By Meagan Gray, NP, Newport News Pediatrics
One of the most common concerns among parents is their child’s selective eating habits. Often labeled as “picky eaters,” these kids limit or refuse certain foods and food groups. Parents can be proactive early in their child’s life to prevent picky eating and can also address this behavior as their child grows.
Good nutrition starts during pregnancy.
A woman’s diet while pregnant may have a direct effect on her child’s willingness to eat a variety of foods, research suggests. Pregnant women who eat a wide variety of foods, including dark green, leafy vegetables expose their baby to bitter tastes in utero, which may have a direct effect on their baby’s willingness to eat these foods early in life.
Focus on vegetables during food introduction, limit sugar.
Your child’s healthcare provider will likely recommend the initiation of foods around 6 months of age. One of the best ways to prevent picky eating is to start with vegetables. Giving your baby pureed peas, green beans, squash and beets will make him or her more likely to continue to eat them. Fruit intake is also important but introducing more fruits than veggies early in life may teach your child to prefer sweet tastes.
No juice, please.
Unless your child’s healthcare provider has recommended a certain juice as treatment for a problem, do not introduce it. Unfortunately, we teach our kids to love sugar at a young age, which encourages picky eating later in life. Juice can also be harmful to your child’s teeth. When in doubt, skip the juice.
My kid is a picky eater. So, now what?
Set clear expectations from the start. Even if your child is very young, it is important that they learn to eat what Mom or Dad makes for dinner. Do not make your child a separate meal and do not give them snacks that they normally would not get between meals. As a parent, you get to decide what is offered for meals and snacks. If your child is struggling with a certain food, try introducing it in new ways. For example, instead of steamed broccoli, offer it air fried with some cheese on top. Set the expectation that your child needs to try the foods you provide for them to eat.
Picky eating is incredibly common and can be frustrating for parents. As primary care providers, we always want parents to bring their children in to talk to us if there are concerns. Please do not hesitate to ask for help if your child is struggling with picky eating. We may recommend food therapy or have other ideas to help your child get the nutrition he or she needs. Don’t forget, no juice!
