I’m A Nutritionist And These Are 10 Ways To Deal With Fussy Eaters — And Why Kids SHOULD Have Dessert Every Day
With nearly three-quarters of parents saying their kids are fussy eaters, a nutritionist revealed that family holidays can really inspire kids to shake up their meals.
Child nutritionist Sarah Almond Bushell revealed that children change their eating habits when eating is a pleasurable experience and helping them use all their senses is very important.
She said, “Eating shouldn’t be a chore and repeatedly encouraging experimentation through discovery and play and involving children in their food choices is key to expanding picky palettes.”
As a result, TUI BLUE decided to launch Adventurous Appetites, which offers food-related activities such as Odd Bites where children can try very unexpected food combinations.
And Kids Á La Carte, where children are assigned to open their own restaurant and the first customers are their parents.
When questioned, 90 percent of the kids revealed the weird food combinations they’d try, including noodles and melted cheese, potato chips drizzled in chocolate, pizza topped with cornflakes and broccoli, and ice cream.
Sarah shared the top ten tips to help parents encourage more adventurous appetites.
Child nutritionist Sarah Almond Bushell revealed that children change their eating habits when eating is a pleasurable experience and it is very important to help them use all their senses (stock image)
1. Follow a pattern
Eating schedules help little mouths feel safe and full. Schedule meals and snacks and leave at least 2.5 hours between one and the next. Resort meals can help establish these routines.
2. Find time to eat with the family
Vacations provide a great opportunity to share meals together away from everyday stress.
Eating together with your children helps introduce them to unfamiliar foods while watching you eat and following your lead.
3. No stress
It’s easier said than done, but taking stress off the table encourages kids to eat more. Parents should focus on providing the food while children decide what to eat. Use our Healthy Eating Challenge to put kids in control so they can choose based on the scorecard – and collect rewards.
4. Serve family style
Set the table with a variety of serving dishes and let your kids serve themselves and you from the selection of dishes. This is a great way to take advantage of the all-inclusive buffet at your resort and make your little one feel like they are still in charge of what goes into their mouths.
5. Introduce a learning plate
Use a side plate for a small amount of new food and encourage children to explore it with their 5 senses, not just their taste buds. Playful learning and experimentation is important – and at least on vacation someone else can help with the mess!
6. Try it before you sell it
Make sure the kids see you try new dishes and comment on how delicious they are. Don’t pressure them to try new choices, but arouse their curiosity. Actions rather than words!
7. Make eating fun
30 percent of parents have used cookie cutters to make their kids’ food look more interesting.
Since children ‘eat with their eyes’, make sure the food looks pretty to encourage more bites. Why not try the Healthy Eating Challenge to reward your little ones when they try new foods in different colours.
8. Talk about the food
Focus on the food not the food. For example, talk about where the food comes from, what color it is, how it tastes and smells and not whether your child ate it or not, or even whether they liked it.
9. Choose daily desserts
While 41 percent of parents use sugary treats to encourage adventurous eating, it’s better to make dessert a regular part of every meal rather than a reward for kids after eating their plate. In other words, let them loose on the dessert buffet!
10. Get active
Take advantage of the holiday weather and plan an energetic activity each morning.
Activities like getting them in the pool or a trip to the beach will help your child arrive at the lunch table with an appetite and enough to want to try new foods.