Articles
Most parents of toddlers know that mealtimes can be touch-and-go. Sometimes your toddler will eat everything in sight, while at others, all they want is a fish cracker. What they will eat one day, does not guarantee they will eat it the next. Using bribery, begging, and cajoling, you try and try to get the spoon in their mouth while they clamp their mouth shut. Sound familiar?
The most important thing to do is to make mealtime fun. Get your child involved in meal preparation and make sure they see you enjoying cooking and eating. They will mimic your own behavior towards food. The more they can participate in choosing their fruits and vegetables, the more likely they are to eat it. It is also important to time meals properly. If kids get too hungry, they may get grumpy and it will become increasingly difficult to get them to eat. It is also important to leave lots of time to eat. Toddlers, in particular, can sit in their highchair for an hour while they pick, play, and eat the food in front of them.
If you are concerned about how little your toddler is eating, try looking at what your toddler is eating on a weekly basis rather than day-to-day. Also, if your child is not eating a lot, look for other reasons rather than assuming they are just being picky. Does your child drink a lot during the day, especially right before meals? Does she snack a lot? The Canada Food Guide recommends limiting juice to 1/2 cup daily to avoid too many liquid calories and to prevent tooth decay. If your child tends to be a snacker, fill her snack bowl with protein-rich foods and other things you would want her to eat at mealtimes. For the real picky eaters, keep trying! It can take 10 to 20 exposures to a new food before a toddler decides she likes it.
Although there are many amazing cookbooks that focus on healthy eating for your child, the Canada Food Guide is a great place to start. The Canada Food Guide was updated in 2007. It is now a comprehensive source of nutritional information, including the basics of serving sizes, daily portions, and the latest in nutrition research. It even offers healthy kid-friendly recipes. Labels: Feeding Time
Picky Eaters - Make Eating Fun!
Picky Eaters - Make Eating Fun!
posted by Eco Baby Products on Saturday, October 25, 2008
© 2007 EcoBabyProducts.com
1 Comments:
|
November 6, 2008 12:22 PM I find that if I show any hesitation to certain foods my children will pick up on it. It's like a sixth sense. |
