Most parents realize that a diet of soda and candy isn’t a healthy choice. What’s a parent to do if their child is a picky eater who refuses fruit and vegetables? There are ways to help kids to eat healthier that don’t involve dramatic fights at the dinner table.
Jane E. Brody wrote an article for the New York Times in August of 2015. The article is titled “Another Approach to Raising Healthy Eaters”. In this article, she shares her experience as a child who was a picky eater. She provides some enlightening insights for parents who have a child that very picky about what foods they will consume.
It turns out that demanding that a child eat something doesn’t really work well. The command to “clean your plate” can end up teaching children that it is normal to continue eating after their stomach is full. This habit is one that may continue into adulthood, and can lead to obesity or food disorders.
Instead, parents can try other methods that might actually influence their child to try new foods. One very simple approach is to offer your child a small portion of a newly introduced food. A full portion can seem intimidating. One or two bites worth might feel less “scary” to try.
Another really easy thing parents can do is to read the ingredients on food labels. You might be surprised by how many foods have some form of sugar added to them. Foods that are “low-fat” often have an extra amount of sugar in them. A documentary called Fed Up points out the amount of sugar in a multitude of foods.
One way to be a healthier eater is to reduce the amount of sugar a person consumes. Read the ingredient labels, and pick a product that doesn’t have extra sugar added. Start making your own version of your child’s favorite foods at home – instead of buying processed ones. Consider organic foods over the popular, name brand, versions that are full of sugar.
Sometimes, all it takes to get a child to eat healthier is to offer a nutritious food in a different way. Kids that hate raw cauliflower might eat it after the vegetable has been roasted. It is possible to turn a head of cauliflower into rice. It looks the same and your child may not notice the difference between it and real rice.
A child who won’t eat broccoli might try it if you sprinkle some cheese over it. Some toddlers will eat anything on their plate if they can dip it into ketchup or ranch dressing. Parents can make banana bread, or zucchini muffins, and sneak healthy foods into what their child considers to be a treat.
Image by Elvert Barnes on Flickr.
Related Articles at Families.com:
* Natural Sugars vs Added Sugars
* Health Food Store DOs and DONT’s
* Sneaky Mama’s Top 9 Tips for Picky Eaters