Change your kid’s bad eating habits

It may be a pain to battle with your little picky eater whenever it is time to eat. But it is imperative that you change their bad eating habits to save them from future eating disorders. Here are some useful pointers.

Get your child to adopt good eating habits.

Add “secret ingredients”

Tell your kid that you have added a special sauce, topping or spice into the food and they just have to try it. They don’t have to like it, but just have to try it. Perhaps you could bribe them later with a sweet dessert to wash down the taste if they seriously don’t like what you have made them eat.

Don’t pressure them

It is quite pointless pressuring your kid to consume a food item that makes them squeal, squirm and make a face. The more you force them, the more they will resist. But fret not, they will not be like this forever. In time to come they will venture out and be more confident in trying new foods. However, you, as a parent, should set a good example by being adventurous with your food intake too.

Be imaginative

Fancy something green?

Veggies are the worst, it’s hard to get your kids to eat green stuff. You can say that broccolis are ‘trees’ and mashed potatoes are ‘clouds’ and your kid is the giant that is about to devour the make-believe forest. It will make them even stronger giants.

Involve your kid

Get your little one involved in the cooking and preparation, it gets them curious and even educates them about the whole process. They will automatically feel more connected to the food and this makes them more willing to try out what they have spent hours labouring over.

Add a new twist

Don’t be boring and routine. Unexpected recipes and presentations can pique the interest of the pickiest eater around.

Don’t give in

Your kid might think that he/she can get away with not eating what’s on the dinner table because they can snack on something yummy but unhealthy later. No way! Make sure they know that there is no access to desserts, supplements or snacks after dinner. They would just have to go hungry. That might just put things into perspective. They could possibly test the waters but stick to your word—once they have experienced the rumbling and grumbling of an empty tummy, they’d know better next time round.

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Written by

Sandra Ong

Adviceparentinghealthy eating habits in kidspicky eating