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Battling Picky Eaters

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Mealtimes can be battles when our children are picky eaters. They can be next to impossible to get through. With some knowledge and tips, anyone can overcome the meal time battles and get even the biggest of picky eaters to eat healthy and happily.

Stay calm.
The first tip may seem like it has little to do with food, but is actually quite important. No matter the mood they get into, it is important to remain calm. Getting stressed out or upset about the meal time will only cause an escalation in their behaviour and before you know it no one will be eating.

Start out small.
Try offering them just a little bit at a time. Offering large plates overflowing with food can be overwhelming. Try offering just a few things at a time, or offering a buffet style meal where they can choose how much they want of what, ensuring everything on the table is a healthy choice.

Limit the liquid.
It is often tempting to stop the tantrum with a glass of milk or juice, but it can cause a whole other problem. By giving them liquid, they are filling up on liquid calories and may have no room for the food.

Mix up meals.
If need be, scramble the meals around. Kids don't care if they are having pancakes for dinner. They are more than happy to eat it whenever. This means that if we find them more receptive of new foods in the morning by all means give them fruit slices and veggie sticks for breakfast.

Make food fun.
Cutting foods into shapes with cookie cutters can make all the difference. Cutting a tuna salad sandwich into a star may make it the most appealing meal they have ever eaten, where as if it were served just as a sandwich it will be pushed aside with a scream.

Side it up.
Some kids hate their foods mixed. If this is the case it may be easier for us to just serve it on the side. A sandwich could become slices of bread with the peanut butter in a scoop on the side. Fruit salads may be more appealing as single fruits instead of the salad form. Whatever makes it more appealing, makes our lives easier and our picky eaters that much healthier.

Stay with the routine.
Children fall readily into routine and become quite disruptive when things fall outside of the routine. By keeping mealtimes at a scheduled time children are more likely to eat what they are given, because they will be hungry and will know that the kitchen is closed at other times.

Picky eaters don't have to make a mess of meal time. We can feed them healthy foods and also keep our sanity by following some of the tips and tricks provided.

Article by Rachel Goodchild