Exclusive interview — Chef Rakhee Vaswani’s tips to deal with picky eaters

If you are one of those parents whose kids 'just refuses to eat', this article is exactly what you need.

By: Naz Haider | | Updated: December 14, 2015 11:13 am

While most of us grew up with homemade delicacies and a limited exposure to different cuisines, kids nowadays have tasted food from all over the world. The job of parent trying to get their kids interested in ‘ghar ka khana’ or homemade food gets tougher and tougher because healthy food and young taste buds share a hate-hate relationship. How do you, then, deal with a picky eater? Is your child a picky eater? Read this now. Also Read - Kidney diseases in children - everything you need to know

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Chef Rakhee Vaswani of Palate Culinary Studio, a mother of two, recently launched her book, Picky Eaters, which has a wide range of recipes, from different cuisines, to make every meal stand out and appeal to kids. Needless to say, each meal has a healthy twist sneaked in cleverly. She shares a few tips on dealing with picky eaters and how you can give your kids healthy food without them turning up their noses. Here are 4 tips to help you feed a fussy eater. Also Read - Whip up a bowl of healthy Dal Makhani with almond paste

‘Patience is the key,’ she says, ‘Do not expect your kids to simply gulp down steamed broccoli and french beans. You have to understand their palate, what they like, the tastes and textures they prefer and create dishes likewise. Another important thing is to not give up. If you want your kid to eat healthy, you need to plan the meals and balance the nutrition.’ Here are 4 things you are doing wrong when feeding your fussy eater.

Baked stuffed potatoes by Chef Rakhee

Here are her top five tips to inculcate the habit of healthy eating:

1. Take them grocery shopping: Young kids like when their opinions are respected, and they also like to learn new things. Take your little one grocery shopping and ask him what ingredients he would like to pick. When you pick up a vegetable or fruit, explain to him its nutritional value and how it would benefit your health. Involve him in the process to make him understand what diet, especially healthy diet, means.

2. Assign them tasks while cooking: Don’t children take great pride in things they create? So why not let them create dishes they would like to eat? Start when your child is five years old and assign her tasks like mixing dry ingredients, whisking eggs or simply piping cream on a cupcake. Assign tasks as per their age, appreciate and encourage their efforts.

3. Set the right example: ‘A few years ago, I started eating multigrain rotis for dinner. Eventually, my kids got interested and now we eat multigrain rotis on one of the weekday dinners as a family,’ says Rakhee. Kids learn from parents, and if you happily eat vegetables and fruits, your kids will surely follow suit.

4. Keep it healthy, not boring: Do not confuse the child’s nutritional requirement with yours. A child needs the carbs, fats and even sugar because they burn a lot of energy. If you are worried that your child is eating way too much carbs and sugar, give them a way to burn it out by sending them to play a sport or to learn dance or to practice swimming. Let them indulge in every kind of food, as it is important for them to explore and figure out what they prefer to eat.

5. Keep it basic and fresh: Why spend on exotic ingredients when you can make delicious foods with basic ingredients from your kitchen? Also, instead of opting for store-bought sauces and ready-to-eat food packets (no matter how healthy it claims it is), try to make everything at home. The humble dalia is a great substitute for quinoa, and you can substitute other exotic ingredients likewise. If you want the authentic taste, make sure the ingredients you invest in are as healthy as possible. Going organic is a great idea too.

Add a dash of creativity when cooking for your picky eater and you will be surprised! You can also try these 11 ways to help your child eat better.

Have you tried this muesli bar recipe by Chef Rakhee? Do share your experience in the comments.

Image source: Shutterstock

Published : December 10, 2015 6:09 pm | Updated:December 14, 2015 11:13 am

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