Is your child a picky eater? (Picky Eater) - Let's talk about this!

Does your little one, who is about three years old, shake his head at the sight of his plate? Does he refuse to eat the lentil soup you are making if it is too thick? Does he throw away any vegetable seeds in his rice? Or does he eat only two or three types of food every day? Maybe your little one only eats bread and butter. He doesn't even like to look at vegetables and fruits. If this sounds familiar to you, you are not alone. This is a common problem that many parents face.

Dealing with a picky eater like this can be a daunting task at times. Many parents are torn between the extremes of saying, "You can't leave here until you've finished eating everything on your plate," or asking, "What do you want, sweetie, ice cream or carrots?" But the real solution lies somewhere in between. Let's see how to deal with these picky little eaters.

Don't make mealtime a power struggle.

One of the biggest mistakes we can make is turning feeding our children into a war. You may win the battle by forcing them to eat, but in the long run you will lose the war. When you force your child to eat, saying, "I'm your mom/dad, so you have to eat this," that argument doesn't hold up for long.

Instead, try to simply explain to your child the 'why' of eating good, nutritious food. That knowledge will lay the foundation for your child to develop good eating habits for a lifetime, even when you're not around.

Involve your child in the work.

Involve your little one in the kitchen by putting up a small chair. This is a great trick. Child behavior experts say that if a child helps prepare a dish, they will be more likely to want to taste it .

Imagine your child doesn't like the tomato pieces in the lentil soup. Ask him to help you chop the tomatoes. Involve him in small tasks like washing the beans or chopping the lettuce. Then he will start to feel responsible for the food.

Don't label food 'Arahang'

Parents need to understand that it is very common for children under the age of 5 to be picky eaters or picky eaters. It is very rare to find a child who will eat anything that is put on their plate. So this is not unusual.

Nutritionists prefer to use the term "Limited Eater" rather than "Picky Eater" because it has less negative connotations. When you constantly say to your child, "He doesn't eat anything," that label sticks in your child's head. Also, don't praise him every time he eats. Don't give your child the message that "I'm a good kid or a bad kid based on how I eat."

Introduce new foods repeatedly.

Many parents give up on trying a new food after trying it once or twice, saying, "My child doesn't like it." But experts say that a child needs to be exposed to it about 10 or 15 times to become accustomed to it.

So, even if your child plays with the carrot on the plate without eating it, consider it progress. What they play with today may be put in their mouth tomorrow, and they may eat a small piece the day after. Patience is key. But don't try to introduce three or four new foods at once. One or two new foods a week is enough.

Be careful about snacks.

Sometimes the problem isn't that your child doesn't like new foods, but that they're already full by the time the main meal comes around. A child can get most of their calories from things like milk and fruit drinks throughout the day.

The same goes for foods that contain only empty calories, such as chips, biscuits, and sugary drinks. If you give your child snacks, they should be nutritious and supplement the main meal. They should not be things that sabotage the main meal.

Your example is also important.

You can't give advice to your child from a place where they say, "Do as I say, not as I do." If your plate is often full of oil, sugar, and salt, it's hard to expect your child to eat a salad instead of French fries. The way you and your family eat healthy food is the best example for your child.

Be patient, this will get better with time.

Children often become more open to trying new foods after the age of 5. Even nutritionists say that this food choice habit disappears on its own for most children as they age.

So, be patient. If your child is developing normally and meeting his developmental milestones on time, don't worry too much about eating the same foods every day.

However, if you have any doubts or concerns about your child's weight loss, signs of malnutrition, or frequent illnesses, be sure to see your doctor for advice.

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