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Nutrition
Feeding
my child is very difficult. How can I make mealtimes less of a hassle?
Here are 6 common unpleasant and unhealthy childhood eating situations
and tips to handle them.
Also, remember that food should be used as nourishment, not as a reward
or punishment. In the long
run, food rewards or bribes usually create more problems than they
solve.
| Feeding
Challenges. . . |
Feeding
Strategies. . . |
| Food
Jags: Eats one and only one food, meal after meal |
Let the
child eat what he or she wants if the jag food is healthy. Make
sure the child is hungry at mealtime and offer other foods at
each meal before the jag food. Dont remove the jag food,
but offer it as long as the child wants it. After a few days,
the child likely will try other foods. Food jags rarely last long
enough to cause any harm. |
| Food
Strikes: Refuses to eat what's served, which can lead to "short-order
cook syndrome" |
Make sure
the child is hungry when mealtime comes. Do not offer juices,
sweetened drinks, or snacks too close to mealtime. Have whole-grain
bread and rolls as well as fruit available at each meal,so there
are usually
choices that the child likes. Be supportive, set limits, and dont
be afraid to let the child go hungry if he or she wont eat
what is served. |
| "The
TV Habit": Wants to watch TV at mealtime |
Turn off
the TV. Watching TV during mealtimes is a distraction that prevents
family interaction and interferes with a childs eating.
Value the time spent together while eating. Often it is the only
time during the day that families can be together. |
| The
Complainer: Whines or complains about the food served |
First
ask the child to eat other foods offered at the meal. If the child
refuses, have the child go to his or her room or sit quietly away
from the table until the meal is finished. Dont let him
or her take food along, return for dessert, or eat until the next
planned meal or snack time. |
| "The
Great American White Food Diet": Eats only white bread, potatoes,
macaroni and milk |
Avoid
pressuring the child to eat other foods. Giving more attention
to finicky eating habits only reinforces a childs demands
to limit foods. Continue to offer a variety of foods from all
the food groups. Encourage a taste of whole grains as well as
red, orange, and green foods. Eventually the child will move on
to other foods. |
| Fear
of New Foods: Refuses to try new foods |
Continue
to introduce and reinforce new foods over time. It may take many
tries before a child is ready to taste a new food
and a lot
of tastes before a child likes it. A good starting point is to
encourage the child to simply allow a small portion of the new
food to sit on his or her plate. Dont force the child to
try new foods. Also, remember that you are a role modelmake
sure your child sees you enjoying the food. |
Note:
Do not feed children younger than 4 round, firm food unless it is
chopped completely. The following foods are choking hazards: nuts
and seeds; chunks of meat or cheese; hot dogs; whole grapes; fruit
chunks (such as apples); popcorn; raw vegetables; hard, gooey, or
sticky candy; and chewing gum. Peanut butter can be a choking hazard
for children younger than 2.
For the
latest information from the US Department of Agriculture about making healthy
food choices and keeping physically active, visit their Web site at http://www.mypyramid.gov
to learn about MyPyramid.
Published online:
9/08
Source: Feeding Kids Right Isn't Always Easy: Tips for Preventing
Food Hassles (Copyright © 2008 American Academy of Pediatrics)
Healthcare professionals
may order
this publication in multi-copy packs.
Parents can find more information on this topic in Caring for Your School-Age
Child: Ages 5 to 12. To order a copy of this book visit the AAP
Bookstore.
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The information contained
in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care
and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your
pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
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