Tips on getting your child to eat

Let your child choose how much to eat. A good rule of thumb is to offer 1 tablespoon of each kind of food for each year of your child’s age. Serve small portions and give them the chance to ask for more. Be patient. Offer new foods many times. You may have to offer a […]

Let your child choose how much to eat. A good rule of thumb is to offer 1 tablespoon of each kind of food for each year of your child’s age. Serve small portions and give them the chance to ask for more.

Be patient. Offer new foods many times. You may have to offer a new food 10 to 15 times before your child will try it.

Let your child help. Let him or her choose foods in the grocery store. Find a way they can help prepare the meal, or set the table. If they participate in the different parts of mealtime, they are more likely to eat.

Make things fun. Cut food into shapes with cookie cutters. Display the food in a creative way on your child’s plate. Have your child come up with special names for their favorite foods.

Offer choices. Instead of just serving a vegetable to your toddler, let them choose between two. “Would you like broccoli, cauliflower or okra at dinner?”

Mix new with old. Serve new foods with foods your child already likes. This makes the change a little less intimidating.

Let them dip. Provide healthy dips to encourage your child to try new fruits or vegetables. These could include hummus, yogurt, or low-fat salad dressings.

Set a good example. If your child sees you eating a variety of healthy foods, he or she will be more likely to try them.

Parents could make a list of food that their child likes while ensuring it provides a balanced diet. An online search on Nigerian foods for children, would turn up numerous varieties to help with meal plans for children.

Give your child a heads up.

Ten to 15 minutes before mealtime, tell your child that it will be time to eat soon. Children may be so tired or excited from play activities that they don’t feel like eating. Letting your child know that it is almost time for a meal will give him or her a chance to transition into mealtime.

Establish a routine. Children are more comfortable with routines and predictability. Set regular mealtimes. Have everyone sit in the same place for every meal. Keep things as much the same as you can.

Reserve mealtimes for eating and spending quality time with your family. Don’t let your child play with toys during mealtimes. Reading books or watching television shouldn’t be allowed during mealtimes either. Explain to your child how good it is to eat together. Ask him or her to stay at the table until everyone has eaten.

Make mealtimes pleasant. If mealtimes are pleasant, your child is more likely to look forward to eating. Try to avoid arguments or negativity during mealtime.

Manage your expectations. Don’t expect manners that are too difficult for your child. For example, don’t expect a child who is 3 years old to eat with the proper utensil. For many children, a spoon is much easier to handle than a fork. The child could also eat with their hands.

Source: FamilyDoctor.org