Picky Eating Preventing
Picky eating is something that a lot of families are struggling with right now. Some pandemic parenting survival strategies (which were a matter of necessity) have made food routines a bit more difficult. Because I see a lot of babies and run the Baby Food Introduction Class, I am passionate about having preventive factors in place. Picky eating is much more multifaceted than this but these are a few things to keep in mind especially when introducing foods to your young ones:
Family meals are key! That can be you and baby/child or a larger family. You’re one of their favourite people in the world - when you’re enjoying good food they’re keen to be part of it. They’re getting exposure to foods that you’re eating even if they choose not to eat them.
Stress makes things worse. Babies/kids can pick up on our emotions. When we’re feeling stressed - they can feel it too and that can actually decrease their appetite. It’s hard to trust the process, but we need to do that and/or get support to increase your confidence!
Exposure to texture is important. This is one of the key pillars of food introduction between 6-12 months. Eating is a very sensory-rich experience and if we’re only ever having smooth purees/soups/yoghurts, or crunchy pieces of toast/crackers, it’s no wonder that something with multiple textures that change as you chew them feels overwhelming!
Don’t offer a second meal. Kids are smart. If they are offered a peanut butter sandwich when they refuse dinner - they will very quickly start to refuse dinner more often. We always want to have something they like and could fill up on with each meal - so it’s totally fine to have the peanut butter sandwich as part of dinner, but not as a replacement afterwards!
Tastebuds are always changing - just because your child hasn’t enjoyed a food in the past does NOT mean they won’t enjoy a food in the future. Taste cell receptors change every 14 days, while taste is a more complicated process than just the receptors - we want to give kids the opportunity to try things they haven’t enjoyed in the past. Don’t give the label ‘they don’t like broccoli, they might surprise you in a future exposure!
There are MANY more things to consider when addressing picky eating - nutrient deficiencies (which can make things worse), digestive disturbances, building an appetite, sensory concerns, etc. but these are a few pillars, to begin with. Don’t ever hesitate to reach out to myself or to Shannon (Pediatric Occupational Therapist) - when things are tough we often need a multifaceted approach!