Nutritionist tells parents the things they need to STOP saying at meal times, including ‘don’t play with your food’
GETTING kids to finish their meals can be a big challenge, particularly if they are fussy eaters.
A nutritionist has revealed exactly what parents should and shouldn’t do at mealtimes to make things easier, and saying “here comes the aeroplane” is banned.
Charlotte Stirling-Reed, who specialises in the diets of infants, said being strict with children and forcing them to eat vegetables is not the most effective way to aid development.
She said that parents should instead approach mealtimes as an opportunity to have quality time with their kids.
Here are the top phrases you should AVOID saying at the dinner table, if you want to make mealtimes the best for your kids…
‘Eat your greens’
While many parents worry about making sure their kids eat their vegetables, you may make them want to eat it even less.
Charlotte advised that parents should instead sit back and take the pressure of forcing them to eat greens.
She said to : “The best way to get your little one eating all these foods?
“Keep offering them up so that they become familiar with them - and eat them yourself!”
‘Don’t play with your food’
Many people heard ‘don’t play with your food’ growing up, but the nutritionist said that it is actually a big part of development.
She said: “Playing with food - even without actually eating it - is all part of that learning process.”
Charlotte added that familiarisation with food is one of the vital steps in children starting to accept it.
‘Finish your plate’
Many parents hold the rule that their youngsters can’t leave the table until they have finished their food.
But Charlotte said that if your baby clamps their mouth shut or pushes away their meal, you should stop there.
She argued that babies are good at regulating their own appetites and know when they are hungry and full.
Conversely, if they open their mouth for more food or wail when you take their plate away, they may require a little more.
‘Here comes the aeroplane’
Charlotte said that meals should be fun and not strict, as your child will learn to associate food with enjoyment.
However, she said that using the ‘aeroplane trick’ to get kids to eat is not effective as it doesn’t teach them about the importance of food or eating.
She explained: ”It's not ideal to turn the action of eating itself into a game, or to use other distraction techniques to get baby to eat.”
The top 20 foods fussy eaters dislike
HERE are the biggest problem foods for parents of picky children:
- Mushrooms
- Marmite
- Leeks
- Onions
- Cauliflower
- Pesto
- Peppers
- Tomatoes
- Peanut butter
- Broccoli
- Lettuce
- Lamb
- Pork mince
- Fish
- Eggs
- Peaches
- Cucumber
- Beef mince
- Beef
- Sandwich meat such as ham.
Source: Hello Fresh
‘Put the children to eat in one room’
It can be tempting to separate out adults and kids when hosting a dinner party, but this might not be best for their development.
She said that kids learn from watching adults eat, and it can help them develop their skills in chewing and swallowing.
She said you should get children involved in distraction-free family meals from as young as possible, and social mirroring and eating opposite each other helps to prevent fussy eaters.
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