We have our guest blogger Zara Lewis again, talking about picky eaters and how to change the habits. My toddler is definitely a fussy eater himself, so I was glad to feature this piece on the blog, and take some tips from here for myself too.
Everyone knows that being a parent is the toughest yet most fulfilling job you’ll ever have to do. But that tough part can become especially apparent when you have to deal with your kids being very picky when it comes to what they want to eat. In general, all children love sweets and junk food, which is why it’s essential that you do your absolute best in order to introduce them to healthy habits. Some of the following tips may prove to be useful so make sure to go through them and apply them in your everyday life.
Theory
approach
Engage
the kids in cooking
Be
creative with food prep
Make
healthy taste great
Set
an example
Everyone knows that being a parent is the toughest yet most fulfilling job you’ll ever have to do. But that tough part can become especially apparent when you have to deal with your kids being very picky when it comes to what they want to eat. In general, all children love sweets and junk food, which is why it’s essential that you do your absolute best in order to introduce them to healthy habits. Some of the following tips may prove to be useful so make sure to go through them and apply them in your everyday life.
Theory
approach
This is the least favorable approach when it comes to
teaching kids about healthy eating but it is still necessary. In order for your
child to listen to you, make sure that you’re calm and speak in a positive and
loving manner with absolutely no reprimanding. Basically, you need to sit your kids down and thoroughly explain why
eating certain foods is so important and good for your health as well as why
eating a lot of sweets can be bad. It’s essential that you stress out that this
doesn’t mean that the kids can’t have their sweets at all, or that they have to
eat something that they really hate every day.
Engage
the kids in cooking
Most kids want to feel responsible for some type of chore,
and, in that respect, you can ask them to help you with cooking. Even better,
allow them to copy what you do so that they actually make their portion on
their own. When they’re allowed to cook for themselves (even though you’ll
obviously be right there to check everything), kids will surely want to taste
and consume their own little cooking masterpiece. This is the first step in
getting them to willingly try something healthy without throwing a tantrum.
Be
creative with food prep
Kids like things that look nice. The same goes for food as
well. It’s no wonder that they like sweets and snacks so much when the packaging is so appealing. Instead of
worrying that you can’t beat the sparkly candy wrap, use the power of your
creativity in kitchen. That being said, you can use different molds and even
different plate arrangement that would appeal to the child’s sensibility more.
When they see something they find attractive they’ll most likely want to try it as well.
When they see something they find attractive they’ll most likely want to try it as well.
Make
healthy taste great
Parents generally worry that their kids won’t get enough
vitamins and nutrients from food if they constantly refuse snacks such as
fruits and nuts. If kids constantly ask for sweets, make them a healthy sweet.
Fruits can be turned into smoothies and ice creams, which is a great way to
actually get your child interested in healthy eating. There are many recipes online that feature
this particular issue, so don’t forget to check these out. Basically, if you
throw in a broccoli in a blender with strawberries and bananas, your child
won’t really notice. But you can use their smoothie love to mention the
ingredients and how tasty all of these can actually be if prepared properly.
Let your child know that there are many possibilities.
Set
an example
If you constantly eat junk and
unhealthy food, you can’t expect your child to lead a healthy lifestyle either.
You have to be their role model and show them how enjoyable it is to ditch bad
habits. Make sure they brush their teeth regularly. Other thing that you could
do is go for dental checkups together with your kids. According
to a renowned dentist from Sydney, when kids actually see their
parents interact with and respect the dentist, they will try to do the same.
All you need to do is take the trouble to find a clinic that will be fun and
amusing for your child. When they start trusting a dentist, kids will have one
additional positive influence in their life telling them about the importance
of healthy food and good habits.
Whenever you need to explain something to your kids and
teach them a valuable lesson, it’s essential that you keep your cool and stay
caring and calm above else. Children who are quick to throw a tantrum will not
react well if you approach them angrily and clearly irritated. Therefore,
patience and love are the key if you want to complete all the steps to teaching
your child how to behave and eat well.
