Ladies, does your child have the nature of a picky eater? Relax, you are not alone. A lot of research has found that as many as 50% of parents perceive their preschool-aged child as a picky eater.
Children who only eat certain types of food are at risk of not getting the amount and variety of nutrients needed to support their growth and development process. For that, here are some tips that can be used so that children can recognize, accept, and enjoy new types of food:
- Be Creative with Recipes and Food Presentation
Some children may not like the texture or appearance of certain types of food. This is why making attractive food presentations for children is important, it can make them want to try new foods.
Another way to make food more appetizing for your child is to serve it in a fun and creative way, for example, by shaping food into your child’s favorite cartoon character shape.
- Be A Role Model For Your Child
Children learn food preferences by observing the eating behavior of others, especially their parents. Research suggests that children may be able to accept new foods when other people around them also eat them. Showing healthy eating patterns in front of children can increase their confidence to try various foods like their parents.
- Start with a Small Portion
It is normal for parents to want to feed their children to eat large amounts of food to ensure that their caloric needs are met. However, when trying new foods, less may be better.
Giving large portions can overwhelm children and cause them to refuse the food that has been served. Start with small portions and increase the portion slowly if they can accept that type of food.
- Keep Trying to Introduce New Foods to Children
Although children have the opportunity to refuse, it is important for parents to always try to introduce new foods to their children. A study says that it takes 15 tries before a child can accept a new food. Try repeating the food processing business by offering it in small portions as a companion to his favorite food.
- Watch for Allergy Symptoms
Watch your child's behavior when he refuses certain foods. It could be that he refuses the food due to experiencing discomfort in the body and showing allergy symptoms.
Allergies are usually characterized by the appearance of a rash, itching, and swelling of the face or throat. Ask him why he refuses food and considers discussing it with his doctor for further treatment.
As an additional tip, you can also invite your child to participate in preparing meals in the hope of increasing their interest in various types of food. For example, ask children to choose fresh vegetables while shopping at the supermarket or let them choose the type of meat they want to eat.
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Source:
Kubala, J. (2018). 16 Helpful Tips for Picky Eaters. Healthline. [online]. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tips-for-picky-eaters