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Does your preschooler turn up his nose whenever you try to give him anything other than his favourite peanut butter sandwich? Or show more interest in playing than eating?
As a parent of a toddler, if you are dealing with picky eating you are not alone. Fussy eating is the most common issue that parents struggle to address. It is normal for toddlers and young children to be choosy about food. It is also very common for them to get fixated on specific foods and be unwilling to try anything new. This does raise concerns for parents about their children’s nutritional requirements. And if not addressed it can lead to a lack of adequate nutrition.
Blatant product placement? (Yes!) Sound advice? (obviously!)
Cute Little Coco Bear in ‘Coco Bear’s Fussy Bear Book’ really represents every toddler. It provides a reference point for fussy eaters. In this instance, Coco Bear likes to drink only milk and is hesitant to try any other food.How Mama Bear encourages him to try new foods and flavour forms the story. The book also introduces a very colourful Food Pyramid which is informative, easy to understand and visually appealing. It nudges toddlers to experiment with colour of foods and eat the rainbow! Now that's a strong relatable way, I got my kid eating different veggies! True story!
Not only does the book gets your toddler eating, the repetitive words and rhymes develop language skills.
Reading as a game!
You can make it a fun activity with your toddler by singing the small poems in different tunes. It makes educating your toddler about food, fun. And while you read this very essential book to your toddler to encourage him to try new foods, here are a few pointers for you to guide you through this trying phase in your toddler’s life.
Be Relaxed, Positive and Encouraging
As Parents, it is our natural inclination to worry every time our child does not finish her or her meal. But guess what ? Showing that anxiety by screaming or lecturing is not going to help. It is a better option to show the child how much you like the food you are expecting him to eat. Keep the atmosphere around the dining area light, happy and positive. Your little one may just surprise you by readily eating.
Allow the ‘Hungry’ Feeling to blossom
Avoid giving snacks every couple of hours. They are filling and don’t allow the child to feel hungry. An overfull tummy can be a powerful reason for your toddler to reject what’s on the lunch or dinner plate. A couple of healthy snacks in the day are enough. A mid-morning helping of seasonal fruit and a juice in the evening would serve as adequate ‘holders’ till it’s time for that all-important meal.
Give small ‘doable’ portions
A large plate filled with food can seem daunting to a child. What happens in most cases is that we tend to engage the child with some sort of screen time (TV, Phone, Ipad, etc) and the child does not realize what or how much he is eating. Rather serve a small portion in his plate and sit and eat with him. Encourage him to eat on his own. Yes, he will make a mess and drop morsels, but then, I can’t eat without dropping something on my clothes even today – and I am 45 years old. Be patient and see him enjoy his food.
Serve what is made
Don't make the mistake of cooking special food for your toddler. That will inculcate a resistance and further food fussiness. Instead serve the same food that is cooked for the family. This may give rise to tantrums which are a very effective blackmail tool for the toddler. Stay strong and once your little politician realizes that his tricks aren’t working, eating what is on the table will remain his only option.
Make Food Fun
Playing with food might actually be a good thing. Your child is more likely to eat food that is colourful or cut in a funny shape or paired with an interesting dip. Of course, it will mean more work for you but the ends justify the means. Invest in different types of cookie cutters that can create fun shapes with sandwiches or create a rainbow with colourful fruits and vegetables. Infact involving your little one in the process might increase his anticipation and readiness to eat the final dish.
Mix it Up
Be mindful to offer different foods from different categories and not be too repetitive. Reinforce the idea of eating different foods by serving a different variety at every meal. This way, his interest levels with remain engaged and he will also get the nutrients that his growing body requires.
Don’t Force your Child to eat
Do you know more health problems are caused due to over-eating than not-eating ? If your child refuses to eat once in a while, respect his decision. Allow him to listen to what is body is telling him. This will promote his health and keep his digestive system clear. There can be a variety of reasons for this refusal. Maybe he is not hungry or feeling tired or sleepy. Sometimes it can just be a seasonal change. It is okay for him to not eat once in a while and you don’t need to stress out about it.
Food is not a reward
Using food as a reward may start your child thinking of sweets and desserts as nice and fruits and vegetables as nasty. I remember my mother used to reward me with some yummy Moong Dal sheera if I would eat my portion of the papaya under duress. I grew up hating the papaya. Infact it’s only been the last 3 years since I have started eating it willingly. But now the thing is, I have to make my own Moong Dal Sheera. Anyway, the point is food enjoys a very special place in our lives and must not be used as a reward.
The important thing is to ensure that your Coco Bear is nutritionally well-balanced and learns to eat food joyfully and lovingly. Just remember that such fussy phases are a normal part of growing up. It’s a learning process for the Mama Bear, Papa Bear and Coco Bear. So while you are enthusiastically planning your next meal, pick up your copy of Coco Bear’s Fussy Bear Book and build language skills through rhyming words and have fun exploring the different food groups through the colourful food pyramid.
All of us at team Coco Bear are saying… YES, WE ARE THE SOLUTION TO YOUR LITTLE ONE’S FUSSY FOOD HABITS!
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