Live Chat Transcript w/ author Annabel Karmel on child nutrition.

I will try to be there~

I started to write my books because I lost my first child and then when my son was born and turned out to be such a fussy eater I felt very  vulnerable and so wanted him to eat well.  Am sure there are many other parents like me who get frustrated when their child refuses to eat somehting and says he doesnt like it without even having tasted it .  If you want some tips, recipes or advice on fussy eaters or any other issues on feeding babies, children or just ideas on what to make for  a quick family supper do join in today at 3.30pm.

If you have never tried any of my recipes take a look at my website www.annabelkarmel.com there are hundresds of recipes on the site for all occasions and I have 12 books in the US all on feeding children...

Going to try hard to be there.  James didn't use to be so fussy on vegetables and fruit but now he is.  Really need this one.

cute book title

I will try!

Sounds great! I hope to be here.

Gideon's getting better about being fussy since he started school, but still he often says "I don't like school's _____" when he likes it at home. Then there's hamburgers which he ONLY will eat at school. He won't eat Mc Donald's or any that I've bought here. :(

Its interesting , sometimes children will eat something at shool that they would not eat at home.  I think its peer pressure . And sometimes children will play up more with their mum or dad than with a stranger.  I have a delicious recipe for burgers in my new book 'Your Feeding Questions Answered'  I put shallot, grated apple, balsamic vinegar, ketchup and a touch of honey in the burgers.  Its a really easy recipe to make and children love it. The good thing about making your own burgers is that you know that you are using good quality beef.  Try adding a little grated apple to a burger it keeps them moist and gives them a lovely flavour..you can find recipes for burgers on my website annabelkarmel.com  Enjoy !  

I sure could use these tips!

What a great book

I'll try to be there. I think that I have to be there an hour earlier on my time though. Haha.

Hi All,

The chat begins in 15 minutes. See you all soon!

Good Afternoon Everyone!

Welcome to our live chat on healthy eating for your children. Today we're joined by author and child nutrition expert Annabel Karmel. She recently wrote the new bookI Can Eat a Rainbow. You could win a copy by joining us during this chat! Without further ado, please welcome Annabel and post your questions.

To see new comments posted, please refresh your internet browsers!

Hi there everyone am looking forward to your questions. I thought I would start off with  a tip that helped with my children ..

Try to make mealtimes a really positive experience. One of the most important things is to hide your frustration. Praise your child excessively when he or she eats well or tries something new. You may need to ignore some bad behaviour but this may make mealtimes less stressful for you too..

If your child refuses to eat anything other than junk food chill out. He or she will soon find there's not much point making a fuss if you don't react..

Annabel - I have one question to start off with. When do children typically outgrow the "picky eater" stage?

Its a difficult question but good advice is not to pander and give in as the more you give children just a few favorite foods, the more you encourage them to be extremely fussy.  Its a good idea to include as much variety as you can and try to eat with your child as often as possible. Another good ruse is to tell your child that she cant eat what is on your  plate - you know children they always want what they can't have.. 

Hello everyone!

Annabel~ Do you think children are naturally picky eaters or that they pick it up from the adults.

I think most children go thru a fussy stage. They like to recognise what they are eating and are oftne afraid of trying something new. Often I find that they say they don't like something but its frustrating because they haven't tried it. Sometimes you may need to coax your child to eat with a star chart in the kitchen and when they get six stars they get a treat like staying up to wathc their favorite TV program or sometimes you may need to disguise foods like vegetables and blend them into a tomato sauce for pasta just to get your child to break the pattern and try something knew..

Fortunately I've never had a problem with my dd being a picky eater.  I am also able to get my neices and nephews to try or eat about anything.  I really think approach and attitude has a lot to do with it.  Like you said before you can't show frustration.

I don't really have a question and my son is grown up but I do take care of my grandsons on occasion, one of which can be a fussy eater. I hope to get some tips here today.

Hi everyone

The reason that I ask is that my dd has always been an excellent eater.  My dh and I are professional eaters though.  LOL

I have two nephews that have to rank in the pickiest eaters category but my sil has always said "oh they won't like that" to anything she doesn't like and not encouraged them to try new things.

Hello everyone!

Hi Kimber L.

Hello Ann W

I have found i keep healthier "junk" foods around like yogurt covered raisins and banana chips and various other sweet dried fruits

Good idea!

I find that children are starving when they come home from school so just simple things like cutting up fruit and having it on a plate or threading bite sized pieces of fruit onto a straw makes it more appealing. Its worth spending a few minutes making some tasty nutritious snack for when your child comes home like a wrap as one thing is for sure - a hungry child is a less fussy child..A x

I have heard that children have more tastebuds than adults and that is why they are pickier.  However, my one daughter has always been picky and the other eats just about anything.

