In a previous blog post, we discussed how to motivate picky eaters to try new foods or foods that are unfamiliar to them. In this post, we would like to address picky eaters that do not like eating altogether. This can also relate to children who refused to eat healthy foods. We believe that parents should never force a child to eat a food they do not want to eat. Anything that is forced intensely is hated.
Avoid forcing your child intensely to eat or try foods they don’t want to try. Instead, offer them food and when they try even a tiny bit of it, reinforce with lots and lots of encouragement. Positive reinforcement is the most powerful tool that a parent has in this situation. Do not make your child feel like they are doing a chore by eating those vegetables you’re forcing down their throat. When something is forced or made a chore, it takes away from its pleasure. Subtle reinforcement and influence are key so that children have a healthy relationship with food. Encouraging healthy foods is way better than making it a chore and a tug of war between you and your child.
Mothers who limit the number of unhealthy snacks in the house win
A study at the University of Southampton found that mothers who limited the number of unhealthy snacks in the house, while they offered healthy fruits and vegetables within reach had better results and improvement with their children. Keeping healthy choices within your child’s reach in the house will improve their eating habits. When your child asks for a snack, inform them of the options they have. In the above study, parents who did not implement this simple strategy saw fewer results and improvements for children between the age of 2 and 5. For many children, changing the environment and lots of encouragement can result in better eating habits and tremendous improvement. It is important to keep in mind that these subtle improvements have long-lasting consequences.
Now for children who have been eating unhealthy foods or specific categories of foods only. Here is what we professionals use as a strategy. Have the foods that your child already loves to eat for instance if its McDonald’s Nuggets; place different amounts on plates (to start try 2 plates). On another 2 plates have small amounts of the food you trying to introduce into their diet. The parent can use the ‘FIRST and THAN‘ strategy. So you can say “First I need you to eat this (the broccoli) before you get your nuggets. Please see the below demonstration of images. If your child refuses to eat the broccoli, remove the food from the table and wait 30 minutes and try again. Once they eat the first plate, you give them the plate with the nuggets. You keep rotating between the healthy new food and the food they love until all the plates are finished. Gradually and over time your child will eat more of the food they dislike by increasing the amount gradually. Soon you will be able to place both the nuggets and the broccoli on the same plate and your child will eat them both.
Certainly, there are children that need and require specific reinforcements and additional help. Depending on the specific circumstances, there is a whole list of things that parents can do to address picky eating as we do with clients. For most children though, a little bit of patience, subtle changes in the environment, and lots of encouragement are all they need. If you have a specific circumstance and would like to share with us for feedback, please do contact us via our social media platforms.