Foods for Fussy Eaters – Parenting Tips!

Thursday, June 2, 2011, 12:55

A major task for every mother is to make sure that her child is eating well. However, most of the times the result is rather depressing, as most of the children are fussy eaters. The mother then ponders over what is the best way to provide complete nutrition for her child. Being a working mother adds more burden to the task when the child is a fussy eater.

Pediatricians feel that forcing children to eat what they do not like is not a right way of dealing with the problem. The list of items in the 'don't like list', however, doesn't seem to end at all! Whether it is milk, vegetables, greens, fruits or cereals, fussy eaters don't have a passion to eat any of these. All that they prefer is junk food such as wafers, chips, fries, etc.

So, back to the big question – how to make your child eat and most of all, how to make him love what he eats? The following are a few parenting tips for you, in order to help children eat well.

1.Fussy eaters like burgers, sandwiches, fries etc. We can prepare the same using healthy vegetables, whole-wheat bread etc. For example, while preparing the patties for the burgers, you can use mixture of different vegetables that are ground or grated. These can be mixed with flour and then fried using good quality cooking oil.

2.While serving vegetables and fruits to fussy eaters, cut them in an attractive way and present it well. Serve the vegetables along with dips, prepared using homemade yogurt and fresh, mild spices. Instead of sugar, add honey to fruits to add flavour.

3.Keep a bowl of dry fruits in a handy place, so that kids who are picky eaters can pop them whenever they like.

4.Try a variety of dishes and make note of the ones that your kid likes. Next, frame a timetable as to what to cook on different days. This allows you to prepare in advance for what you are cooking on the next day. Change this timetable atleast once every month, so that you don't end up creating a monotony.

5.Interact with other mothers when you attend the next PTA meeting and share recipes. This way you can add more flavours in your foods for picky eaters.

6.If your picky eater kid is not too fond about drinking milk thrice a day, substitute it with other types foods for picky eaters like that of dairy products such as yogurt, cheese or paneer.

7.Eggs are a good source of protein. Boil, cut and serve it after sprinkling a little salt and pepper on it. Finely chopped vegetables can be mixed with egg to prepare omelettes.

8.Similarly, chopped vegetables or greens can be mixed with dosa or idli batter, before they are prepared. This way you can ensure that your child has had his share of nutrition.

9.Remember to understand your child's tastes. All kids don't like bland food. So, if your picky eater child enjoys spices, mildly spice up his food.

10.Serve meals at fixed timings. Do not force the child to empty the plate. Whenever possible allow him to eat on his own. However, do remember to have a fixed duration to complete the meal. Do not allot more than 30 minutes for every meal, even if the meal is not complete.

These are a few handy parenting tips that can be instilled in your daily lives to make sure that your child is eating well. Do not expect everything to change overnight. Have patience and adapt to your childs needs, while keeping in mind the above mentioned tips on types of foods for picky eaters.