What can be more trying than your child not eating the foods that you want them too? ...besides potty training, not much...especially when oure children are surrounded by JUNK all the time!
First thing, don't give them the crap...if the only options they have are healthy choices, they will eventually eat the healthy choices.
Remember that it make take multiple (sometimes 10) introductions to food for a baby/toddler to start eating new foods.
So here are some quick recommendations, more will be added later...
1) dip, dip, dip...I know a little low-fat ranch goes a long way to get broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and other vegetables to disappear of the plate.
2) stagger the food - introduce the food in the order of least favorite first. Serve the vegetables first, then protein, then the starches. I think just about every kid would pick noodles over brocooli
3) stash stuff for nutrition - always put veggies on the plate, but hide stuff where you can and in what you can. I have found the love of purees. It takes a little time to prepare them all but then you can divy them up and freeze them and keep them around when you need them. Check out the cookbook Deceptively Delicious. It is full of recipes using purees to pack in additional nutritional punch. Some quick ones: Make chicken nuggets, (bake or pan), mix a puree with your egg (broccoli and spinach are bright green but work well) and then dredge in your bread crumbs. Cauliflower puree hides in EVERYTHING...making mac and cheese out of a box? Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup cauliflower puree to it. Add carrot or sweet potato puree to tomato sauce.
4) eat eat eat - if you aren't eating the vegetables and making healthy choices, do you really think your kids will?
5) get the crap out of the house - if the junk isn't in the house, what other options do they have when they are hungry? You control your groceries, use the power!
6) don't give in - Put the options on the table...make only one meal...don't cater seperate meals for everyone...it will just encourage the behavior. If your child wants more noodles, they can have more after they've finished some of their brocooli...if they don't finish it, don't give them more noodles...
7) variety is the spice of life - encourage trying new foods and try them yourself. Bring new fruits and vegetables in the house...maybe the new one will be the lucky charm. Make eating new foods fun...try a theme night once a week. Yes, it takes time, but if you sit on pillows on the floor around the coffee table for an asian or indian theme night, trying that vegetable curry might sound more fun than a chore.
Still worried about your childs nutrition? How about a tasty chocolate shake in the morning and the comfort that comes knowing that your child has just eating a whole bunch of the nutrients they need on any given day? Try Shakeology. Find out more here. Contact me and I can send you the "bait and switch" method if you're eater is particularly picky...
I'm more than happy to post ideas that others have, please contact me if you have thoughts/ideas/or additions!
