Dealing With A Picky Eater

The “Tiny food connoisseur”

Is your child a picky eater? Interestingly, picky eating is not necessarily an inborn trait, it is often trained-in by unwitting parents. It seems that parents, mothers in particular, have an inherent need to see their child eat. When their child doesn’t eat, a feeling of dread sets in. When a 12 to 18-month-old’s food choices become selective, parents have a tendency to offer something they know the child will eat. The thought of allowing the child to go to bed with an empty stomach is unsettling to many moms.

The problem is, giving your child food options will just have a tendency to make them more picky. Take for example the child who is consistently offered a bowl of cereal before bedtime when they don’t eat their dinner. Each time dinner is served, they are making a choice: “Do I want to eat this, or wait for something better later on?”

The key point is that healthy children will not starve themselves. When they are hungry enough, they will eat. In fact, one of the first steps to becoming a good eater is for the child to learn that when they eat, they feel good. When they don’t eat, they don’t feel good.

By one-year of age, get in the habit of only offering your child the same foods you are eating. Pursue a good variety of healthy vegetables, fruits, meats and dairy products. Avoid processed foods or foods with added sugar. Don’t become a short order cook for your tiny food connoisseur. If she eats, wonderful. If she doesn’t eat, don’t sweat it. Allow her to learn by experience. Your child will have a much more balanced diet in the long run and you will avoid years of mealtime struggles.