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Why I Shouldn't Call My Child a Picky Eater

We all know someone that we would classify as a “picky eater”, whether it’s a friend, colleague or even our own child. Picky eating is used to describe a person who is unwilling to try new foods or eats a limited variety of foods. We often use this term without thinking about the consequences it can have on a person. Constantly calling your child a picky eater causes them to identify with that label. Over time, this ends up becoming a dominant feature and may overshadow other positive traits, making it difficult to change in the future. 

In order to shift our minds away from using this term, we have to understand children’s eating behavior. Eating is a complex behavior that can be influenced by many different factors (taste, smell, texture, look, medical conditions). Children’s appetite fluctuates day to day and they do not need to eat as often as they did during infancy. Remember they are still growing and learning to eat every day. 

What can I do? 

The best thing to do as parents is to rethink our expectations when it comes to eating. Instead of putting the blame on your child, focus on creating healthy eating habits. Below are some general tips. 

  1. Introduce one new food at a time. 

  1. Offer at least one food they like at mealtimes. 

  1. Limit snacking throughout the day. This will encourage them to become hungrier at mealtimes and more likely to try new foods. 

  1. Make mealtimes stress-free by not forcing them to eat certain foods or finish their plate. 

  1. Create a routine by having meals and snacks around the same time every day. 

  1. Include them in food preparation. Children are more likely to eat something they help cooked. 

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s eating, contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our Registered Dietitians. 


Sources:
  1. https://lifehacker.com/stop-calling-kids-picky-eaters-1845454678 
  2. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-art-science-teaching-kids-eat-right/201606/why-you-should-never-call-your-picky-eater-picky#:~:text=The%20widespread%20acceptance%20of%20the,Change%20becomes%20very%20difficult. 
  3. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/catherine-mccord-weelicious-parenting-picky-eaters-vegetarians-162724344.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAgbhU8aayKSUr_uzQl_4ckiiAnvo8_61-AnnUVD0iGme_sHFILa8uxdj6XO3xq5zS-CVx9D7oYRfPI6xPZb1F5oSjP3BMtECdskAtkACrHx-30kJ1t7TgF0isMybrZLTWyLQd0Tg6SFKFkXHuQCdLx4fSxiaCpqvqCrHGH0LwtT 
  4. https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/why-to-stop-calling-your-toddler-picky/ 


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