Fussy Eating in Kids

There are many instances, especially nowadays, where parents find themselves helpless against the fussy eating habits of their kids. They don’t know what to do which sometimes leads them to drive their children to eat healthier alternatives. Parents have the right intention, but there may be an easier way.

Healthy food for picky eaters

Micronutrients that are needed for growth in kids, especially for fussy eating, are Calcium, Iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin B and Vitamin C. Therefore, there needs to be a balance between the 5 food groups which are the source for these micronutrients.

1. Fruits: They render vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and many phytonutrients (nutrients naturally present in plants). They are especially good as they are full of vitamins, minerals, and fibre.
2. Vegetables: Vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. They contain water, vitamins, minerals, and fibre. From salads to juices, it’s consumption can be encouraged in multiple ways.
3. Dairy: Milk and any of the foods made from milk, including butter, cheese, ice cream, yoghurt, and condensed and dried milk are excellent sources of calcium, which is essential for strong and healthy bones.
4. Protein: At Least 3 servings of protein should be made daily according to the appetite of the child. Meat, Poultry, Fish & Seafood, Eggs and dairy products are great source of protein.
5. Grains: This group consists of wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley, or another cereal grain.

How to deal with a Fussy Eater?

If you have a picky eater who is obsessed with junk food and doesn’t like trying nutritious alternatives, here are some tips that could help:

Make it appealing

Even as adults, we look at the food before eating it. If it looks tasty, the appetite for it drastically increases, even if it may not have the ingredients that we may like. So, parents must keep it in mind and always look and make sure that the presentation of the food is looked at.

Learn about their likes and dislikes

Parents need to understand what things their child likes and what is the reason behind this preference. This will help you understand your child’s behaviour towards certain dishes. For example, if the child doesn’t like and likes chocolate, they can be offered milk with cocoa powder.

Lead by example

Parents should make sure that they themselves are making the right choices. They should also practice healthy eating. Setting the right example will help the child inculcate the right habits.

Divisie a reward system

By coming up with a proper reward system, parents can incentivize kids to eat new dishes. This will play a major role in developing long-lasting habits.

Assign regular meal times

Eat your meals at a regular time. Assign particular times for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Like, if a child doesn’t like broccoli as their breakfast, they can be offered the same at a different meal time with the help of a proper schedule.

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