Mealtime battles create a winner and a loser. Ultimately, the fight doesn’t lead to a pleasurable family meal time for either the child or the parent. But you can learn how to navigate food battles with kids to enjoy mealtimes once again.
Today we have child and family nutrition expert, Joan Marks (Pediatric Registered Dietitian) to give us tips on how to navigate the food battles with your kids.
- Many parents are stuck in a rut of only serving foods they know their kids will eat (pasta, pizza, hot dogs, repeat) and are looking for new ideas of what to try to feed their kids healthier that they will like. It becomes a bit of a food battle at home with parents’ good intentions of trying to coerce their kids to eat or try new foods.
- Parents feel they are responsible for their entire kids eating experience, but that isn’t the case. Our job as parents is to put healthy food on the table. And the kids decide whether to eat and how much — without promises or threats.
- One thing many parents forget is to look at the big picture. Good nutrition shouldn’t be viewed in isolation, like one bad supper or a poorly eating breakfast. Nutrition is based on looking at what your child has eaten over a week’s time.
- How do we get kids to try new foods? Repeat exposure. If you want your kids to eat carrots and hummus, you will have to continue to provide this many times. It can take up to 20+ times to get buy in on a new food item with your child!
Looking for more support regarding quick and easy recipes or help with meal planning?
Our dietitian nutrition coach team can help!
We offer solutions to your nutrition and health concerns through nutrition counselling. You can meet in person with a dietitian at one of our 6 Winnipeg offices. Or you can meet with us virtually by video conferencing or phone.
We specialize in family + pediatric nutrition, intuitive eating + relationship with food, disordered eating, digestive health issues, vegan /plant-based nutrition, and improving health concerns like diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol.
HOW DO I BOOK AN APPOINTMENT WITH A REGISTERED DIETITIAN?
- To book an appointment with one of our Registered Dietitians or therapists, you can:
- Phone: 204-515-7466
- Email: admin@alittlenutrition.com
- Book online: https://alittlenutrition.janeapp.com
