Resistance in new ingredients and foods, it is normal
Since your toddler can eat herself, she has the right to take whatever on her plate. Ideally, she has to clean the plate as what you do. But sometimes she does not want to clean the plate. This is fine actually because sometimes she is not hungry yet at the meal time. Snacks and drink especially milk make her stomach full. Another time, she does not want to eat because she feels strange with the foods you serve. So, she only look, touch, smell, and flip the food. In this case, you cannot judge her as the picky eater. What she is doing is observing the food and analyzing the taste and texture. New ingredients and foods should be introduced regularly because she needs to enlarge the food variety to consume. Various food intakes mean that your child will not lack of nutrition.
Another time, your child may be confused because you serve baked potato rather than mash potato. Or she rejects the crispy and crunchy deep fried chicken because it is hard to chew. She may also avoid consume broccoli just because it is dark green and looks like small tree. These examples are considered normal at the beginning of the introduction. However, you should start to worry when she does not want broccoli, carrot, spinach, lettuce, and others regularly. Perhaps it happens because your child is confused about what to eat. Introduce one by one and use some tricks. For example, you can use your child favorite cartoon characters. Show her that the character likes to eat certain foods she doesn’t like. Show that the characters are healthy and can save lots of people due to eating healthy foods. This way works in many cases.
Some children do not like avocado due to the smooth texture, while some others do not want watermelon since it is too watery. Other children hate grape since they find and chew the seeds and feel the bitter taste. Certain kinds of oranges have seeds inside and this makes the children have to be careful in peeling and eating. These examples make some children resist to those fruits. So, when you want to introduce these fruits to your child, choose the way that will make her comfortable. For example, you can help her peel and throw the seeds of oranges and grapes. Take her to the grocery on the fruit department. Let her look various fresh fruits and see many people who are purchasing them. This will increase her self confidence in consuming new ingredients and foods.
Picky eaters are everywhere. Even the adults can be one of them. So when you feel that your children and teens are so picky, you need to be calm down. There is no need to be panic and frustrated because this is common problem.
The importance of your creativity in dealing with the picky eater
Picky eaters are everywhere. Even the adults can be one of them. So when you feel that your children and teens are so picky, you need to be calm down. There is no need to be panic and frustrated because this is common problem. Look at your neighborhood and see how many families who have to deal with the picky eaters. You need to think more seriously when your child starts to choose the unhealthy food. For example, she keeps asking you to serve deep fried chicken, canned food, sweets, and chocolate daily. Indeed, they are fine to be consumed, but in daily basis they are not good. Surely this condition is so bad because it can affect her overall health, growth, and intelligence.
Some parents are so creative in mixing and creating new food combination and new name of food. This will be interesting for both of you. You are challenged to cook something new and your child is exciting to hear the name of the food. Purchasing cookbook is recommended, so that you have proper guidance in cooking healthier food. Some other people succeed in hiding the ingredients the children dislike into the other food, such as fruits in yogurt and grated carrot in mac and cheese.
Go online and see the variation of creating Japanese bento. It is a kind of snack box and the food is managed and designed creatively and beautifully. This is a very good example you can imitate. Indeed, it looks complicated at first but by watching the video carefully and practicing on your kitchen regularly, it will not be difficult. The problem is perhaps on the ideas because there is a chance that your child asks for other designs. Although you are busy or have to work, you have to spend your time maximally for making sure that your child eats well. What you are doing will give advantages from now and your children future.