Avoid these 10 food mistakes

Feeding your toddler is a constant challenge. Be wary of falling into bad habits.

There’s nothing more disheartening than when your toddler starts to turn up her nose at her food. After all, you’re doing your very best to try and get her to eat. But at this age, kids often become fussy and picky when it comes to mealtimes. So what more can you do? For one thing, make sure you aren’t falling into these common food traps in your desperate attempts.

1 FORCE FEEDING

WHY NOT? It’s tempting to want to insist that your toddler eats when she starts to refuse. But it’s a bad idea to force feed your little one. “Pressurising a child to eat often backfires, and you become a ‘casualty of war’. Your child may associate eating and mealtimes with anxiety and arguing, and this can lead to them refusing to eat,” says Lee-Anne McHarry, a paediatric dietitian based in Cape Town. SOLUTION: Take a deep breath to begin with, and try to let go. Your child is probably showing signs of independence that has less to do with the actual food. You are in charge of making the food, but your child will decide on how much of it to eat.

2 USING THE SPOON TOO OFTEN

WHY NOT? The spoon can be a source of great control and comfort for parents. But using it too much halters development. “Let your child feed herself, even though this can seem painful to watch. By allowing her, you are helping her to build her selffeeding skills and develop independence. Hand-mouth coordination is developed as a child learns by feeling, tasting and experiencing different things. It is a good idea for children to use their fingers to play with food,” Lee-Anne says.

SOLUTION: It takes patience to give your child control. A good idea is for you to both have a spoon. Then sit back and marvel at her growth. It’s the perfect time to get out the camera!

3 TRYING DIFFERENT MEALS TO SUIT TASTE

WHY NOT? When one food type gets rejected, you might reach for many other alternatives. “If your child refuses to eat the meal you’ve made, offer one alternative nutritious food, like yoghurt and fruit. If this is refused too, let her be, and she will eat when he’s hungry. Avoid making many different meals to suit your child’s every taste and wants, as this will be like running a restaurant and not a home,” Lee-Anne says. SOLUTION: When planning meals, always make sure there’s at least one thing your child will eat on the menu. Have a back-up plan in the fridge or pantry to offer in case.

4 PORTION SIZES

WHY NOT? It’s instinctive to want to serve bigger portions in the hope that more will be eaten, but this is not a good idea and can only put your child off more. Children are small, and their portions should suit their size.

Seeing too big a portion in front of them may only serve to overwhelm, causing more problems. A good rule of thumb is one tablespoon per year of life. “Provide your child with nutritious and nourishing options at mealtimes. Dish up small portions, and your child can always ask for more,” Lee-Anne says.

SOLUTION: Try to have small portions of a couple of options. Making mealtimes a pleasant experience also helps them to enjoy food more. Avoid distractions such as TV and too many toys.