Maybe this is why I like things now I hated as a kid - makes sense to me

Me too!

I think this may be true. Many parents are surprised that young children kije eating fiids kije mild curries and I have a lot of oriental style recipes in my books. For example if your child loves peanut butter how about making Chicken Satay ? A x

I also got her interested in salad by ordering it seperate and not sharing saying it is my tooi yummy grownup food not for kids.  THEN of course she wants it.  My kids actually have argued in a restaurnat over who got to finish my salad - I have been very lucky

I like that idea~

I make this amazing salad dressing and my children all want to eat salad when they come home from school. Its a sort of Japanese style dressing flavored with rice wine vinegar, mirin and soy sauce. So the secret to getting them to enjoy eating salad is to come up with a tasty dressing.. 

I was very fortunate that I have a child who is not picky what so ever!

Our biggest challenge is when we go out to eat she would rather have salmon, filets, steak etc rather than the chicken fingers, burgers and hot dogs that are normally offered on kids menus.  I've noticed that even in the nicest restaurants they usually offer junk on the children's menus.

Its the world over, its just as bad in the UK. Why do children get offered the worst quality food ? I have a range of foods that are served in England and my food is now served in all the theme parks like Legoland, Thorpe Park Alton Towers  etc..- I make dishes like a spaghetti Bolognese but with 6 vegetables blended into the sauce and we deliver the meals frozen to theme parks hotels and restaurants. We are about to  do the kids menus  in all the Hilton Hotels and whats great is that kids eat free !

What a great idea.  Any chance your dishes will be available in theme parks in the US soon?

Thats a good idea Kimber.

Thanks :)

JK--I notice that menus are getting better, though.

Yes, this is true.  I will often order a large adult item and share and maybe pair with an appetizer.  I can't believe so many parents don't feel guilty going to a nice restaurant and treating themselves to good food then offering their kids junky food. 

Sometimes you are better off ordering a small portion from the adult menu. What I have noticed though is that children like Chinese food and Japanese food and even mild curries and sometimes the food in these restaurants is better than the stereotyped chicken nuggets and fries you find on kids menus 

Annabel Karmel - CONGRATS on your book - I plan to buy a copy for my sister who is having a baby in September - my first neice from one of my siblings! lol

I want to get the book for my son and his wife. They seem to have more troubles at feeding time than I do when I have the kids. LOL

Hi everyone

Hello everyone!  I am wondering how long you should cook veggies or if they are better raw.  If I serve them raw, the kids always seem to want to dip them or they won't eat them and that's not quite as healthy.

Are children with allergies of any kind pickier eaters? 

My cousin was a picky eater with a peanut allergy.  Funny thing was he usually wanted to eat those things with peanuts! 

My youngest grandson is allergic to milk but he is not picky at all. He will eat anything you put in front of him. LOL

My son has food allergies...and he is not picky at all.

I'm not sure I like this reply to a comment thing on chats. I have to keep going back to skim through to make sure I don't miss anything. I'll probably have to reread the whole thing when its over. LOL

Sorry keep getting interrupted.

Hello Desiree! 

I'm glad you made it!

Thanks JK! I was trying to clean. The kids need naps too but it can wait a few more minutes.

I love the idea of a "rainbow" of foods by the way.  It makes it sound so much more fun!

Taking my kids to the whole foods market, even though it's a little more expensive, is worth it. The kids can then see and pick out some of the fresh fruits and veggies. Last time we were there, we found purple sweet potatoes. They are so neat. Angela loves to eat lemons, like you would an orange.

Purple pod beans, that turn green when you cook them are fun to get and eat also.

I wish there was a whole foods market close to me!

We are trying to grow our own veggies this year to get the kids into eating more of them.  I also like to go fruit picking because they will eat more if they pick it themselves.  Strawberries will be next.

We are too!

I have an extremely picky eater! It's almost 12 so I don't think it is a stage for him.

I was pretty picky till I was an adult!

I have been putting things on my picky daughter's plate and asking her to take one bite.  She is finding out that some things that she "hates" she likes now!

At least she is trying it!  That is a start.

We are growing some our own veggies this summer too. The kids have loved helping take care of them. I think we eat a pretty well balanced diet. Well other than my oldest.

My dd loves to garden with my parents.  I think kids are excited to try new things if it is something they have grown.  Gardening is so good for kids on so many levels.

Uh oh! I think I ran everyone off!

Did you run them off?

LOL

Desiree we are still here.  Looks like the chat is over in 5 min.

woohoo people are still here. I hate the 1/2 hour chats.

Not long enough for chatty ones like us!

This is a great topic too!

