Picky eater no more: 5 tips to get them to eat right!

Parents of finicky eaters know too well that eating time is a battle that doesn’t just end at getting them settled down on the dining chair. After they’re sat down as calmly as possible, another struggle awaits the parent of a picky eater.

Eyes locked on your toddler’s, putting on your friendliest smile, you cook them into biting into that spoonful of today’s meal, only to have it thrown back at you. This is a scenario that a parent of a finicky eater knows all too well.

Such events don’t just give you daily headaches but can also be the cause of much anxiety, worrying if your child is developing the right eating habits.

The impact of poor eating habits

In addition to the physical impacts of picky eating, children who are ‘too picky’ when it comes to their food may also suffer from social impacts as well. With food being an integral part of culture and society, eating meals is also a social activity as much as it’s a physiological one.

Because of their limited diets, picky eaters are robbed of enjoyable social moments and are often prone to develop nutritional deficiencies. Bad eating habits can cause your children to lack in iron, calcium, zinc, and many other essential nutrients that, if left unmanaged, can lead to complications such as:

1. Decreased attention, cognitive functioning, and energy levels in your children.

2. Weakened immune systems, making them more prone to infections.

3. Poor metabolism that can increase their risk for weight problems and;

4. Dental problems if their food preferences are limited mostly to sweets.

Thankfully, the solutions to such a seemingly complicated problem are easy and practical. All you need is a bit of patience and some help from the experts.

Tips to help children develop better eating habits

If your children are getting too finicky for their own good, here are some tips for dealing with picky eaters to get them back on track to eating right.

1. Be patient and respect your child's appetite – big or small.

2. Establish a routine for eating and stick to it.

3. Be patient with introducing new foods.

4. Involve your children in the meal planning process and make it fun.

5. Minimize distractions and maximize mealtimes.

Let’s discuss them in detail below.

1. Be patient and respect your child's appetite – big or small.

Forcing your child to eat a meal or snack will be counter-productive to your goals. Using methods like this might lead your child to associate feelings of anxiety and frustration to mealtimes or become less sensitive to his or her own hunger and fullness cues. On the other hand, you must also avoid bribing your little ones to eat as this may reinforce a power struggle over food.

As contradictory as it may sound, the best approach is to respect them and give them time to want to eat and recognize their hunger cues on their own. Serve small portions to avoid overwhelming your child and give them the opportunity to independently ask for more.

2. Establish a routine for eating and stick to it.

Developing habits start with establishing a routine and sticking to it. Create a schedule for eating where meals or snacks are consistently served around the same time, daily. If your child often skips meals, regular snack times are a work-around that can provide opportunities for them to eat nutritious food.

However, take care to note as well that allowing your little ones to fill up on snacks may cause them to lose their appetite for meals later in the day. Your end-goal should still be getting your children to eat full, nutritious meals.

3. Be patient with introducing new foods.

Before taking their first bite and accepting any new food, your child may need to be repeatedly exposed to it a few times. This is done by encouraging your child to explore these new pieces of food by talking about its color, shape, aroma, and texture.

When doing this, try to avoid drawing the focus on how it tastes and limiting it to identifiers such as ‘good’ and ‘bad’. It will also help to serve new and healthier food choices along with their favorites until they become familiar and preferred.

Giving up and preparing a new meal after your child rejects the original meal served should also be avoided as it will only promote picky eating. To deal with this, encourage your child to stay at the table during mealtime even if they refuse to eat.

4. Involve your children in the meal planning process and make it fun.

Involving your child in planning their meals may also help you greatly with creating a positive association with food. Take your children with you when you go grocery shopping and urge them to select healthy foods that appeal to them.

At home, you can include them in the process of cleaning and prepping the ingredients to help them become more familiarized with the food. With kids, getting creative is also a highly welcome approach. Cut their food into different and interesting shapes or serve foods that are brightly colored.

These techniques will not just develop positive feelings towards food, but provide you with a fun and meaningful parent-child bonding experience.

5. Minimize distractions and maximize mealtimes.

Lessening distractions and making sure that their food is packed with nutrients will make mealtimes more efficient for both you and your child.

Minimizing distractions helps keep your child focused on eating time by turning off the television and keeping their electronic gadgets away. Make it clear to them mealtime should be dedicated to eating and finishing the food in front of them.

On the other hand, when it comes to maximizing meals, topping off their healthy meals with formula milk or juices provide a nutrient boost that can offset any deficiencies that may occur due to restrictive feeding.

Bonus tip: Choosing the right nutritional supplement for picky eaters

Milk formulas may not be the rarest commodity in grocery stores, but those that are specifically indicated for picky eaters aren’t something you come across everyday. That is until Bandwell Pharma launched PediaPlus.

In terms of supplemental nutrition for picky eaters and children who often miss their mealtimes, PediaPlus provides the basic needs and more. It contains macronutrients such as protein that help develop and strengthen vital organs and is packed with essential nutrients that aid in digestion and boost energy absorption.

The journey to instilling good eating habits in your children won’t always take a straightforward path. There will be a lot of moments when you’ll feel like you and your child’s progress is backsliding, especially on days when they’re being extra finicky. It’s important that on these days, you remember to not be hard on yourself and your little one.

Sometimes, these backward steps are what you need to become capable of taking two steps forward. Steps that can become even more impactful with the help of experts.

That’s what Bandwell Pharmaceuticals’ products are here for. Learn more about their line of products that support your child’s growth and development over at our product page.