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Overview

Food Sources

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Recommendations

Prevention

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REFUSING TO EAT WHAT IS SERVED

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.

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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.

Allowing your child to be in control of food intake may seem hard at first, especially if you grew up with rules and rewards. However, it will help promote healthy eating habits for a lifetime.

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Review Date: 11/30/2009
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).