
Contributed By:
Gail Goldspiel on February 25, 2021
My neighbors are parents of a toddler and good friends of mine. As I recently got married and do not have my own toddler yet, I’ve learned of some of the many challenges and adventures that come with parenting. To name a big one facing parents and nannies: the perils of picky eating.
Picky eating is something I had seen before as a preschool educator. In my private school classroom in New York City, the 4 and 5-year-olds were quite particular about the foods they ate. Most did not like their lunches, which I found to be impressive and appetizing compared to the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches I often had growing up. My young students often just wanted their dessert, their friend’s lunch, a classroom snack, or nothing at all. They noticed when the morning snack was prepared differently and often voiced which item they preferred and which they did not before it was even snack time. Looking back, some students were quite picky, and some were not, but all of the students were unique, one-of-a-kind, and had lots of interests, even if one of those interests didn’t always happen to be food.
When I see my friend’s toddler now, he is happy, laughs often, loves trucks and is discovering the delightful world of dinosaurs, (including the sounds they make). But the one thing he does not seem to be so fond of is eating. Some weeks he has loved pasta, but then he did not want it anymore. Then it was cake, but that faded too. One week he ate three slices of warm bread, but then it was back to no more bread. His parents discovered that he loved snack foods: Nutri-Grain bars, cheese sticks, you name it. Through it all, like all parents, they wondered what they could do to encourage their child to eat healthfully and enjoy it at the same time.
Tips to Help with Picky Eaters
Any of this sound familiar? According to Harvard Health Medical School, there are techniques we should employ and ones we should try to avoid, all while remembering that being positive, upbeat and enthusiastic when it comes to eating will always help. Forcing our children to eat is probably not the best idea nor is encouraging the age-old “clean plate club.” One idea that resonated with me is involving children in grocery shopping, meal planning and prep. When going shopping with them, take them along, have them feel and pick the fruits and vegetables, and include them as an integral part of the process.
Maybe one way we can think about helping our picky eaters, is balancing our approach with both play and purpose, simultaneously. We can have fun trying out new techniques with a toddler, while also being intentional and purposeful. As Child Mind.org describes, parents can make a game out of trying new foods with their kids, and even try activities like food bingo. In this way, they can embrace and demonstrate being adventurous and show that they themselves are open and excited to try new foods, too.
As Dr. Katherine Dahlsgaard, clinical director of the Picky Eater’s Clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) suggests, remember that picky eating is “developmentally normal, especially between ages 2 through 4.” Additionally, according to Dr. Dahlsgaard, retrying foods is key and “research says it takes 8 to 15 times to introduce a new food before your child will accept it.”
Through it all, it is important to remain calm and patient, not give up and keep trying, while also remembering picky eating is a very normal part of early life. For nannies interested in learning more about child nutrition, you can enroll in the Advanced Childcare program which includes several nutrition courses and nutrition for child athletes.
The US Nanny Institute provides online childcare classes with certification programs based on a curriculum specifically designed to advance the skills of Nannies and Sitters. The Nanny Institute has over 30 college faculty with a passion for education and childcare, bringing them together to help childcare providers gain practical skills and qualifications that benefit their careers and the children in their care.
Popular Resource Articles
3 Ways to Help Children Adjust to Daylight Savings Time
Spring Forward and Fall Back for Daylight Savings Time.
8 Ideas for Nannies on Boss’s Day
Boss’s Day provides an opportunity for nannies and sitters to show appreciation to their nanny families.
Hire a Sitter, Nanny, Family Assistant?
You have young children and need time to work. Childcare is a must, so where do you start?
10 Ideas for Nanny Recognition Week
National Nanny Recognition Week has been celebrated since 1998 so families, agencies, and communities can champion the work of nannies and childcare providers.
Recent Resource Articles
Parenting can be exhausting
Parenting can be exhausting. With the added dimension of more time at
The Magic of Picture Books
Ever since I was young, I have been mesmerized by picture books.
Five Reasons Why Cereal is Good
When we think of cereal, we often think: sugar. Sneaky and subtle,
Transition Back to In-Person Learning
Nothing about 2021 was ‘normal’, especially when it comes to schools. Many
Leave a Reply