| Fine. Everyone said you’re the best cook | | | | Pretend as if his “not eating” does not |
| since the time you started cooking. Your guests | | | | bother you. Be patient and you will see the results |
| never stop praising all the delicacies that you | | | | soon. |
| shower on them. You always get phone calls | | | | 3) Make the food attractive: Kids love |
| from friends asking for recipes for your special | | | | colors, magic, decoration, cartoons and so on. |
| items. You take much more care and pain to | | | | Bring out your creativity. Serve the food in the |
| cook for your beloved kid. But…………….He | | | | most attractive way possible. Make faces with |
| she doesn’t want to eat and always fusses | | | | sauce. Cut salads in different shapes. Ask them to |
| at the dining table. | | | | guess what you have made. Change their serving |
| This is very annoying. | | | | bowls from time to time. Let them choose their |
| Don’t worry. You’re not alone! Every | | | | plates from the shop. |
| home has a fussy eating kid. They test your | | | | 4) Involve them in cooking : This will |
| patience, you feel like beating them or tying them | | | | make them feel more responsible. They will be |
| up and putting all the food into their mouth. | | | | curious to know about the preparation methods. |
| Sometimes you just starve as you don’t feel | | | | They definitely will be more interested in eating |
| like eating when they are going empty stomach. | | | | food that they have participated in preparing |
| But, that is not a solution. Remember that this | | | | rather than something which has been made with |
| action of yours will not fill their stomach. Then | | | | all the effort that they never see. |
| what is the solution? | | | | 5) Set timetable: Be realisitic when you |
| Here, a number of ways are suggested which | | | | serve food to them. Agreed that you can afford |
| might make your child eat. As every child is | | | | to feed them a variety of dishes. But, remember |
| unique, some might work for some kids and | | | | that he/she might not have the capacity to take |
| some might for some others. Try all of them. | | | | them. Always pestering them to eat this and that |
| 1) Don’t force or threaten: It is not fair on | | | | will also make them dislike food. Give a proper |
| our part to punish them if they do not eat. We | | | | gap between the feedings. Let them feel hungry. |
| too do not feel like eating so times. Imagine how | | | | Every child who is healthy does feel hungry as we |
| we would we feel if someone threatens us a | | | | feel. If you are going to feed a full meal, then |
| punishment when we are not in a mood to eat. | | | | make sure that they do not eat chips or other |
| This also makes kids dislike food more. Instead | | | | snacks just before that as they are very filling to |
| you can follow the next step. | | | | the tummy. Try to maintain specific times for |
| 2) Starve them: Remember the time | | | | their food. They will automatically feel hungry at |
| when your kid was a new born baby. You never | | | | the particular time they are supposed to eat (if |
| had to force him/her milk. Instead they would cry | | | | they are not gulping anything in between). |
| when they felt hungry. Hunger is a natural thing. | | | | 6) Let the child decide the menu: Children |
| When they say no to food, plead them. When | | | | love if you take their advice. Ask them the menu |
| they are adamant, leave them. Do that everyday. | | | | once in a while. |
| Let them play. How many days can he/she be | | | | 7) Same meal time: Try to coincide the |
| hungry. Let them experience hunger. Just keep | | | | child’s meal time to the family’s meal |
| cooking delicious food everyday, keep the junk | | | | time. This is a traditional way of eating too. |
| food away. They will come back for regular food | | | | Probably eating together is one of the reasons |
| after a few days. This of course seems as a | | | | that kids were less fussy in olden days. Do not be |
| harsh way, but it is better than threatening them, | | | | very strict regarding the way they are eating and |
| as that will have a psychological affect and change | | | | do not say things like they are fat or thin while |
| their attitude towards their food intake. | | | | they are taking food. This will only annoy them. |
| Remember that you do this only when the child is | | | | Just serve the common food and pretend as if |
| healthy and is on a vacation home, as not eating | | | | you are not noticing how they are eating. Start a |
| might cause dizziness. Do not show your | | | | conversation, so that they are involved in that |
| frustration when he/she says no to food. Instead | | | | and they finish their food before they realize. |
| say ok and move on with your lunch and dinner. | | | | |