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Tips For Dealing With Fussy Eaters
One of the most common problems parents of young children have is dealing with “fussy eaters”. All of a sudden, a previously easy going toddler who ate everything given to them starts to reject every type of food imaginable with the exception of milk and chicken nuggets. Mum is beside herself with worry that her toddler is going to stop growing properly and continues to offer hundreds of different meal concoctions in the vain hope that the child will finally agree to eat something. Sound familiar?
The most significant component of “fussy eating” is the power play between a toddler and their parents. When toddlers reach the age of 12-18 months, they have reached a stage of development in which they like to exert some control within their environment. What they put in their mouths is one of the few areas of their lives that toddlers have some control over. Everything else, from what they wear, to when they go to sleep is fully controlled by their parents and carers. Spitting out their vegetables, meat and fruit is simply a toddler’s way of telling their parents that they will do what they like, when they like.
The most important thing that parents of fussy eaters can do is to maintain consistent food rules in the house at all times. If a toddler rejects a particular food or meal that they have previously enjoyed, the worst thing a parent can do is offer them a food alternative, particularly a sweet tasting one. For example, if your toddler starts rejecting vegetables, and you offer them milk as an alternative to dinner, the toddler very quickly learns that if they do not eat their vegetables, they will get some milk. Remember that children will always prefer sweet tasting foods (milk, yoghurt, fruit, and custard) to more bland flavours (vegetables, meat). It is therefore important that parents continue to offer the standard meal options and not give alternatives. If a child rejects the meal, it is probably because they are not hungry.
We often forget that toddlers do not need a lot of food. It has been shown that children under the age of five self-regulate the amount of food they need very well. If we force feed them, toddlers may learn to eat when they are not hungry, which leaves them more vulnerable to overeating and weight problems later in childhood. So, if you are offering your toddler a meal of a couple of different food types such as meat and a couple of different vegetables, with different tastes and textures, and they still reject them, it is likely they are not really that hungry. In this situation, take the food away and try again in an hour or so when the child requests food again.
If you have a fussy eater, the other thing check is how much milk and fruit juice they are consuming. I often see toddlers who are consuming a number of cups of juice and bottles of milk each day, which is providing all of their calorie requirements. It is no wonder they are not hungry! Remember, a maximum of 100ml of fruit juice each day and 600mls of milk is plenty for children aged 1-3 years.
By Susie Burrell
B.Sc (psych)(Hons.) B.Nutr&Diet (Hons.)
http://www.susieburrell.com.au
Susie Burrell is one of Australia’s leading dietitians; her unique trai
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