Healthy Food Variety
Feeding small children can be a real chore and it is even harder when they are fussy eaters. It is very important to make sure small children get adequate nutrition. Fortunately, there are ways of making them eat even if they don’t want to. It is a good idea to have a selection of favorites to fall back on, including hotdogs, pizza, homemade chicken noodle soup, crockpot chicken noodle soup, and lasagna.
It might be more of a chore but the easiest thing to do is to prepare a few different dishes so your child can decide for himself what he want to eat. You could even try asking what they are in the mood for. If the child thinks that he can make the decision about food himself sometimes, he will be happy to eat what you have made especially for him. You can do what you like with his suggestions, of course. He might suggest homemade chicken noodle soup, in which case you can make a crockpot chicken noodle soup if you are going to be out all day and won’t have much time before his mealtime.
It is a good idea to encourage your child to sample everything you prepare. Many children don’t like the look of a food (”it’s a yucky color” or “it’s looks slimy” are common excuses) but your child won’t know what the food tastes like until he tries it, so encourage him to take a no thank you bite. In this way, he will get to taste the food and he might actually like it and ask for more.
Another way to encourage small children to try different foods is to name the food with the name of their favorite fictional or cartoon character. Harry Potter Pancakes or Garfield Lasagna will get a smile from your child and they will probably tuck in, just because of the name. Children identify with shows they enjoy and if they think they are eating their favorite cartoon foods, they will probably eat all their meal.
It is a good idea to make colorful dishes. You could use red, green, and yellow peppers and call the dish Christmas casserole for example. Corn, broccoli, carrots, and tomatoes all add color.
Children know when they like and if you present something, which looks boring, they won’t be keen to try it. They don’t understand or care about nutrition either so it is up to you to make sure your child gets enough.
If you enjoy cooking, you can let your child help you with meal preparation. If they feel like part of the cooking process, they will be happier to eat the results. Children would prefer homemade chicken noodle soup to “the stuff in the white and red can.”
If there is a food, your child doesn’t like, but it is necessary for the recipe, you can mince it in the food processor when your child is in another room, before adding it to the pot. Your child won’t be able to see or taste it in the final dish but they will be getting the nutrition from the hidden ingredient.
When you are feeding a child, sometimes these alternative methods help. The main thing is to be flexible while still providing adequate nutrition. Simple meals like chicken noodle soup, lasagna or grilled meat with a sauce and vegetables provide excellent nutritional value. Nobody wants dinner to be a battleground and if you follow these tips, it doesn’t have to be.
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