Tips And Tricks For Feeding A Fussy Child

Children can be picky when it comes to toys, clothes, friends, and most notably....food. You never know whether a spoon full of oatmeal will make it into their mouth or onto the ceiling. It's hit or miss at breakfast, lunch, and dinner time but not impossible to get them to eat healthy if you start young.

For preventative measures against the classic fussy eater situation, here are some helpful tips:

Fun Meal Time - Many of us can probably recall dinner time as being a chaotic frenzy growing up. Sitting at the dinner table felt like sitting on death row, and a lethal injection sounded more appetizing as a final meal than a plate full of broccoli and rice. If we didn't eat our veggies the kitchen was a war zone rather than a haven of domestic bliss. While we credit our parents for putting up with our tantrums, we've also picked up a few tips for our own kids. The vibe of our eating environment greatly affects our eating habits. When a child associates pleasant and happy emotions with their supper, they are more likely to respond to their meals accordingly. Make breakfast, lunch, and dinner a time of fun and the tasting of new food an exploration.  

Introduce the 'icky' food early - Your life may be ten times easier than it was for your parents if you introduce various textures and tastes early on. Exposure to a wide range of food will increase their palate for new recipes and avoid restricting themselves to one particular food type. Don't let them acquire too many staple favourites too soon.

Influence - The influence of older siblings or adults at the table will encourage them to eat freely. Remind family members that their eating habits are being watched and that they have a responsibility to lead by example. Children love to buddy up with older pals, so even creating a partner game out of trying new meals may prove to be effective and enjoyable.

Treat all food equal - Try not to put too much emphasis on the 'fun' in dessert type foods and the essential health benefits on the main courses you want them to eat. They don't know the difference unless you make them aware of it. Until they learn otherwise from other sources, all foods are equal and they vary in taste for no reason beyond the fact that they are simply different foods. Try not to keep them from certain types of food and force a particular type on them, this will only increase their like and dislike of what you give them based on how much importance you place on it.

Keep trying - If you've already got the makings of a fussy eater, you can still nip it in the bud sooner than later. Keep trying to introduce initially disliked foods by presenting it in various recipes and with a pleasant, patient demeanor. 

Image from MorgueFile

Courtney Gilmour
		About the author:
		Courtney is a published writer, stand-up comic, and shameless Internet enthusiast. She holds a double bachelors degree in English Literature and Communication Media Studies, specializing in semiotic theory, however she doesn't get Shakespeare and has never won a game of Scrabble. Currently she lives in Toronto and works as a writer for WOMAN.CA.
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