Have a finicky eater? We have a great tip from one of our Mom’s Talk Network Expert Moms for you:
Theresa Dansin, Green Choices For You
My six year old daughter seems to be the classic finicky eater.
She eats plain foods. Most of her diet consists of smooth yogurt (it can’t have the fruit on the bottom), cottage cheese, breakfast cereal and lots of milk. She likes spaghetti with butter, cheese, and fortunately most fruits, especially apples. She will eat corn, carrots, not cooked, and celery and cucumbers. Only this past year did she start to eat meat, but it can’t have any seasonings, and no skin on the chicken.
As a mother, I don’t feel that I need to fix her, but I do feel that I need to teach her to try new things and to make healthy diet choices. Trying to buy healthy foods for her is a bit difficult. I am trying to avoid dyes in food, and offer fewer greasy choices, less pizza and chicken nuggets.
She tends to try new things when she sees her peers eating other foods. So, inviting a friend over for lunch and serving her friend’s favorite food helps. She also tends to try food that her Dad gives her than from me. Sometimes, we prepare a meal together, and then she will be more interested in eating something new. Since praise goes a long way, we mostly praise her for at least trying a bite. And of course, she must eat her meal before getting dessert.
I don’t think there are any tricks to parenting. Having a conversation about why certain foods are healthier than others will keep the dialogue open as she grows into a teenager, and hopefully help her make good, healthy foods choices for when I‘m not around.
About Kelly
