It must have been many times that you had to
use different tricks to feed your baby a few spoons of porridge or pieces of
meat.
It must have been many times that you had
to use different tricks to feed your baby a few spoons of porridge or pieces of
meat. And you had to wonder why other kids were so easy to feed, but yours was
difficult. Do not worry because there are many ways to make children more
interested in eating.
Wars in meal usually happen when children
are 2-3 years old and rarely relate to eating. Kids at this age begin wanting
to express themselves. Children noticed that what they did and said affected
people around. Now, they want to try "self-defense". Try not to let them
know that you want them to eat up the bowl. Gradually they will understand that
they eat not only to make you happy, but also to not be hungry.
How to make children like eating or at
least not be afraid to eat?
1. Principle “Ignore them”
If children are not hungry, do not try to
force them to eat. In particular, absolutely do not bribe or entice them in any
way such as money or gifts to make them eat. Because these actions can be
effective in few times, but accidentally give them the right to 'claim' before
each meal.
In some cases, children may lose appetite
because of fatigue or anxiety. So, split their meals, let them choose menu to
increase inspiration of eating. Quality is better than quantity! Though they
only eat a few spoons but those small spoons also ensure nutrients, better than
trying to cram.
2. Set up habit
Let your children have meals and snacks at
a fixed time for them to know how to be hungry, and form good eating habits.
Add juice, milk between meals and snacks.
3. Be patient with new foods
After tasting or smelling a new food, kids
may vomit or refuse immediately. This reaction is normal because to get
familiar and like a new food, kids need time. There are simple tips to
encourage your children: eat the new delicious food and enjoy it in front of them.
Also, describe the feeling, color and taste of food to them. No children can
deny such a delicious and fascinating food like that.
“Haste makes waste”, keep in mind that when
children try a new dish, cleverly arrange it between their favorite dish
gradually.
After
tasting or smelling a new food, kids may vomit or refuse immediately.
4. Children eat with their eyes
A dish decorated beautifully attracts
children more. Therefore, make your popular dishes into strange funny shapes.
For example, draw rice with smiley face or cut cabbage into funny shape.
5. Let children feed themselves
Let them feed themselves. Kids usually cry
or try to hide when seeing the bowl of porridge/flour, spoon, eating chair.
Change your strategy. If your kids cannot eat with their finger, let them eat
with forefinger (apply soup on their fingers and let them eat, but remember to
hide the bowl of flour/porridge away). If they can use their hands, let them
use hands to eat. It looks pretty smear, but children will enjoy and feel
elated to eat.
Let
children feed themselves
6. Choose food with children
Nothing better than go shopping with your children
and suggest them to choose foods or vegetables they likes. Then cook according
to their taste, and they will be satisfied.
In particular, with older children,
encourage them to participate in cooking, such as washing vegetables or stir
flour... Children will feel more delicious when dish is a result of their
labor.
7. Principle “3 no” when eating
3 no: no TV, no wandering and no toys. This
principle need to do seriously since you begin feeding. A mother said: "If
children have never been eating while watching TV, playing toys, wandering, how
they know mealtime is like that. All depends on adults’ habit."
Children's meals should last 15-30 minutes.
If children eat while watching TV, or playing toys, they will easily distract.
Not concentrating in eating is not good for children's digestive system.
8. Be interested in the variety of dishes.
If you feed your children with a dish every
day, there's no surprise that they do not want to eat. In the next meals, give them
a bowl of flank meat stewed with potato, radish, and you will see that at least
they want to try.
