Medical Health Encyclopedia

The taste rule -- "You have to at least taste each food on your plate" -- may work on some children. However, if your child is defiant, you may just start an unnecessary war. Children mimic adult behavior, and if another family member will not eat new foods, you cannot expect your child to experiment.

Try not to label your child's eating habits. Food preferences change with time and just because Sally didn't like carrots the first time she tried them doesn't mean she will not like them later on. It may seem like a waste of food at first, but over the long run a child who accepts a large variety of food makes meal planning and preparation easier.

REFUSING TO EAT WHAT IS SERVED

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Refusing to eat what is served can be a power tool for many children. Imagine the chaos when a family is sitting at the table and suddenly young Michael decides he wants something other than what is offered. Mother races to prepare the dish only to have it turned down and something else requested.

Some parents go to great lengths to ensure that food intake is adequate. Healthy children will eat enough if offered a variety of nutritious foods. Your child may eat "like a bird" at one meal, and make up for it at another meal or snack.

SNACKS

Providing scheduled meals and snack times is important for children. Kids need a lot of energy, and snacks are essential. However, snacks do not mean treats. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grain products should be at the top of your snack list. Some snack ideas include fruit popsicles, fruit juice, milk, vegetable sticks, fruit wedges, mixed dry cereal, pretzels, melted cheese on a tortilla or a small sandwich.

As a parent, your role in your child's eating should be fairly simple. Provide a variety of foods at set meal and snack times and allow your child to choose foods based on expressed likes, dislikes, and caloric needs. Forcing, coercing or rewarding your child with food does not usually make your child eat better, and can cause behavioral problems related to food later on. These problems often linger into adulthood.