Do not beg or push
children to eat
Studies have indicated that when parents insist their
children eat particular vegetables, a dislike of those foods they have been ‘forced’
to eat often continues into their adulthood. A better option is to present
children with a range of vegetables on their plate (including some they like),
and sit with them to enjoy dinner quietly, not interrupting or coaxing them
into eating. Whether they choose to eat it is up to them, but it is important
to keep offering a range of vegetables from which they can choose, including
those that have been refused previously.
Do not offer dessert
as a reward
Sweet foods are easy to eat and very palatable for children.
This can, in turn, give the message that savoury foods are less enjoyable. It
is okay to provide dessert foods as part of a family meal, but not as a mechanism
for encouraging a child to eat.
Do not praise
children for eating
Eating is and should be a pleasurable experience, unless
there are other issues, such as food allergies or intolerances, present. Praising
children for a behaviour that is natural can lead to the need for ongoing encouragement
and praise for every meal and snack.
What else can parents
do?
It is helpful to be a good role model and enjoy meals with
children. Children are likely to eat the foods that their parents eat on a
daily basis, so encouraging parents to regularly eat healthy foods in front of
their children is crucial to uptake and acceptance of these foods. This
approach teaches the child the food is safe and part of normal, everyday
nutrition. Enjoying meals together has a positive impact on children’s health,
particularly those of school age. It increases intake of vegetables, fruit and
dairy foods, and decreases consumption of unhealthy foods.
While eating every meal together may not be realistic,
increased benefit is seen with more meals shared. Encouraging children to play
with the food, either with a utensil or with their hands, and to get messy, can
be helpful. They should gradually put some in their mouth and may spit back
out, but that is a step closer to eating and enjoying that food.
Some other key
pointers that can be offered to parents include:
• Turning off the television and other distractions
• Leaving children to eat in peace (keeping an eye from a
distance)
• Letting children make some mess
• Mixing foods they already like with some they don’t
• Making sure their feet are always supported while eating
• Focusing on weekly, rather than daily, intake (children
will have days where they eat more or less)
• Serving dinner foods at lunch time – this may help if they
are tired at the end of the day
• Making sure they are not drinking too much milk (no more
than 600 ml per day)
Peta Adams
