Mums and Babies

There are children, who always play a good knife and fork. Their parents are happy indeed. But there are also children, who seem to not eating at all. This fact often gives a lot of trouble to their parents, and there are the reasons for that. If child do not eat enough, it is a real problem, as he or she cannot get all needed vitamins and energy for effective development and growing. Good news is that the lack of nutrition do not influence on the state of health immediately.

There will not be anything bad, if your child will refuse to eat during a short period of time, or refuses to eat only some products. However, you should consult your health care specialist to exclude any medical problem that causes lack of appetite. If there is no any such problem, try the following.

Do the food that you prepare for your child attractive – draw a funny face with jam on the porridge, make a picture of a boat from the pieces of cheese and tomatoes. You can also use some literature and cartoons associations that promote some food. Remember Popeye the sailor with his spinach? Collect such examples and use them when needed.

You should eat the food that you offer to your child by yourself. You can also try such trick as to eat with pleasure the food that your baby has refused. Show, that you eat it with appetite, and that you are ready to eat all, if he will allow this to you. Sometimes it helps, but if your baby still does not want to eat, eat all and do not use this method anymore.

Another variation of this method is to feed your baby in the company of children, who do not have problems with appetite. Children usually like do things that other children do.

Do not ask or make your child eat. Every next time you’ll have to double your efforts to reach your aim. Instead of this, try the following: define a strict schedule of meals. Explain your child, that if he (she) doesn’t want to eat, it is her (his) right, but the next time, when the food will be available is the next meal. If your child is big enough (know what time is it) you can ask him or her help in making the day’s routine.

Try to avoid give your child such snacks as sweets or fast food or sodas – they reduce the appetite and are not useful for health. The best way to avoid temptation of giving them is to not buy them at all.

If your child is fussy only for some products – do not worry about them. It is normal for children to not like some foods. With growing it will go away. Now try to find other products, that will substitute the products your child doesn’t like, and that will assure in his or her menu the needed nutritional elements. If you still think that this very one product is absolutely unsubstitutable, try to prepare it in a different way – do not boil it, but bake it or use it with some other products, than usual.

For fussy eaters recipe ideas try Annabel Karmel’s The Fussy Eaters’ Recipe Book which has some great recipes.