A Parent's Guide to Happier Mealtimes.

"He doesn't eat much and sometimes he skips meals."

Children are smart eaters. They eat only when they are hungry. They stop eating when full. So, don't worry if your child skips meals sometimes. It's okay; he'll make up for it at the next meal. Remember your child's tummy is not as big as yours. He won't eat as much as you.

Listen to your child. He'll tell you when he wants no more to eat. He'll turn his face away. He'll get distracted. Or he'll just stop eating. Don't worry. Let your child do what his tummy tells him. Check with your doctor or dietitian. They'll tell you that a child is eating enough if he is growing, sleeping well and playing hard.

 

"She won't try new foods."

Let your child try new foods several times. It will take a few tries for her to see if she likes them.

Here's how to give new foods to your child.

• Arrange the new food nicely on a plate when you serve it.
• Think about how the food looks. Children love food to have shape and color.
• Set a good example. Serve a new food to the whole family.
• Give your child new foods at the start of the meal. This is when she's most hungry.
• Serve new foods with her favorite food. She'll become more likely to try them.
• Serve a small portion. Trying to have "just a taste" is easier than eating a large portion.
• Don't give up! Serve the new food again at other meals. Children will try — and like — foods they know.

 

"He eats the same thing at every meal."

Does your child ask for peanut butter and jelly or pizza at every meal? Most children go through this phase as they grow. It can be a rough phase, but you can get through it. These ideas should help you.

• Let your child help you fix the foods you serve. This may make him more eager to try new foods.
• Pick a meal or snack time when he can have his favorite food.
• If he won't eat what you fix, let him down from the table. Give him water until snack time. Don't feel bad. This is how he'll learn to eat what is served. It will take a few tries, but he will learn. (If this is too hard for you, give him a few bites of his food with what is served. Ask him to try his favorite food and yours.)

 

"She's never hungry at mealtime."

A child's appetite can change like the weather. This can be tough at mealtime. Don't panic. There may be a reason why she can't eat her meals. Take a look at what she eats between meals. Her snacks may be too large. If so, she should still be full at mealtime.

It will do no good to force your child to eat at mealtime. You'll only start a "food fight." Try serving less food at snack time. She may be hungrier for meals.

Try these tips for snacks.

• Be firm with snack times. If she doesn't eat her meal, ask her to try "just a little taste." Make sure she knows she must wait for snack time to eat next.
• Serve snacks about 1-1/2 to 2 hours before meals.
• Make sure she doesn't fill up on juice or milk between meals.
• Serve two snacks if the next meal is really far off (like an early lunch and a late dinner).
• Serve snacks in the same place all the time. Don't let her get in the habit of snacking while watching TV.

 

Give these snack ideas a try:

• Celery sticks or apple slices with peanut butter "dip"
• Berries with milk
• String cheese and a mini bagel
• Fruit Smoothie (blend banana slices, strawberries and vanilla yogurt)
• Fruit juice popsicles
• Apple slices with yogurt "dip"
• Cereal and fruit

For more information, contact the Nutritional Services Department of Lutheran Hospital at (260) 435-7981.

For more information, contact the Nutritional Services Department of Lutheran Hospital at (260) 435-7981.