We all want our kids to eat healthy foods. But let's face it. Most kids are finicky eaters. And as most of us parents have learned, usually the hard way is never underestimate their stubbornness and strong will. I'm sure we have all experienced the frustration in dealing with a child that just won't eat what's on her plate. It can quite easily get to a point where we have reached the end of our rope and lose it. You suddenly get the urge to call your parents and apologize for torturing them all those years when they were trying to feed you. I was such a fussy eater, that I remember getting my mother to a point where she resorted to force feeding me by having my older siblings hold me down! As you can imagine that didn't work. But I can certainly understand that level of frustration and being at a complete loss of not knowing what else to do.
I see it quite often with my friends' kids. They try and try but finally resort to junk food. "All she'll eat are Chicken Nuggets," or "Heck, I'll put M&M's on his pancakes if it gets him to eat the pancake." It is a quick fix and they soon wind up just eating the M&M's. Quite frankly, these tactics do not work and we end up just avoiding the problem. And unfortunately, the longer we do this, the harder it becomes to correct.
Since kids are so different, there is no one simple solution to the problem. You will need to have a different tactic for each child. You will soon realize that success here is short lived. Because what worked yesterday for a child may not prove successful today, your tactics will need to continually change.
We at Healthy Habits, Healthy Kids are here to help by providing approaches that have proven very effective. We have researched suggestions from the experts in both the psychology and medical world, and have surveyed countless parents on what has worked for them. Some may sound very familiar to you while others will be incredibly helpful and inspiring.
Suggestion: Get them Involved
Getting children involved in the kitchen is an excellent way to change the finicky eater. Kids will eagerly try something that they prepared themselves as well as take great pride in seeing others enjoying the food. To most children, the kitchen is a new and exciting place. They love to cook and getting their little hands into the flour, kneading the dough, pouring ingredients into bowls and of course, mixing, mixing, mixing. They eagerly wait for the food to come out of the oven and are so excited to taste what they have made. I have seen this work not only with new foods but also with those meals that they refused to try in the past. By helping to cook it with you, they gain a new curiosity to it, giving the food a fair chance.
Not only does getting your child involved in the kitchen help his fussiness but it also allows you and him to bond. These are the memories that your son or daughter will look back on with great fondness. Cooking together is also very educational as they practice their counting skills, learn how to measure things, learn about time and even chemistry without them ever noticing. Learning through experience and with context is always far more effective and lasting than traditional learning.
So, let's get started! Here are a few tips to ensure a successful and fun experience:
o Always have your child wash her hands with you before handling food
o Aprons, hats and other paraphernalia are always fun
o Give your child a title (i.e., Chef Holly, Baker Tim).
o Read the recipe together so she is aware of exactly what you're making and what's involved
o Have all ingredients measured out beforehand. This makes things much more organized and orderly. Your child will love helping you fill the measuring cups and spoons!
o Assign tasks: Mom or Dad does the cutting and child does the mixing, etc.
o Exhibit good hygiene and safety behavior so that your child can learn and follow suit.
o Give yourself extra time to prepare the meal so that you are not stressed
o Clean up as you go to avoid a huge pile of dishes
o Get excited with your child along the way
o Have Fun!!!
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