won’t help them like the food any
better. You are better off being a good
role model and demonstrating healthy
habits as children learn from their
parents and take their lead.
Stop the snacking
If your child is uninterested in food,
it may be a result of simply not being
hungry enough. Constant snacking
and drinking juices all day destroys
a child’s appetite. A hungry child is
a lot less picky, so allow for adequate
time between meals and snacks.
Setting time limits for meals can also
be helpful – for example, 30 minutes
for meals and 15 minutes for snacks.
Water should be offered during the
day and juice should be limited to
250ml per day and be given towards
the end of the meal. Although this may
cause a few tantrums it can make a
huge difference in a picky eater.
The eating habits children
learn today will follow them into the
future. That is why it is important to
establish proper eating habits while
they are young. Most bad habits and
picky eating tend to be behavioural
and can be managed by defining the
responsibilities and setting rules. For
extreme cases, and when children
are unable to adequately gain weight,
professional help should be obtained.
TIPS FOR PARENTS OF
PICKY EATERS
1
Don’t become a short
order cook
If a child is refusing to eat certain
foods, parents may be tempted to
provide a separate meal, but that
only gives in to the behaviour. Kids
are smart. If they know you’ll make
them something else they already like,
they’ll never take the opportunity to
try new foods. Parents need to decide
what the meal is going to be and stick
to it. The child can choose to eat it
or not. If they choose not to, that is
fine. They won’t starve to death after
missing one meal.
2
If your child refuses to eat
their vegetables…
If a child continues to leave the
vegetables on the plate even after
encouragement, then start giving
half portions of meat and starch with
the adequate portion of vegetables.
Tell them they can have the other
half of their food when they finish
their vegetables. This may take a few
attempts as some kids won’t eat those
vegetables, but after a while they will
be hungry and will eventually give in.
3
Make mealtimes a
sit-down event
When kids are constantly eating on
the go, they get used to fast-food items
and other foods that can be easily
taken on the road. These typically
do not include a variety of fruits and
vegetables. Plus, getting kids used to
eating meals at the table gives them
the opportunity to try new foods. Kids
need to sit down for their entire meal
– yes, even little ones. Changing this
behaviour is very hard but you must be
consistent. Remind your child that if
they leave the table, the meal is over.
4
Plan your meals and snacks
Allowing kids to graze all day
long is an easy way to ensure that they
won’t be hungry when it comes to
time for dinner. This includes juices
and milks. For a child who constantly
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