“NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!” Is this a common response from your child whenever asked to eat his or her veggies? It is a known fact that preschool aged children have a tendency to be picky eaters. For some parents, this can cause slight discomfort when trying to ensure adequate nutrition.

When it comes to children and food, there should be three main focuses: texture, flavor, and portion sizes. For many children they refuse food not because of the taste, but because it may be too difficult to chew and swallow. They are still developing these skills, so by providing items varying in consistency at each meal, including soft, chewy, and crispy items, the child can further develop without having to sacrifice many nutrients. Meat seems to be problematic for children, but they will be more likely to have an adequate intake of it if the meat is ground or softer. Also, finger foods are a wise option for kids. Cutting and motoring silverware to the mouth is frustrating for children and exhausts their patience. Finger foods also enable children to feed themselves without having to rely on parents or other caregivers.

Foods that have strong flavors are not very popular among children. A child’s sense of taste is very sensitive. Foods should be clear of added spices, and some condiments may need to be eliminated, but the child should still be exposed to a variety of foods. A child’s food preferences are highly influenced by their parents. The child mimics what the parents are eating and not eating.

Children have improved consumption of vegetables and other undesired foods when offered a reward upon completion, but this also has some negative consequences as well. Children learn that the vegetable or food product is “bad” since they need a reward to eat it. Instead of learning to eat the foods as is, they expect to have a treat every time it is offered. If the treat is not available, then they will not eat it. It may take longer and require more time and patience, but the goal should be to teach the child to eat food in a straightforward manor.

The final focus that parents should be aware of is portion size. Children steer away from large quantities of food, especially if it is foreign to them. Parents should provide less than what the child usually eats, but never restrain him or her from having seconds. New foods should be offered to the child in small portions. Offering the child a new food item may need to occur on several different occasions before the child will commit to trying it. Parents should not become discouraged or pressure the child into eating the new food. The focus should be on when children eat, not when they refuse a food.

The following are some other tips that might aid in food consumption. Make sure that the eating environment is as relaxed as possible. This can include limiting distractions like a television or radio. The meal should be eaten at a table and the child should be sitting in a chair that is at a level for easy food consumption. The pace of the meal should not be rushed and the family should be eating as one unit. When mealtime is an enjoyable experience, children are more willing to venture out of routine.

Try having children involved in food production. They enjoy ownership and are more willing to try new foods if they have helped out. This doesn’t just need to be in the kitchen, but can extend to grocery shopping, gardening, or visiting a farm to see where food comes from.

Many times children are receiving adequate nutrients. To help eliminate any fear, the child can be weighed and have his or her height measured on a regular basis. The information can then be compared to a standardized growth chart to see if the child is growing at a consistent pace.

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