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How to get your child to eat in 15 easy steps

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2022-09-24 14:30:40

Eating together as a family is very important to create a positive mealtime routine. If possible, we turn off the screens and put away the phones. Let's use this time to talk together and have fun.

Positive moment

By creating a fun time, the child will view mealtime in a positive light and be more likely to actively participate.

Cooking together

Cooking together as a family, in a fun and simple way, will encourage your child to taste the fruits of their efforts! The most important part of cooking together as a family is accepting that there will be a little chaos. Yes, there might be some mess. Let your kids experiment, learn and most importantly have fun! Afterwards, you can clean up as a family!

Buffet

The buffet is a great way to reduce the anxiety associated with family meals. It's very simple: all the food is in the center of the table, the main course, the side dishes and the dessert, if there is one. The children can then help themselves freely and we do not have to intervene. By implementing this approach, parents no longer have to manage the children's portions. It takes a high level of letting go and trust, but the results are amazing!

Food neutrality

Food neutrality is seeing all foods as equal, both in your words and in your attitude. This means that every food is neither good nor bad. If you don't tell your child not to eat too much broccoli, the same should be true for ice cream.

Gradual, no-obligation food discovery

If you want to introduce a new food to your child, this is a great idea. To make it work, make it fun! There should be no obligation to taste. In fact, to taste a new food, the child needs to explore it safely first. He or she should be able to refuse to eat it the first time and be allowed to spit it out. This way, your child will know that he can explore the new food without fearing your reaction. Don't despair if he doesn't taste it the first time. Imagine being presented with a food for the first time, such as bugs, it's likely to take several exposures before tasting and you may need to explore the food with all your senses: looking at it, smelling it, licking it, etc. For successful exploration, don't forget to offer the new food with other more familiar foods. Happy exploring!

Confidence

Trust your child to determine the portions he should eat. Only he knows what his body needs.

Being an example

Children watch us a lot. So being an example by working on our own relationship with food is essential!

The parent's responsibility

Your responsibility is simple: provide a meal for the child according to your family's meal schedule. In short, you choose two things: the schedule and the foods available.

The child's responsibility

On his or her part, the child has the responsibility to choose whether to eat, what to eat, and how much to eat. This is not your responsibility. In fact, no one knows better than your child if he or she is hungry.

Dessert or not

What is dessert? Yes, it can be a sweet food, but dessert could also be fruit or yogurt, etc. It is up to you to choose what you offer the child.

No restrictions

Goodbye restrictions! Let your kids eat sweets! Indeed, the feeling of restrictions can sometimes lead children to throw themselves into sweets as if there was no tomorrow. On the other hand, if children know that the food will always be available, they will be more attuned to their internal signals of satiety. Of course, you are still in control of what is available and how often.

The threats

"Eat a broccoli and you'll get dessert!". We've all felt like saying that at one time or another. We want so much for our children to eat well! However, this only adds anxiety on us and our child. The best solution is to allow dessert for everyone. Dessert can be a sweet treat, fruit or yogurt. You choose what is on the table.

Fun!

Fun! — Credit: Credit: Jill Wellington / Pesels

In short, mealtime should be a fun and positive time for the whole family!

Pediatric Nutritionists

Here is a wonderful page to take you further!

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