Picky or Persistent?

We know what’s best for our children, and we have their best interest at heart. Then why is it, they can be so darned stubborn when it comes to food??  This takes me back to the early childhood programs I used to attend with my now 11 year old Amelia.  Dietary habits of toddlers and growing children were, and I'm guessing still are, a hot topic. One parent exclaims "For the past two weeks all my child will eat are bananas and dry Cheerios for breakfast, snack, lunch and dinner.  Now this morning when I have ten other things to do and have the Cheerios and a banana set out, my child said she does not like bananas and wanted egg and cinnamon toast."  Okay, I admit, that one parent was me!!

There are things that can impact the way a child will approach and enjoy food including temperament, exposure to a variety of foods, environment, growth patterns and sensitivities such as smell taste and texture. For those with kids, you will relate and for those without you might have to think back to your own childhood.  Where did you fall and how many of those habits have stuck with you?  To what level can we impact our children's (or the future generations) nutrition?

Like most things in life we will need to learn to lead by example.  Shop for a variety of foods to keep and prepare in your home that will expose your children to all of the tastes, textures, colors and nutrients available to them.  Create a pleasant mealtime without multiple distractions (television, gaming devices, books etc.)  As it becomes increasingly difficult with active teenagers this still should remain a priority at the very least once or twice a week.  Assign responsibility and adjust them as the child ages to include some meal planning and preparation. Encourage them to try new foods and try your best to avoid the power struggle...they never end well.  One of my favorite tips for a new food is to give them an out.  If they agree to try the food let them spit it politely into a napkin if they do not want to swallow it. Keep trying, tastes change.

Most important of all is to teach the child the why. They might not understand now or pretend to do so, but we also know they have a power to selectively listen.  How many times have you heard "You would not believe what little Johnny just repeated."  Make it something positive!  I once had a child tell me he does not eat a certain kind of yogurt because it had "high fructose corn syrup in it.”  Do you think his Mom was proud?  I was proud for her.  She had instilled a personal food value into her child.  Please do not over analyze that one.  Again, we choose our battles, but when it comes to the why we can have greater influence versus than using "because I said so." 

Give it time.  Regardless of how picky your child is, the main concern should be overall wellness.  Explain wellness to your children, work together, find a middle road if you must.  There will be trials and errors. I've had my fair share in my home and will continue to have them.  If you have a friend who you think might help influence some healthier changes, ask for help.  Everyone likes to be a nutritionist these days (sorry, calling it like I see it).  Just be cautious about where you get the advice from.  Ideally your friend will have some training or an interest which has led them to seek out credible information, however it is often easy to spot someone who is eating the way you might want to learn to eat or living the lifestyle you are striving for.

Be Well!

Liz

If you are looking for basic meal and snack ideas and want to know more about my nutrition philosophy feel free to visit my page on Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/lizblom.nutritionandwellness