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Making mealtime a success

Making mealtime a success

By Betsy Clawson, Ph.D., LCP, Behavioral Coordinator

Feeding problems are a frequent issue for children and one that is often underrated by parents and pediatric professionals. Approximately 20% to 50% of toddler and pre-school children are reported to have some meal time problems or to be picky eaters. The percentage increases to 80% of children with identified special needs. These problems can range from a child who requests specific foods to the child who completely refuses to eat any foods/liquids and relies on tube feedings for nutrition. 

Better eating habits

While there are many causes of feeding problems, here are suggestions to encourage better eating habits with children who are developing strong opinions about what goes on their plate.

Set an example by serving new foods to the entire family.

Encourage tasting a bite and, if rejected, wait and try another time. Tasting has a more powerful effect on changing a food preference than just looking at a new food. Continue to have a variety of foods at meals and continue to try previously rejected foods. Often 10 or more tries are needed for the child to become willing to accept the new food.

Plan to serve at least one food your child likes as part of the family meal. 

The rest of the meal should include portions of what is being served to the entire family. Avoid becoming a short-order cook and don't prepare extra dishes on demand. If you start making a separate meal for each child, you will get frazzled and resentful, and your child won't expand food preferences.

Serve kid-size portions. 

Big servings can be intimidating. Offer portions that are approximately one-fourth the size of an adult's portion. If your child is still hungry, he or she can always ask for more.

Don't make the table a battleground. 

Fighting with your children over what they will and won't eat creates negative feelings about eating, which can lead to even more pickiness. However, it is important to remember to praise your child for good eating practices.

Refusing to eat is also one way of getting attention. 

Stay calm; making a scene only encourages this behavior. If a child learns that he or she can push your buttons by rejecting foods, meal time will turn into a battle.

Don't pass your own food hang ups on to your kids. 

Be careful how you talk about foods. To ensure your child is hungry when it is time to eat, make sure he or she hasn't filled up on too many snacks or drinks in the late afternoon.

Watch out for juice and soda. 

Sugary drinks don't offer the nutrition of milk, can lead to diarrhea and fill kids up so they won't eat as much as they need to. Kids who drink too much can seem finicky because they don't have much room in their stomach for food.

Try to feed your child only when he or she is sitting down at the table or high chair. 

Stand-up eaters can become all day snackers who are picky at meal time because they are not hungry. Don't permit continuous nibbling.

Mealtime choking hazards

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the most common cause of non-fatal choking incidents is food. Certain foods are hard for children to chew without a full set of teeth and before mature chewing patterns are established.

The following foods could cause a child to choke:

  • Hot dogs or sausage
  • Hard candies, including jelly beans
  • Grapes, cherry tomatoes, olives or other small, round foods
  • Nuts
  • Popcorn
  • Raw carrots, celery, beans or any hard vegetable
  • Apple chunks and slices
  • Seeds such as pumpkin or sunflower
  • Large chunks of any food such as meat or potatoes
  • Large lumps of peanut butter (it is better to spread it thinly onto a cracker) or caramel

When your child is ready to try some of these foods, it is important to watch closely when he or she is eating them. Remember, any object that is 1 inch in diameter can plug your child's throat, and objects smaller than that can be inhaled.

 

Meet the team

View all providers
Sarah Benton, PsyD, LCP
Sarah Benton PsyD, LCP Feeding Read more
Sangita Kling, RD
Sangita Kling RD Feeding Read more
Kimberly Ritenour, MS, RN, CPNP
Kimberly Ritenour MS, RN, CPNP Feeding Read more
Angela Smith, PhD, LCP
Angela Smith PhD, LCP Feeding Read more

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