As far back as I can remember, our household had a rule - neither me nor my siblings were allowed to say ‘No’ to any food during our childhood. My mother had a simple principle - never say no to any food without trying it. Despite this, if we (my siblings and I) still managed to avoid the foods that we disliked (just by the look of them!), my mother would either make the same dish again, or use the poor, rejected veggie in another dish repeatedly, until we tasted it. Much to our annoyance and to her smug demeanour, the dish always turned out to be good! And so that was a lesson learnt. To this day, neither I nor my siblings have said no to any dish without trying it.
Let’s face it, healthy and nutritious food does not look appealing. Never mind that our bodies stand to benefit from it. Kids aren’t the only ones to convince. At times, full-grown adults also grimace when presented with certain foods and vegetables. Case in point usually being broccoli, sprouts, or any leafy vegetable for that matter.
A large portion of what we perceive as fussy eating is, in reality, age-appropriate developmental behaviour—stages in which children demonstrate their independence by regulating their diet and exhibiting a natural aversion to new foods.
Here are a few simple tips and strategies to transform a picky eater into a food lover slowly and steadily!
Patience Is The Key
If you ever have to deal with a picky eater, mealtimes can feel like entering a war arena. There is a constant tug-of-war and negotiation between the parents and child as to what food is eventually eaten, and what gets pushed aside. It is not always the case that a child eats everything that’s served on their plate. At the very least though, we can consider it progress if kids get acquainted with the texture and appearance of a vegetable by moving it around, ripping it apart with their fingers, or smelling it. Be patient while they make mealtimes a multi-sensory experience.
Start Small, Aim For Big Mouthfuls
The key is to serve the picky eater small portions of the food so they don’t get overwhelmed looking at their plate – especially if it is filled with things they dislike. One can also introduce new foods by pairing them with items that are already loved and relished. For instance, offer their favourite sabudana vada with a portion of poha on the side. They will be eager to finish off the poha first to save their favourite part of the meal for the end.
Make A Cooking Partner Out Of The Picky Eater
Get kids involved in meal preparation at home to get them to eat. Have them assist you in deciding the week’s menu. Take them shopping to pick out ingredients required for the recipe. By involving them in the process, you are being honest with them about the ingredients and letting them know what goes in the making of this new dish.
Don’t Fuss Over A Fussy Eater
Who doesn’t like attention? Sometimes kids (especially the ‘food avoiders’) ask to try a new food item. And to their parents’ dismay, despite coaxing for hours, they refuse to take a bite of it. The message is not to make a big deal when your child asks to try something new. The more casual parents are about it, the more likely it is that they will follow through.
Note: Don’t watch your child eat when you give them something new to try!
Get The Creative Juices Flowing
Experiment with foods, tastes, textures and flavours. Prepare food based on trial and error so you can understand their tastebuds and create similar flavours using different veggies/sauces/purees etc.