The most common concern of parents is how to convince their kids to eat because most toddlers have a tendency to be fussy eaters. You probably have a fussy toddler on your hands if your kids, who used to eat everything you offered him, has now entered toddlerhood and has realised that he has a “will” and says “no” to the food you provide him. You’re not alone in this, most parents have difficulty encouraging their kids to consume nutritious foods. But if you don’t deal with the problem right away, your kids might not obtain the nutrition they need for healthy growth and development.
In order to practise tasting new meals, kids need time and space. The intention is to promote fearless food exploration and steer clear of power struggles and persistent disagreements about meals and food.
Here’s how you can make mealtimes less stressful with your fussy eater kids
1) Introduce New Foods
It’s crucial to regularly offer different meals to your kids while trying to encourage them to broaden their palates. However, if you try to do too much too quickly, your kids will become overwhelmed. Serve one new dish at a time and pair it with their favourite dish they are quite familiar with. So, if your youngster likes macaroni and cheese, consider serving broccoli on the side. Even though a kids might not eat something the first time you offer it to them, seeing it on the table or on their plate will encourage them to try it.
2) Engage Your Kids
A young kids is frequently far more ready to try a food if they helped grow it, pick it, or prepare it. Preschools in Chembur consider strategies to involve your youngster in choosing new foods as a result. The colourful, fresh fruits and veggies at a farmer’s market, for instance, can be especially appealing to your kids. You can also let your kid eat with you. Allow them to set the table or prepare the salad, depending on their age. The intention is to stimulate kids’s curiosity and make them passionate about food.
3) Make Food Fun
Playing with food isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Foods that are colourful, cut into enjoyable shapes, or served with a dip are more likely to be consumed by kids. Of course, this frequently entails extra work for the parents, but if you’re anxious to give your kids some variety, it can be worthwhile. Purchase cookie cutters so you can cut sandwiches into amusing shapes, or make ants on a log out of celery, peanut butter, and raisins. Alternately, try making a rainbow out of colourful fruits and veggies. Daycare in Kharghar engage kids in such activities through which kids develop an interest in food.
4) Try Various Times
Even if your kids reject steamed pumpkin at supper the first time, they might not the next time. It also helps when they witnessed you consume it and that it was on the table. They might prefer it in a soup or they might just be unsure about it at the moment. Your kids could be more receptive to taking a bite or having some on their plates the next time you serve it.
Remember that it may require 15 or more encounters for a kids to try a food. It counts as exposure only to have the food on the table or on their plate!
5) Serve Small Portions
Giving your kids limited servings has two benefits. First off, huge servings of strange or unfavorite foods may overwhelm your kids. You’ll waste less food, too. Preschools in Chembur offer food to kids during playtime in small portions to keep them nourished and develop their curiosity about the food.
Your kids will find it a lot simpler to attempt one broccoli floret rather than a full cup of the vegetable. Additionally, this enables your kids to pick how much they want and to request more if they so desire. This is just a small step to help them develop a healthy eating habit.
6) Reduce Distractions
Turn off the television and other electronics in the house during mealtime. Your kid can then concentrate on eating. Remember that television advertising may encourage your kids to crave sweet or less nourishing foods.
But while it’s still going on, try to comprehend the situation and give your toddler options when you serve him food, rather than losing patience and yelling at him.
Most toddlers go through the fussy eating phase and it will disappear before you know it. But, it’s unlikely that your kids’s eating habits will change overnight, the little efforts you take every day can help encourage a lifetime of healthy eating.