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Do you have a question about cooking or planning meals for your family? Chef Mom is here to help! Ask her your question, and she will offer you her time-tested, mom-smart advice.
The question:
My son is the fussiest eater in the world. Do you have any suggestions?
Chef Mom says:
Talk to anyone with a 3 or 4 year old, and you are likely talking to someone with a fussy eater. And almost any parent can emphasize with the stress this brings at mealtime! Not content to eat what the rest of the family is having, you find yourself preparing a separate menu just to keep dinner from ending in a fit of tears.
Says pediatrician Linda Shaw, MD at Interactive Parent, "Most toddlers and preschoolers are picky eaters at one time or another. They also tend to eat a few items, then will switch suddenly to different items."
How can you introduce a broader variety of items? It takes a little creativity. Amanda Formaro, mother of four and webmom of the Family Corner web site, says, "Kids love to be entertained. Why not make meal time fun by calling broccoli 'trees' and mashed potatoes and gravy 'volcanoes'?" She also suggests having your kids help prepare the meal. "Small children can help measure and pour ingredients, while older children can help prepare the foods, with necessary safety precautions taken, of course. This instills pride in your children knowing that they were a part of the meal making process, and that makes them more likely to eat what they created!" Pediatrician Janice Woolley, MD, agrees, "Most preschoolers love to help with food preparation. Involving him helps eliminate power struggles because he will feel he has some control."
Avoid "giving in" and allowing your child to fill up on sugary foods or other snacks full of empty calories. "Instead, you should have readily available snacks in the form of fruits, raw veggies, small sandwiches, etc." says Dr Shaw. Talk to your child's caregiver about supplementing your child's diet with a multivitamin.
And remember that this fussy period won't last forever. Notes Amanda Formaro, "Your child's taste buds will change as they grow. You may encounter a peanut butter and jelly phase that seems to have no end, which will quickly change to turkey or tunafish right before your very eyes."
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