Parenting has its ups and downs. Some days you feel like you have been blessed with angels, and other days you might struggle to complete the simplest tasks with them. Everyone who has gone through parenthood understands just how difficult raising a child can be. Not only do you have to financially provide for them, but you have to be able to emotionally support them at each stage of their development. Providing them with adequate nutrition is one important, and yet often difficult, responsibility that parents have.
As conscientiously as you cook and cool, and chop healthy ingredients for your child, there will inevitably be a struggle when you have a picky eater. Some children refuse to eat vegetables, while other children steadfastly refuse to eat almost anything at all- or so its seems as a parent. Knowing how to encourage picky eaters to put fork to mouth is invaluable when you are a tired parent who has tried almost anything to get your child to eat.
Reward rather than punish
Rather than punishing children for not eating, try to reward them when they try new food or eat food that they usually do not eat. Reward charts are excellent ways to motivate children to eat, and rather than making it about the type of food itself, try stimulating your child’s other senses by rewarding your child based on the new colors they have eaten, or their counting skills as they eat a certain number of any food. This will make eating an educational and fun experience for them, and not make it a battle between child and food.
Give them a veto card
There will always be something that any given person refuses to eat. All of us have a certain food that we really can’t stand, and wouldn’t dream of eating. This will be the same with your children. While it is important to encourage your children to try to eat a variety of foods. It is also vital to remember that new foods can be a scary thing for some children, and there are also foods that we don’t derive pleasure from as adults. Giving your children a ‘veto card’ – that is an opportunity to pass on an ingredient, will make them feel more comfortable and allow them to decide which foods they can tolerate and which foods are a no go. This is a gentler way to encourage your children to eat, by showing them that you respect their tastes. Providing children with an option means that they have a choice, albeit a small choice, and will make them more likely to eat everything on their plate if they are able to choose not to eat one thing.
Get them involved in the kitchen
Have fun in the kitchen with your child. Cooking with your children will allow them to get familiar with ingredients, and take away a lot of fear surrounding new foods. There are many recipes that you can look at together. Fortunately, it is easy to find any recipe you want online, and If you want to make some delicious stuffed peppers there will be many recipes to choose from at the click of a mouse. Children learn through touch and taste, so let them come with you to the supermarket and try new foods that they choose.
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