Tackling Fussy Eaters

EVERY mother knows that mealtimes can quickly turn into a battle ground.

Long faces and temper tantrums at the dining table are the norm when little ones don’t get their way and mums probably wish they could break into tears too.

But the first step in promoting heathy eating in your child starts with you. Parents should be good role models when guiding children towards good eating habits says Jamie Lam, a nutritionist at the Marketing Department of Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad.

They must be patient and make healthy eating enjoyable instead of a cause for rebellion and tantrums.

Lam says the manner in which children are fed, peer behaviour, how significant adults in a child’s life regard food, as well as advertisements on TV — all influence eating habits.

 

OVERCOMING THE FUSS

In the past, parents dealt with fussy eaters the harsh way. You either cleaned your plate or went hungry.

Lam says if a child isn’t hungry, don’t force a meal or snack on him. Likewise, don’t bribe or force a child to eat certain foods or to clean his plate.

“This may only ignite or reinforce the power struggle over food. In addition, your child may come to associate meal times with anxiety and frustration.”

Instead, serve small portions to avoid overwhelming your child and include two to three servings of milk in his diet as milk contains nutrients needed for growth and development.

When introducing new food items, it’s important to do so gradually and involve your child in these new selections.

Lam explains that children are primarily concerned with the taste, texture, colour and general appearance of the food they eat.

For example, vegetables should be pleasantly seasoned and taste crisp, fresh and alive. When vegetables are overcooked they take on a different flavour, one much less agreeable to the palate and children will end up disliking them.

Parents should adopt a relaxed attitude and never insist that their child try a new food or punish him if he refuses. Serve a small portion of the new item several times so he can become familiar with it. Keep in mind the balance between familiarity and variety so the child is not overwhelmed by new things.

“Parents should consume the new meal with their children and instead of asking if they like the new variety, ask them to describe how it tastes. Does it taste salty, sweet or sour?”

Lam says it’s also possible for children to develop a phobia of certain foods. This usually occurs in children who have experienced an episode of choking or vomiting or both and this subsequently leads to a refusal of all solid food or a dislike of certain foods based on taste, smell or texture.

For instance, children with sensory food aversions selectively refuse to eat certain foods because of the taste, texture, smell, and/or appearance of that particular food. However, they eat better if they are offered food items that they prefer.

 

EATING RIGHT

The manner in which a meal is eaten is also important. Mealtimes are when children learn family values and eating together fosters closeness.

Lam says children who eat in front of the TV are naturally  more likely to request for food products that are advertised on screen. Most of these products are low in nutritional value and sitting in front of the TV eventually becomes a habit and is one of the main causes of obesity.

Generally, a balanced, healthy and nutritious diet for a child under 12, should comprise a wide variety of food. These can be categorised into groups such as rice, cereals and cereal-based products, fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, poultry and legumes and milk and dairy products.

Breakfast is also the first chance your child’s developing body and brain has to refuel its glucose levels, (the  brain’s basic fuel) after several hours of sleep so never give this meal a miss.

“Starting your day without breakfast is like trying to fly a kite without wind. It’s hard to get started and even harder to keep going,” says Lam.

 

THE GOODNESS OF MILK

She advises mothers to choose a breakfast that consists of milk, fruit and cereal or grain products. Milk is packed with goodness for growing children such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, vitamins and zinc.

It also supplies other essential nutrients including protein for muscle growth and vitamins like riboflavin that release energy from food. Milk also helps in the development of strong bones and gives your child something to smile about because it helps to grow and maintain healthy teeth.

Unfortunately, many children today have easy access to sweets and chocolates and if a child could choose his or her diet, it would probably be very sweet.

Lam says parents should not use sweets or chocolates as a reward and only purchase such items during special occasions besides educating their children on the side effects of excessive sugar consumption. By limiting sweets and chocolates, dental problems and childhood obesity can be prevented.

 

Tips for mums

1. Make mealtimes exciting

Create smiley faces with carrots or other vegetables, cut fruit into stars or use a sandwich cutter to make interestingly shaped sandwiches with all the goodness your child needs tucked in between the bread.  

2. Be creative with a favourite

Take a food item that your child loves, such as eggs, noodles or bread and be innovative with it in the kitchen. Make a favourite omelette, for example but add additional ingredients every time you prepare it.

3. Praise

Tell him how proud you are when he eats well and he will be more likely to enjoy his meal and you’re less likely to be anxious at the dining table.

4. Invite a friend over

Invite a friend of your child’s who has a healthy appetite to lunch or dinner. Praise the other child and you’ll soon see yours cleaning his plate too.

5. Patience and perseverance

Studies have shown that a child needs to be exposed to a new food up to 10 times before he or she will eat it.