How to tempt a fussy eater

EATING together as a family even when you are following the WW programme can be a good way to encourage fussy eaters to try a greater variety of foods.

‘It gives you the chance to model healthy eating patterns that younger family members can copy, rather than simply telling them what to eat and having a battle,‘ says WW’s Julia Westgarth.

‘It is also a great opportunity to help your teenagers and younger children to learn to see food as fuel that has an i mportant effect on how well our bodies function.

‘You’ll be doing them a big favour if you can help them understand that our bodies need a wide range of foods for a properly balanced diet and to stay healthy.

‘Try to steer away from talking about food as a reward for good behaviour, as this can help them to build an unhealthy relationship with food in the future.’

Involve the rest of the family wherever possible in food preparation — whether it’s choosing which recipe you’ll enjoy together in the evening or helping with the shopping or food preparation. Not to mention the washing up! ‘You’ll find it not only makes your life easier, but makes mealtimes healthier and more interesting for everyone,’ says Julia.

Another tip for family supper times is to put your own portion on a separate plate (so you can be sure that you’re on track f or your daily SmartPoints Budget) and leave the rest in a large bowl in the centre of the table so everyone else can serve themselves.

‘This teaches younger members of the family to judge how much they want to eat and to learn to recognise when they are full, which in turn helps them to develop a healthy relationship with food,’ says Julia.

Numerous scientific studies show that sitting down to eat a meal together helps all generations to handle the stresses of daily life. It gives you time to talk over recent events and simply enjoy each other’s company — and the delicious food.