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Tackling the problem eater

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patient leaflet

 

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Meal times can sometimes be a battle. Your child has refused to eat another meal and seems to survive on only a few favourite foods!

What tactics can you use to help your toddler eat a wider variety of foods and make mealtimes more enjoyable for everyone?

Fruit and vegetables

Young children commonly go through a phase when they will not eat fruit and vegetables. It is often the texture they don’t like, so try stewing fruit and adding vegetable purees to soups and casseroles. (It is reassuring to know that even chips contain some vitamin C). Fruit juice can be used to supply the vitamins lost if solid fruit is refused.

Meat and fish

Again it is often the texture which puts children off, so try mincing meat or flaking fish well and then mix only a small amount with plenty of mashed potato. If your child likes cheese, add that to the mash as well.

Dairy products

Milk is still an important food for preschoolers. Stick to the full-fat variety until your child is at least two, then it is OK to swap to semi-skimmed if you wish. If plain milk is refused, try milk shakes, custard or rice pudding. Yoghurt and cheese are also good alternatives.

Bread, rice, pasta and breakfast cereals

Try different types, you may just hit on a variety they like! Don’t always stick to wholemeal and high-fibre brands as they can be very filling for a toddler with a small stomach. They may also prefer the texture of white bread.

Keep it small

A big plate piled high may be off-putting to a small child especially if they are faddy eaters, so keep portions small – you can always give seconds.

New with old

When introducing a new food always give it alongside an old favourite. Just give a very small portion and don’t make a fuss if the food is refused, simply try again a few weeks later.

Let them choose

If getting your child to eat anything is a problem, let them choose their own food. This works best if other children are there too. Seeing their friends eating a new food may make
them want to try it.

Get them involved

Let your child help with food preparation or table laying. If they feel involved it may help.

And finally...

It’s worth remembering that a healthy child when offered a variety of foods will not voluntarily starve. It is also true that most faddy phases will pass in a few months. So for now, try not to worry.

 

Published March 1997

This leaflet is provided through an educational grant from The Sugar Bureau.
6 Catherine Street, London WC2B 5JJ
www.sugar-bureau.co.uk

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