How To Raise Fearless Eaters

“My child is not eating enough!” As mothers, we tend to focus on what our children are eating and whether they are eating everything that they should be. However, we often miss the mark as we fail to acknowledge that how our children are eating is just as important as what our children are eating, if not more. It is our attitude towards food and mealtimes that eventually shapes our child’s attitude towards food, and that determines what and how well they eat, says Tanya Khubchandani Vatsa

- Tanya Khubchandani Vatsa

Over time, we have become more aware of the importance of healthy food choices. It is the quality of food more than the quantity, that has a detrimental effect on our future health, and just as we must focus on quality with our food decisions, it is the quality of our children’s eating habits that sets them up to make better food choices. There are several attitudes we can adopt when it comes to parenting our children’s eating habits. However, it is more important to set them up to learn how to eat well so that they are able to maintain that attitude even in their adult lives.

Offer them a variety of foods when they are little: This does not mean that each meal should have 5 entrees for them to pick and choose from. It is much the opposite. Offer them one dish at each meal. However, through the course of the day and week, they should get to try several different vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, and meats. It is safe to introduce meats as early as seven months, especially if non-vegetarian options are on the menu at home. Do not be afraid to let your child try some. Even with infants, upgrade their textures regularly until they are eating table foods, and do not be afraid of what you are exposing them to. Of course, this is once you have ruled out allergies by introducing each new food for three consecutive days. You will be surprised by how much a toothless child is able to chew – their gums harden and are extremely strong.

Children get pickier with their meals after the first year of eating. Make sure that by that time they have crossed their first year mark, they have been exposed to several different food groups, flavours and tastes; it will help cultivate their palette and give you an idea of what they really like, once their preferences kick in.