7 Easy Tips for Feeding Young Children

Let’s admit the fact that we sometimes (if not all the time) get frustrated when our child wiggles around and play with their food while eating. Such behavior can really test our patience with them.  Most of the time children refuse or demand certain food. Some children eat a lot but more often they tend to eat little.

It might help to know that these behavior of the children are normal. Parents should not be stress out but instead should deal with these situations calmly.

Try these tactics to reduce the stress and tensions triggered  when feeding your kids:

• Lead by example. Be a role model in practicing good eating habits.The best role models for good eating habits are the adults and older children.  Older children who have been allowed to choose  what they want to eat are less likely to criticize a food, discouraging other children from eating it, too. Show your children that you eat fruits and vegetables with every meal (if you don’t, they won’t!).

• Let a child be a child. Expect and be patient with child-like table manners.Be patient with children’s  idiosyncransies. A child may think a sandwich isn’t really a sandwich unless it’s cut diagonally, want milk served in one cup and juice in another, or expect the customary place mat same side up every time. For the child, these are important parts of the meal. These needs generally fade overtime.
• Be consistent with meal schedules. Serve meals on a regular time, preferably before the children get overly hungry, tired and/or irritable. When children refuses to eat a regular meal or snack and then return to the kitchen  just as it’s cleaned up asking for something to eat, tell them pleasantly that the next meal  or snack will be forthcoming at the usual time. The keyword here is “pleasantly”.  A child will not starve in that short time  and will learn to observe a regular eating schedule.
• Make mealtimes safe and comfortable. Select chairs, tables and eating utensils suitable in structure and size for children.Make the child’s chair  a comfortable height.  Provide a foot support to prevent leg fatigue.  Provide tip-and spill-proof glasses for drinks.
• Serve enticing dishes/foods.Whenever appropriate, arrange dishes attractively on plates to stimulate children’s appetite. Make fruits and vegetables interesting to eat. Cut fruits and vegetables in small fancy-shaped pieces.
• Keep dishes simple-flavored. Children like dishes that are not spicy and strong-tasting. Children usually do not like spicy or hot seasoned foods until they are elementary-school age or even older.
• Make mealtimes pleasant and enjoyable. Encourage a happy talk to promote good appetite among children.When children finish quickly  or eat little or nothing, have them stay at the table for a few minutes and talk pleasantly  about the day’s activities  and tomorrow’s plans.  Mealtimes are not occasions for discipline  or unpleasant discussion.

Eating should be a pleasurable experience. If you’re nagging or arguing with your children, it’s because you’re allowing it to happen. Keep table conversation light and fun, and encourage everyone to participate. And for the last tip, try to not argue with spouses while eating.  Resist to handle any differences  after mealtime much more away from the children.

Additional Resources:

E.M. Satter. How to Get Your Kid to Eat: But Not Too Much . Palo Alto: Bull Publishing Co., 1987.

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