Advice from the Paediatrician: What to do about Picky Eaters

Advice from the Paediatrician: What to do about Picky Eaters

Is your toddler refusing to eat vegetables that are powerhouses of essential minerals and vitamins? If so, you are not alone, giving your children a balanced diet that would help in their growth and development can be sore topic for many parents. Until your child’s food preferences mature, you can consider the following tips to make your picky eater in your family to eat a balanced diet.

  1. Making Meal Time Fun

Children tend to eat things that look appealing to their eyes. To attain this, you can try to serve a variety of brightly colored food. Go for different shapes, for example your toddler might like eating a teddy shaped pancake rather than a normal round one. While serving veggies offer them their favorite dips or sauces.

  1. Lead by Example

Your choices are keenly observed by your young ones, so if you include healthy food options in your diet your child will follow suit.

  1. Set a Routine

Try to serve the meals and snacks at same time every day. In case your child missed a meal, the snack time will offer a window to provide food with some nutritional value to your little one. In between meals and snacks you may also introduce fruit juices, but be careful not to fill them up on fluids just before meal time.

  1. Accept your Child’s Appetite

Never try to force a meal or snack, rather than helping this will deepen the power struggle over food. Along with this always try to serve small portions; it will help to avoid overwhelming your child. It will also give a chance to your child to ask for more.

  1. Be Patient while Trying Out New Food

Children need repeated exposure to food in order to develop taste, keep serving them healthy choices along with their favorite foods till they become familiar and preferred.

Even after trying out these tips if you feel that picky eating is hampering your child’s growth and development, consult a paediatrician near you.