June 16, 2008 09:06 AM EDT
(Updated: June 16, 2008 09:12 AM EDT)
Mealtime, whether it's breakfast together or a family dinner, doesn't have to be as stressful as the rest of your day. Here are some tips for dealing with those picky little eaters:
- Food should be warm or cool, (not hot or cold); a child's mouth is more sensitive than an adult's
- Flavors should be mild, not spicy; a child has more taste buds than an adult
- If you want to avoid waste, serve smaller portions. Don't encourage overeating or fussy eaters by forcing a child to eat everything on the plate.
- When introducing a new food, try serving it during the same meal as a favorite food.
- If your child appears to have lost interest in the meal, or to dawdle, give him/her a reasonable time to eat (20-30 minutes) then quietly but firmly remove the food. Most children will eat when they are hungry. Do not force the issue.
- Likes and dislikes may appear suddenly. Be casual about these new food notions. If no one pays special attention to these quirks, they will soon be outgrown.
- Small children prefer to eat with their fingers. Give them small sandwiches, raw veggies, meat cut into bite sizes, fruits and cheese cut into small pieces, and crackers spread with peanut butter or cottage cheese.
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Comments: 10
He has also taking a liking to dipping--he will eat broccoli (finally!) if I let him dip in a little ranch.