| Parents always seem to know what is best for | | | | Which is worse, a child who occasionally skips a |
| their kids to eat. Kids, however are the best | | | | meal or a parent who is perpetually a short order |
| judges of how much they should eat. Positive | | | | cook?The "TV eaters" are the kids who always |
| encounters with food at all ages will set the stage | | | | want to watch TV while they are eating. Turn off |
| for sensible eating habits throughout their life. With | | | | the TV. Having the TV on is a distraction that |
| a few tips for preventing food hassles, your child | | | | prevents the whole family from interacting and |
| will grow up with sensible food habits.There are a | | | | bonding. Often times dinner is the only time |
| few important feeding jobs for parents starting | | | | families share together, so take advantage of it. |
| with offering a variety of healthy and tasty foods. | | | | An occasional meal in front of the TV that the |
| Be regular when serving meals and snacks and | | | | whole family can enjoy is fine.The "complainer" |
| make meal time pleasant. Teach good manners | | | | whines or complains about the food being served. |
| and always set a good example. Using the tips | | | | First encourage your child to try other things that |
| mentioned above will pave the way for pleasant | | | | are being served. If they continue to disrupt |
| mealtime in the future.There are several different | | | | mealtime ask them to leave until the meal is |
| types of eaters. We have the "food jaggers", the | | | | finished. Do not allow them to come back for |
| "food strikers", the "TV eaters", the "complainer", | | | | dessert or let them eat what they like before the |
| the "fear of new foods" kid, and the "great | | | | next meal is served.The one who "fears new |
| American white food diet" kid. There are a few | | | | foods" is the one who refuses to try anything |
| ways to handle these kinds of obstacles. For the | | | | new. Continue to introduce and reinforce new |
| "food jaggers", the kids, who eat one and only | | | | foods. It may take many times seeing this food |
| one food, allow them to eat what everthey want. | | | | before they try it and many more before they |
| Provided that what they like is wholesome. Do | | | | like it. Do not force them.A lot of kids fall into the |
| offer other foods at every meal along with their | | | | category of the "great American white food" diet. |
| "jag" food. Food jags rarely last long enough to do | | | | These kids only eat potatoes, macaroni and milk. |
| any harm.Then you have the "food strikers", the | | | | Again, avoid pressuring them to eat new foods; |
| kid who refuses to eat what is served which can | | | | giving attention to picky eaters only reinforces a |
| unfortunately lead to "short order cook | | | | child's demand to limit foods. Continue to offer a |
| syndrome" for you. Make sure you have breads, | | | | variety of other food groups and encourage them |
| rolls or fruit available at each meal. That way | | | | to try them; eventually they will move on to try |
| there are usually more choices that the child likes. | | | | other things.Try these simple tips to make |
| Be very supportive and don't be afraid to let the | | | | mealtimes a more pleasant experience. |
| child go hungry if they won't eat what is served. | | | | |