Bhakti Paun Sharma
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Written By: Bhakti Paun Sharma | Published : February 8, 2016 11:34 AM IST
Does your child make a face every time you serve him/her something new or different? Is planning for a meal for their lunchbox or breakfast a tough task? Well, welcome to the picky eaters mommy club. Is your child a picky eater? Read this now. If you have served your child food that kids like, instead of meals that the entire family eats, it will be difficult to get them in the habit of eating everything once they are three years and above. But if you already have a picky eater, worry not. You will just have to find a few tricks to handle them. Here are a few tricks to handle a picky eater:
1. Understanding the child s behaviour
Shouting or screaming on top of your voice isn t going to change their habits overnight. I liked what my editor once mentioned when discussing about picky eaters. Don t we adults have choices and aren t we picky about what we eat or drink! Then why shouldn t kids. As long as they are not surviving on only junk food, disliking or staying away from a vegetable or dal is perfectly fine. Makes sense doesn t it. In that case, how do you give them the required nutrition? Substitute it with an alternate vegetable, fruit or pulses-- simple!
2. Let the kids plan the menu
Once a week, let the kids decide what they will eat for all three meals, provided they have eaten whatever was served on the dining table throughout the week. This way kids will wait for their reward and within a few weeks, you might observe they have started adding dals or other healthy items to the menu. Don t stress if they ask you for burgers and fries all day the first time. Make the burger at home and add loads of coleslaw with veggies and use oats and other ingredients for the tikki.
3. Learn to mask
Present the ingredients that your child likes with a mask. My mother used to add brinjal, spinach and even bottle gourd or lauki to pav bhaji for years for my brother, who was a picky eater. The taste of the masala masked the vegetables so perfectly that my brother never realised what he was eating. Similarly, you can cook bottle gourd or ridge gourd (vegetables which most kids dread) in dals or boiled them and add the mash in gravies or other veggies.
4. Regularise meal times
Snacking or grazing at all times is one of the reasons your child refuses a proper meal. If they are not hungry, they are obviously not going to like even their favourite food. So inculcate the habit of eating meals and snacking at specific times. This will ensure that your child does not snack in between meals because he won t be hungry. You can also try these 11 ways to help your child eat better.
5. Trick them when they are hungry
Present your child with a healthy snack like fruits, cereal or a wrap when they are very hungry. The chances of them eating anything you present in the plate are higher in this situation. Act normal and confident when you are giving them the healthy alternatives. If your little one senses that you are trying to exaggerate the benefits of a dish and trying to convince them into eating it, they might just refuse.
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