How to cope with fussy eaters

Once your child reaches her toddler years, you may find that she becomes much more picky in terms of what she will and won't eat.

Even if as a baby she may have gobbled up anything you put in front of her, you may find that she now says no to everything. This can be very frustrating for a parent, but it is a natural part of your child's development; she is asserting her independence. Although you can't force your child to eat, however, there are ways in which you can encourage her to have a healthy, well-balanced diet.

There are other reasons why your toddler might become more fussy when it comes to food. A child's rate of growth slows down after the age of one; therefore she doesn't require as much food. Also, once a child is mobile and running about her priorities change and she will find other activities far more interesting than eating.

A balanced diet consists of several food groups. Ideally, your child's diet will include protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Protein can be found in food like meat, eggs and cheese. Carbohydrates are food stuffs such as bread, pasta, fruit and vegetables. Fat can be found in meat, milk, butter and cheese. Vitamin C can be found in fruit, Vitamin D in eggs and butter, and iron in meat, bread and vegetables.

Top tips on how to cope with fussy eaters:

If your child isn't keen on a particular type of food, don't push the issue but try the same food again a few weeks later - you might be pleasantly surprised!

Offer your baby finger food; many babies and toddlers prefer to feed themselves as it gives them a greater sense of independence.

Don't label your child as fussy, as he or she will play up to the role.

Try not to give your baby any drinks within an hour of her meals, as this risks her filling up before she's even touched her food.

Cut down on any snacks between meals.

Let your child choose what to eat sometimes (within reason!).

Eat as a family wherever possible, so that your child can mimic your eating habits.

Children are more likely to eat food they've helped to prepare, so try to cook together when you can.

If your child won't eat vegetables, try different types and choose a variety of colours as this will help to ensure that your child doesn't get bored. Don't get cross if she still refuses to eat her vegetables; you getting wound up will merely make her more likely to rebel.

If your child is not keen on meat, make meals which use eggs and beans as these are also good sources of protein. Similarly, if your child won't drink milk, other dairy products include cheese, milk, yoghurt and even ice-cream (in small amounts!).

Don't overload your child's plate, as some children find this off-putting. Instead, start off with small amounts of food and present it in an appetising form - arrange it into funny faces, for example! It's alright to occasionally play with food!

Don't impose your own food fads or aversions on your child; lead by example. Eat a healthy, balanced diet yourself. Also, if there's something you don't like, it doesn't mean your child will feel the same way. Just because you can't stand the sight of avocado, it doesn't mean that your child won't love it.

If your child drinks a lot of milk, she might feel full and this could be a reason for her lack of willingness to eat a varied diet. If you suspect this might be the case, try cutting down on the amount of milk she drinks.

Obviously, the more varied your child's diet, the better, but if your child has a firm favourite like spaghetti bolognese, this is fine. You can surreptitiously hide a few vegetables in there!

Try to stay calm! Easier said than done, but the more wound-up you get, the more likely your child is to rebel. Take several deep breaths and remind yourself that your child isn't going to fade away if she doesn't always finish whatever's on her plate.

If you would like to talk to other mums about how to cope with a fussy eater, you can do this on the Guide to Toddler area of the chat forum.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

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Last Modified: 13/05/2008

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