Everything you need to know about the process, the history, and the benefits
Being a picky eater is a normal part of life and growing up. Essentially, we’re all picky about all foods until we have them and acquire a taste for them.
Children between the ages of two and five need to try new food around eight to 10 times before they like it.
Not consuming any fruit or vegetables will cause issues, so parents: take caution.
Trying new foods is exciting for many adults, but you should be aware that it’s not that exciting for children. They prefer the familiar when it comes to food.
The more times children are exposed to a type of food, the more likely they choose to eat it if given a choice to eat it. This suggests that they should eat it over and over again.
The bottom line is that we shouldn’t give up if they refuse over and over again. We can incentivize them to eat the right foods. Eventually, they’ll get used to eating it and even enjoy it.
Another strategy that works is feeding children something they like after the new food (like peas, for example). This will help them become more accustomed to it. Peaches are great followers, for instance.
Avoid bribing your child to eat certain foods. It might just create a power struggle. It can make them associate anxiety or competition around mealtimes.
For instance, did you know that newborns who are fed foods that have the distinct taste of black licorice prefer the smell of black licorice to those who don’t?
A fetus can smell and taste flavors from its mother’s food in the amniotic fluid surrounding it, and develops preferences for the tastes and smells that are most common.
If children are exposed to different kinds of fruits over a few days, they will be more likely to try something completely new. The same goes for vegetables.
It’s important to remember that as a child gets older, food becomes more of a social and learned experience. If they are watching their carer eat nothing but pizza, they won’t be excited about broccoli.
If children see their parents being picky about food, they are more likely to display this kind of behavior themselves.
It’s also been shown that whatever kind of food is made available to a child at home tends to be the types of foods the child will prefer.
You can’t force children to eat what you want them to and expect not to have negative consequences. Strict parental control over mealtimes has been proven to lead to negative behaviors like overeating.
Besides repeatedly sitting a child down and offering them the food you are trying to get them to eat, presenting them with a variety, in general, will improve their chances of eating those sprouts.
Eating is supposed to be a fun and enjoyable experience. It might be difficult to come to terms with not having complete control over an infant's diet, but refrain from playing the short order cook.
Routines are the cornerstone of a child's life. It enforces order and security. A mealtime routine creates a safe space where they can explore in a culinary sense.
It can lead to children not learning from a young age what their limit is and how to adjust their portion size. This can eventually lead to problems like obesity.
Keep in mind that by four months of age children can take signals from their own bodies as to when they’re hungry or full. They won’t starve themselves.
Try to avoid feeding them milk or juices or sugary snacks throughout the day.
You should talk about food with your child so that they become accustomed to it. This way the next green vegetable won’t be so alien. Ask the child to consider the food's color, shape, aroma, and texture.
There are a whole bunch of ways that you can disguise food on a child's plate to make it more attractive or to make it slip by unnoticed. There are tricks. One might be to cut unwanted veggies into fun shapes or to serve a dipping sauce with broccoli.
Don’t offer dessert as a reward. Dessert as a reward communicates that dessert is the best food (a reward is good) and that veggies are a chore (the work to receive the reward).
A nice strategy is to introduce the “adventure bite,” where everyone at the table has to take a bite of the food at the table.
The earliest experiences that we have in life shape our taste preferences, just like they shape every other part of our lives.
If you're worried about a child's growth or development, visit the doctor. The doctor will track your child's growth and address concerns or suggest steps to take. Sources: (Psychology Today) (Mayo Clinic) (Parents.com) Also check out: Celebrities give their best parenting advice
Mealtimes with kids can feel impossible for parents. It doesn’t always end at preparing the meal, either. Unless you’re very lucky, you can spend an age just getting a child to taste the food. It’s a matter of practice. It’s vital to get children into eating food that’s good for them, so that they develop a taste for food that's healthy. Luckily, there are proven ways to do this. To explore them, click through this gallery.
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Mealtimes with kids can feel impossible for parents. It doesn’t always end at preparing the meal, either. Unless you’re very lucky, you can spend an age just getting a child to taste the food. It’s a matter of practice. It’s vital to get children into eating food that’s good for them, so that they develop a taste for food that's healthy. Luckily, there are proven ways to do this. To explore them, click through this gallery.