 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Strategies and suggestions
Dear Carol,
I have a five year-old son who's a very, very poor eater. I have endless fights with him because he does not want to eat but yet he is so full of energy. He does not like sweets , chips, but loves chocolates and biscuits.
Bernadette
Dear
Bernadette, It's sometimes really tough to get kids to develop healthy eating habits, but there are always things you can try. I'm going to give you some of my best "healthy eating" tips.
LISTEN TO YOUR SON
1. Together, make a list of his favorite fruits and vegetables. Brainstorm and try to think of at least 5 of each category. Kids often love watermelon, strawberries, celery and carrots. Find out what he likes, then make sure to have plenty on hand for snacking or at meals.
BUY GOOD FOOD
2. Limit the junk food that you buy. If you don't buy it or have it in the house he can't eat it. If you stock your cupboards with chocolate and cookies, then that's what he'll want to go for.
HAVE SIMPLE MEALS
3. Keep your child's meals simple, basic, and portions small. Increase them when his appetite grows. As with the fruits and veggies, together make a list of his favorite sandwiches and dinner entrees. Does he like spaghetti? Does he prefer it with or without sauce? How about chicken?
ENCOURAGE THE SCHOOL TO HAVE HEALTHY SNACK PROGRAM
4. Conference with his teacher. Teachers who have healthy snack programs can often get children to eat nutritious foods. They motivate children to bring in healthy snacks through a school incentive program with stickers and prizes. And peer pressure and influence come into play in a positive manner. The kids often continue to bring in the healthy foods when the incentive program ends, because they have discovered many healthy foods that they enjoy.
Carol
Feel free to email the kid's editor at rwedit@rodale.com.
