Beware the picky eater

Are you at your wits’ end with your child and his picky eating habits? Terésa Coetzee shares a few tips from a dietician on how to deal with a picky eater

WE ALL KNOW the feeling of helplessness that comes from sitting at a table with a toddler who refuses to eat. This is the time that you need hair on your teeth, because this is not a war you are likely going to win. Often, even the best trick in the books is not enough to get your child to eat.

To make matters worse, you have to deal with moms who brag about their child’s fantastic eating habits – even garlic, olives and sushi! They usually fall within the category of moms whose children sleep through the night.

Fact is, you do have the right to feel concerned if your child refuses to eat or if he does not eat very well, especially if

this has been going on for a few days or a few weeks.

What your child eats determines how healthy they are and how they grow and develop. If they do not eat properly they cannot grow to reach their full potential. Parents often have unrealistic ideas about how much a child is supposed to eat, says Johannesburg dietician Amanda Weber. As parents we often forget that our little ones could have eaten at school.

Children eat better if they are around other children compared to when they are at home.

“A child’s appetite differs to that of an adult. You may be used to eating a big meal at night, while children nibble

during the day and may not be hungry at night. Sometimes children are just too tired to eat at night,” says Amanda.

NATURAL BORN EATERS Research has shown that good eaters are born and not made. Some children are born being picky eaters while others develop the habit within a few weeks. “Picky eaters have normally been struggling with feeding since birth, regardless of whether they were breastor bottle-fed. There is a definite link between babies who have difficulty feeding and colic. Picky eaters tend to avoid certain textures and flavours and will avoid eating certain foods from the

start,” says Amanda.

It is possible that children who become picky eaters later in life were exposed to solids too late in life. Do not wait too long before introducing solids. The idea is to introduce solids between the ages of four and six months. See the article on p. 38 for more guidance on exactely when.

Give your child veggies before you introduce fruit. Once he takes a liking to fruits, he may not want to eat his veggies!

THE NIBBLERS Toddlers are often too busy exploring the world around them to be bothered with eating. Children also burn less energy from the age of eighteen months. “Research has shown that no child willingly starve themselves. Nevertheless, the possibility of malnutrition or a shortage of certain nutrients remains a reality,” says Amanda. She draws a distinction between the following shortages:

A LACK OF PROTEIN A lack of protein is not very common among picky eaters because they still get the protein from milk or milkshakes. “In general, children like yoghurt, cheese, peanut butter and ham, which are good sources of protein.”

In some cases children are picky eaters because they drink too much milk or other fluids during the day or at night.

A LACK OF CARBOHYDRATES Amanda says carbohydrates in the form of bread and pasta (even rice) seem to be popular among children, especially a peanut butter sarmie. A child who does not get enough kilojoules in the form of carbohydrates will have a lack of energy and a weak immune system.

IRON DEFICIENCY Children develop an iron deficiency if they do not eat enough iron-rich foods such as eggs and red meat. In this case it might be worth giving your child an iron supplement, but always consult your doctor first.

READY, SET, EAT! Unfortunately there is no magic potion to turn your picky eater into a healthy eating machine. Figuring out clever ways to disguise his veggies is also not the solution.

Research has shown that it is important to expose your child to the same foods if you want to be successful at mastering his eating. “If you want your child to eat a lot of broccoli (or any chosen food) you need to make sure that it is always on his plate and that he is frequently exposed to it. Expect him to ignore it about fifteen times before he finally starts pecking.

“Do not give him an alternative like yoghurt, especially if it’s within twenty minutes of you giving him his dinner,” says Amanda.

A child’s preference when it comes to food is often monotonous. Contrary to adults, they can eat the same food over and over without getting tired of the taste. You’ll be surprised at how many times they are delighted when they see fish fingers and tomato sauce, or just ordinary bananas.

“In this case you can feed him the food that he likes eating, but make sure to add potatoes, pasta or pumpkin. Switch up the way it is served. With potatoes you can serve it mashed, cooked or even baked in the form of oven baked chips.

“Many children squirm at eating food with certain textures, that is why it is important to switch it up by making fried eggs the one day and boiling them the next,” Amanda says.

She adds that if your child generally is a picky eater, giving him an additional supplement would be a good idea. This will guard against a lack of vitamins and minerals.

TOO SICK TO EAT Remember that children go through phases when they eat poorly, especially babies who are teething and children of all ages who are sick. YB

IF YOUR CHILD IS A VERY PICKY EATER, GIVING HIM AN ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA