Prue DeAraugo
RyanaGetting your Child to eat a Balanced Diet
October 5th 2008 06:49
Trying to get your toddler to eat a healthy diet can be tricky at times. The key to avoid unhealthy eating habits is to encourage healthy eating from childhood. Child nutritionist Harriet Woroely suggests the following strategies to expose your child to a wider range of foods.
1. Allow your child to be part of the food preparation process. Research has shown that children are more likely to eat food they helped cook.
2. Don’t pressure your children to take a bite of everything. Children react negatively if they are pressured to eat, even if it is with a reward such as dessert. If Samantha doesn’t eat what she is offered I just take it away and let her out of her high chair. Toddlers can regulate their own appetite and as long as she is growing normally, I don’t stress. .
3. Don’t restrict any food group. We all want what we can’t have don’t we? Children are no different, if you restrict sweets and biscuits they want them more. It is common knowledge that if adults never allow themselves treats, they tend to binge eat. Children are the same. Teach them moderation.
4. Look at your own eating patterns. Children, especially girls, tend to look to their mother as a role model for eating behaviours. Don’t ever think your child doesn’t notice what you are doing, they are little sponges. They notice if you are not eating. In my experience, my daughter likes to eat what I am eating. She always looks over to my plate to see if it looks the same. If I am eating, she will too.
5. Serving vegetables with a bit of butter or dressing actually increases the release of the fat soluble nutrients so if that’s what you need to do to get your child to eat them don’t stress.
6. Never just assume your child won’t eat something. I remember one time I had spanakopita for lunch. I wrongly assumed she wouldn’t eat something with spinach and feta, and made her a marmite and cheese sandwich which she loves. That particular day though, she was more interested what was on my plate. I let her try some she loved it, and I ended up having to share it. Now when I buy spanakopita, or anything for that matter I always get enough for two!
1. Allow your child to be part of the food preparation process. Research has shown that children are more likely to eat food they helped cook.
2. Don’t pressure your children to take a bite of everything. Children react negatively if they are pressured to eat, even if it is with a reward such as dessert. If Samantha doesn’t eat what she is offered I just take it away and let her out of her high chair. Toddlers can regulate their own appetite and as long as she is growing normally, I don’t stress. .
3. Don’t restrict any food group. We all want what we can’t have don’t we? Children are no different, if you restrict sweets and biscuits they want them more. It is common knowledge that if adults never allow themselves treats, they tend to binge eat. Children are the same. Teach them moderation.
4. Look at your own eating patterns. Children, especially girls, tend to look to their mother as a role model for eating behaviours. Don’t ever think your child doesn’t notice what you are doing, they are little sponges. They notice if you are not eating. In my experience, my daughter likes to eat what I am eating. She always looks over to my plate to see if it looks the same. If I am eating, she will too.
5. Serving vegetables with a bit of butter or dressing actually increases the release of the fat soluble nutrients so if that’s what you need to do to get your child to eat them don’t stress.
6. Never just assume your child won’t eat something. I remember one time I had spanakopita for lunch. I wrongly assumed she wouldn’t eat something with spinach and feta, and made her a marmite and cheese sandwich which she loves. That particular day though, she was more interested what was on my plate. I let her try some she loved it, and I ended up having to share it. Now when I buy spanakopita, or anything for that matter I always get enough for two!
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