Anabelle, what are some of your suggestions for getting kids to try new foods?

making food look atrractive can help so making a small portion in a ramekin dish or making mini meatballs that children can pick up with their fingers . Occasionally disguising food if children are very fussy - blending cauliflower into a mac and cheese or mashing potato with carrot and a little butter and milk or blending vegetables like carrot zuchini and sweet pepper into a tomato sauce

am I too late?

I don't think so. Welcome!

Welcome.  It says we will be chatting until 4.

thanks Ann

MY kids are definately not picky eaters. I didn't let them become picky when they were little. They ate the same things we did, and if they didn't like it, oh well. I didn't fix them anything else...missing a meal won't kill 'em, and they won't starve.

MOM!

LOL

You sound just like my Mom when I was growing up.   It didn't hurt me.  I turned out ok!

I think you are right. Children are much more likely to try something new if they are hungry and some children never feel hungry and fill up on junk food so much better that you say 'fine you aren't hungry so go off and play ' they wont refuse food too often once they know that nothing else is on offer if they dont eat what you preare..its much better than taking everything out the cupboard as then they know they can manipulate you !

Hi all, we are quickly running out of time. Unfortunately we only have about 5 minutes left. Annabel will try to answer as many questions as possible before then.

Anabelle do you think hiding food under cheeze ... to get kids to eat vegtables is right?

I can't see that even working.

it does on ocassion kids think they're eating something else but if you have the ciruos child they ....

thanks Stefanie

Is there an alternative to dairy when it affects your sinuses and allergies?

I have found that if you start feeding children fish (not fried) when they are little, they grow to love it!  My kids, ages 2 and 5, request fish all the time.

Mine too!  Fish is so good for them too!

thats good I'm not a fan of fish myself

Has anyone had success with smoothies?  I have tried but my girls don't like them.

Yes.  I love them so does dd.  (I just wish our smoothie maker cleaned itself!)

We use the magic bullet.  All parts go in the dishwasher!

I really want to get the magic bullet for health shakes and smoothies!

I really don't like fish. I use to but I cleaned one time and never have been able to stomach it since then. LOL

I don't blame you.  I said a long time ago that if I had lived in a time where you had to clean and prepare your own meat I would never have survived.

That's true for me! My Uncle wanted me to do chickens, I said no way I like them too much!

Annabel, the book cover looks cute!  I am going to have to look for it.

I agree!

I'm thinking this will be perfect for my nephews.

Smoothies are good! Depends on what the kids want on theirs. Maybe you should have them decide what goes in.

We have tried.  I think it is a texture thing.  I wish I had started them when they were younger.

Thanks for creating a book for children--nutrition is so important!

I agree!  Especially in this day and age when a lot of folks live via drive thru dining!

I hope that is one thing that will come from this poor economy- more people eating less at the drive thru and more at home.  It's much healthier not to mention less expensive.

is Annabel still answering questions?

My son likes sushi....and I don't get it.

We fed our kids all kinds of different foods, including ethenic foods, when they were little. My kids still ask for things like hummus and tabouli.

That's great!

I love sushi!

My time flies! Unfortunately we've reached 4PM ET already. Gather members, you are encouraged to stay and chat with one another about nutrition for your children for the next 30 minutes (until 4:30PM ET). If you stay, you'll be entered in the drawing for Gather Points™ and Annabel's new book!

Annabel Karmel, thank you for joining us today! Thank you for providing us with such useful tips. We are all excited to learn more about I Can Eat a Rainbow.

Everyone can learn more nutrition tips at Annabel's website www.annabelkarmel.com.

cool

Thanks Stephanie and Annabel. I've learned a few things. I'll definately check out that link.

Thanks ladies!

My son was reading over my shoulder and now he wants a smoothie!  This is good!!

lol thats cute

My daughter would like one too...LOL

That is good!

The power of suggestion! 

At least we weren't talking about junk food!

LOL, I am glad we weren't talking about junk food!

What kind will you make?

I will check out her site for more nutrition tips.  My daughter is artistic and love color so rainbow foods would appeal to her...

sounds good

I need to get the 3 year old down for a nap, then maybe I can make it back.

Hurry! Desiree!

Thanks Stefanie for extending the chat!

Thanks for the chat Stefanie! I also like the new feature where we can reply to certain comments. Makes a chat way easier.

Desiree t sure does lol!

Yes.  I agree.  It's nice to be able to reply to an individual comment.  I would think that it would also be easier for the host to follow.

I am finding it to be harder. I have to keep going back and rereading so I don't miss anything. It must be a sign of old age. LOL

I am going to make a smoothie for my son.  Have a few things I can add, I do wish I had that magic bullet.  The blender works great, too, though.  Be back in a few!