Kids and Their Relationship with Food
Written By: Bosky Singh, Moms on Maternity Columnist.
"Investing in early childhood nutrition is a surefire strategy. The returns are incredibly high."-Anne M.Mulcahy
What kind of relationship do kids have with food- I think it’s a love-hate relationship. At times, they will eat something and decide they do not like it; at other times they will not try something, even though they may love it. I believe this is a topic close to every mommy's heart. We are constantly worrying whether we are giving our littles proper nutrition, if they are eating enough, or maybe eating too much.
These are anxieties many moms out there feel and can identify with.
I remember when my little guy started eating solids. I read everything available under the sun. I prepared as if I was going to a war but really nothing prepared me for the reality. As I always realize, it is a trial and error method based on my experiences and experiments with my little one more than anything else.
Here I am today sharing with all you mommies little things that you can do to make your kid a better eater and enjoy meal times.
Start Early:
It simply means the younger they are, the easier it is to instill good eating habits in them. As they start growing they start asserting their will and it is more difficult for you to make them try what you want. I, for instance, started with my kid when he was 6 months and slowly keep on widening his palette. How has this helped me? Today, his favorite vegetable is broccoli spinach, he eats his greens and fruits and veggies, lentils and his breakfast is a bowl of porridge with a couple of spoons of dry fruit powder. And mommies don’t fret if they don’t like the taste of something on the first go. Keep on trying.
I would like to share something I read in a book on nutrition for babies. It said at times it takes them 10-15 times to develop a taste for a particular food. It happens with us as well – sometimes we don’t like the taste of something we try for the first time but after a few times and a few tries, we start enjoying or even loving the taste.
Routine:
I have always maintained that the trick of the trade is routine. Have a proper schedule for meals, naps, and everything else. A properly rested kid is a lot less cranky and more willing to eat their meals. Moreover, by having a proper routine the body clock will start telling him it's mealtime. And having a routine helps all us mommies as well. A routine helps us plan for what is ahead each day. And if you are not able to stick to your routine once in a while, it's OK! There is no need to go all distraught over it.
Be In-charge Of Your Grocery Shopping:
Yeah! You heard me right do your own grocery shopping or have a detailed list handy to handover to hubby dear or whoever does your food shopping on what you would like purchased. This way you have what you need handy at all times.
Make your Meal Look Happy:
What I mean is make your meal look inviting, presentable, like it is asking to be eaten. I am not saying you need to go all Masterchef on it but maybe just some nice plates and cutlery. Or easier still make the meal colorful which means it has variety and is loaded with all kinds of vitamins and mineral. The great cooking icon Julia Child once said, ’You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces-just good food from fresh ingredients.’
Talk to your Kids about Food:
Kids are smarter than we give them credit for. Talk to them, tell them about the pros and cons of eating a certain food, tell them why are you feeding them certain things. Believe me, they understand. I know it's not gonna be easy but have patience and they will surprise you someday. It happened to me the other day; a friend of mine gave a goody bag to my kid the other day, he opened it after thanking her and gave it back to me saying, 'I don’t eat potato wafers that’s junk food and chocolate can give me a cavity.’ Shocking? Right!!
One more thing ladies, don’t go overboard while talking to the kids about food and nutrition, keep it simple, and don’t be repetitive. We know, right? The moment something becomes repetitive it loses its importance. And talk in your kid's language, use words they can identify with.
In my house, ’Who wants to be as fast as lightning McQueen?’ My little guy, ’me mama.’ I reply, ’For that, someone needs to have this glass of milk.’ And the milk is then gone in no time.
Be Flexible (Give Them Choices):
With kids, it's all about control, especially with toddlers. If they ask for a bag of crispies or candy offer them a choice between their favorite fruit or salad. Now what you did is you made them eat something healthy and you gave your little person a sense of control, power by making him/her choose.
Don’t Adhere too much to Clean Plate Rule:
This is a tough one, right? I was brought up by that rule.. don’t waste food, clean the plate. I have stopped practicing that with my little guy. Why? Cause at times as mothers we need to respect our kid's wishes as well. If he says he is full then he must be and trust your instinct, as a mamma you know when he/she is not. Moreover, you are making them trust their body and instincts. If you keep on stuffing kids, even when they are already full you are encouraging them to not listen to the signals their body is giving them.
No Bargaining:
Ladies please don’t bargain when it comes to food, no more offering something for one more bite or that last bite. If you do you are setting the pattern for that never-ending vicious circle which will prove useless in the long run. Again, it's about asserting control, let them be, don’t negotiate, offer small portions, give them choices, and accept their will.
Practice Yourself:
This one is the toughest to follow. Just DON’T PREACH, practice it yourself. I always say kids are little apes they do what we do. So if we eat junk they too will and if we eat healthily they too will. Pretty simple.
Eat Together:
It’s the oldest golden rule. Mealtime should be a fun time, family time, something to look forward to. And if it's going to be a fun family time, your children will enjoy the meals and maybe surprise you by having that extra helping of broccoli or carrots and peas just because they are having a good time. And who hasn’t heard the famous saying, ’The family who eats together stays together.’ That’s a great added benefit.
Well, in the end, I would like to say that we all try to do what's best for our kids and as they grow we need to evolve and adjust. Their food habits are to going to change with the influence of friends, school, playmates and many other factors. What as parents we can do is stop fretting, stop counting every morsel our kids eat and the amount of calories or nutrition they have had. Instead, enjoy the process. Our kids are sensitive enough to pick up on our vibes, especially of their mothers. If you are enjoying the process of food teaching and meal time they too are going to enjoy it.
WRITTEN BY:
Bosky Singh is Mom to one boy aged 4. She is a regular columnist for Moms on Maternity.