One of the most common concerns voiced by new parents is how to get their kids to eat healthy foods. Children need more than just calories. The rapidly developing brain needs protein; fatty acids; iron; zinc; copper; iodine; selenium; vitamin A; vitamin B6; choline and folate just to name a few essential ingredients that come from proper nutrition. In the long-term, proper eating habits from infancy will carry on to adulthood and protect us from disease and disability.
Taste Preferences
Babies are born with highly developed senses of taste and smell. A few drops of sugar water placed on the tongue will elicit lip licking and a happy expression in babies. At the same time, it is obvious if they are exposed to a bitter flavor and a clear dislike for it will be demonstrated by their reaction to it. This preference for certain tastes is influenced by what you eat and drink during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Studies have shown that mothers who eat healthy foods during pregnancy or breast-feeding on a consistent basis have babies with healthier eating tendencies. Parents should eat more healthy foods themselves. When children see you eating and enjoying healthy food, they will tend to mimic you and do the same.
Finicky Eaters
Around 2 years of age it is quite common for children to abruptly stop eating foods that they used to enjoy. The best way to overcome this natural instinct is quite simple: exposure. Children will ultimately eat like their parents and if you expose them to vegetables and the proper mix of good foods, they will acquire this same tendency over time. All of us are born with a natural craving for sweet things. Exposure to a nutritious food will increase your child's future desire for it. It is best that you ignore your child's facial expressions and general negative reactions to certain foods that you know are good for them. Over time, the brain will recognize the nutritional value of good foods and the natural craving for things that are good for us will eventually take over.
Introducing New Foods
If you want your child to start eating new food, don't present it alone. Serve it to your child along with some other things that he or she likes. Also, make sure your child is really hungry when you are introducing a new food. That way, they are more likely to taste it, eat it, and enjoy it. Their acceptance of the new food will be enhanced if he or she has a good appetite when it is introduced. First impressions are lasting impressions and this particularly applies to new foods.
Strategies to Avoid
Make sure that you don't introduce new or novel foods when a child is feeling ill. They may associate the new food with a bad experience going forward by doing so. Also, never pressure children to eat large quantities of things they don't want to eat. There are tremendous benefits from encouraging children to taste new and different foods in small quantities. This approach of sampling good foods and letting nature - and your child's brain - do the rest will serve you well.
Tips for Parents
1. Pair new foods with familiar foods.
Taste Preferences
Babies are born with highly developed senses of taste and smell. A few drops of sugar water placed on the tongue will elicit lip licking and a happy expression in babies. At the same time, it is obvious if they are exposed to a bitter flavor and a clear dislike for it will be demonstrated by their reaction to it. This preference for certain tastes is influenced by what you eat and drink during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Studies have shown that mothers who eat healthy foods during pregnancy or breast-feeding on a consistent basis have babies with healthier eating tendencies. Parents should eat more healthy foods themselves. When children see you eating and enjoying healthy food, they will tend to mimic you and do the same.
Finicky Eaters
Around 2 years of age it is quite common for children to abruptly stop eating foods that they used to enjoy. The best way to overcome this natural instinct is quite simple: exposure. Children will ultimately eat like their parents and if you expose them to vegetables and the proper mix of good foods, they will acquire this same tendency over time. All of us are born with a natural craving for sweet things. Exposure to a nutritious food will increase your child's future desire for it. It is best that you ignore your child's facial expressions and general negative reactions to certain foods that you know are good for them. Over time, the brain will recognize the nutritional value of good foods and the natural craving for things that are good for us will eventually take over.
Introducing New Foods
If you want your child to start eating new food, don't present it alone. Serve it to your child along with some other things that he or she likes. Also, make sure your child is really hungry when you are introducing a new food. That way, they are more likely to taste it, eat it, and enjoy it. Their acceptance of the new food will be enhanced if he or she has a good appetite when it is introduced. First impressions are lasting impressions and this particularly applies to new foods.
Strategies to Avoid
Make sure that you don't introduce new or novel foods when a child is feeling ill. They may associate the new food with a bad experience going forward by doing so. Also, never pressure children to eat large quantities of things they don't want to eat. There are tremendous benefits from encouraging children to taste new and different foods in small quantities. This approach of sampling good foods and letting nature - and your child's brain - do the rest will serve you well.
Tips for Parents
1. Pair new foods with familiar foods.
2. Encourage children to try new foods, but don't be harsh or forceful.
3. Eat a variety of foods yourself in front of your children.
4. Avoid filling children up with familiar food when you are trying to get them to taste something new.
5. Be patient and have faith in your child's own taste and nutrition-seeking system.
6. Don't introduce new foods when your child is ill or becoming ill.
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