Picky eaters can’t live with them, can’t live without them…am I right?
It’s almost inevitable that kids will go through their phases around food, where they will be hot on something and not the next minute. Preferring sweeter things over greener things, wanting foods to be separated from other foods, and demanding something when upon receiving it, not even wanting it anymore. It can wear thin on you, especially after you have gone through the extra effort to create a beautiful healthy meal for them, but it doesn’t have to be like this. There are things you can do to help these transitions.
I was always fascinated with children’s eating habits from a young age. Growing up, I was the neighbourhood sitter, so I watched many kids over the years and found their eating habits to be so vastly different amongst them. Some children were well-balanced and loved their fruit and veggies whereas others were such picky eaters that they outright refused earth’s fresh produce and preferred unrefined boxed foods. The biggest thing to me that determined the child’s eating habits was how they were raised and what sort of diet their family had.
My mother, originally from Switzerland, raised us to eat what came to the table, and to try everything on our plate no matter what. That is something that resonated with me all these years later with my son. I carried this tradition during my son’s first year of life and I can see how it has impacted him. He is not picky; loves eating fresh produce and enjoys being adventurous in the kitchen.
My Top Tips to Curb Picky Eaters
Introduce a Variety of Textures and Flavours from a Young Age
By the time Louie could start solids, I gave him a variety of foods. Making sure that the fruit and vegetables we served were in season, encouraging him to explore different textures and tastes. To ensure that Louie’s taste buds would welcome all flavours, we had him consume different curries, soups, and stews. Louie also relished having a sip of my celery juice when he was a baby and, to this day, absolutely loves it. Every morning around 10 am, he is asking for us to make a “juuu” (juice).
I feel that today there is so much information that you often second guess yourself about what to feed babies, but truly you don’t need to overthink it. I had the mentality that we would continue cooking our usual foods and make small amendments to them, i.e. slightly reduce salt and spice to accommodate Louie. Children want to be like you, so seeing that they are eating the same things as their parents will give them additional confidence! Also, do not get discouraged if they don’t take to something the first time around. Try introducing it a few days later.
Involve Them in Cooking
Invest or build a learning tower-this has been incredibly helpful for our little tot and for me as it frees my hands from carrying him around. Kids are so interested in what you are doing, they want to learn and do as you do. The learning tower has been amazing as we pop it right next to the counter and there, I encourage Louie to help me cut vegetables, sample each ingredient as we go, and get him to touch, feel and smell everything. This has been fundamental in getting him involved in how to prepare our food.
Raise Garden Babies
Encourage your children to know where their food comes from by starting a veggie patch in your backyard or simply by planting your own culinary herbs. Louie loves eating things he knows came from our garden. He is a great harvester too and loves eating herbs straight off the plant! We have garden time every day. This is where we check on our plants, ensuring their growth and health by watering and feeding them properly and, of course, by doing a bit of weeding where needed. Also, a great immune system builder for the kiddos getting their hands and bare feet in the soil!
Get Creative and Offer Variety at Each Meal
Giving kids options during mealtimes is a great way to get different nutrients into them and gives them the control to choose what and when they consume things. I always find it so interesting to watch Louie look at his plate filled with different healthy options and decide what he will eat first.
Encourage a Healthy Relationship with Food
Babies and tots are still human and some days they will adore one food and then the next will be opposed to it. There will be times you will get frustrated when they eat little or outright refuse to eat what you have cooked-just know that this is totally normal and is best met with patience and communication. Don’t get me wrong, I have been there where I am beyond frustrated, begging him to take at least two bites. Sometimes he would oblige, but most of the time he did not. It made me realize it is best to give our children space when they are not wanting to eat and to let them work on their plates on their own time. Forcing them to eat encourages a negative relationship with mealtimes, and this is the opposite of what we want. We want mealtimes to allow our children to connect with their food and to nourish themselves in a positive environment.
