Eating habits of children are one of the main concerns of parents across the world. Almost every second child is a fussy eater, and a source of worry for their parents. You are not the only parent who is struggling to make your child finish their food. Having to deal with this every day can be quite frustrating. According to some of the best nurseries in JLT, there are some feeding mistakes you should avoid completely if possible. These include:

Force feeding

The more you try to force feed the child, the more they will resist you and ultimately it becomes a battle of wits. Though you may initially win small battles, you will end up losing the war as your child will not only develop a strong aversion for certain food items, they will imbibe this behaviour in other aspects of life when they grow up. A better way to make them eat what is good for them is by serving them smaller portions of food. This will ensure that there is no food wastage while they are getting essential nutrition without much tussle. Informing them about the health benefits of vegetables might also prompt them to eat them despite not liking them.

Bribing Your Child to Finish Meals

If you think that giving your child an incentive to finish food is a good way to get things done, it isn’t! If you have been indulging in this behaviour, your child will use it for their own benefit. Children start expecting treats to be doled out every time they are asked to finish their meal. This can lead to the child then holding you to ransom every mealtime! Instead of promising them a treat (sweet, chocolate, toy, etc.) for finishing their food, turn the situation on its head by using this as a teaching moment about the benefits of healthy eating. But be warned. You cannot weaken or show your anxiety about their not eating. This will definitely be exploited to its fullest by your child.

Allowing Children To Eat Anything Anytime

Unlike adults, children do not know what is good for them. Moderation is something you must teach your child. Many parents give their child juices, snacks and milk between meals which are not only enough to satiate the need, but also fills the tummy. Then do not be surprised if the child isn’t hungry when they are served lunch or dinner. Force feeding the child at such time is not good. You should make it a point to assign fixed mealtimes and ask the child to sit properly and eat their breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Rushing them through mealtime
Adults are often in a hurry to get things done so that they can move on to another task. Children on the other hand live in their own world and could seem to take forever to get things done, especially when it comes to finishing their meals. Let them eat the meal slowly, chewing it properly. Not only will this aid in digestion, but also help the child decide whether they want a second helping or not.

Indulging them with junk food

Once in while giving them popcorn, soda or fries is okay, but if it becomes a habit, your child will refuse to eat their fruits and veggies. In the long run, consumption of junk food has been linked with obesity, juvenile diabetes and other lifestyle disorders. You should cut back on junk food and ensure that your child eats salads, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. You could prepare dips and sauces which will make boring food interesting and palatable.

Eating in front of TV

When your child eats their meals in front of the TV, they are not only unaware of what they are eating, but also how much they have eaten. Make mealtimes special by indulging in daily chats about the day’s highlights. Mealtimes can become family time with a dedicated place to eat and have healthy conversations. This will encourage your child to eat happily, even if the food is not of their choice.
Teaching your child healthy eating habits is important but slightly difficult if you yourself are not doing the same. Children imitate what they see. If you are a fussy eater, you will not be able to encourage your child to eat everything. Threats and incentives do not always work. Try and be honest with your child; include them in meal preparations and they might slowly start loving food.