Successful Solids

Feeding children is one of the parenting tasks that causes the most anxiety. Is my child eating enough? Is he/she eating too much? Am I giving them the best foods? Have I got the balance right? Sandra Beynon-Dick has written an article for us to help parents avoid the common pitfalls and get your children into good eating habits right from the start.
 
 

Offering baby the spoon at the end of each meal is a way to encourage an interest in self-feeding

While diet alone appears not to be the sole cause of the child obesity epidemic, if we can at least control our child's dietary intake, we are halfway there in our war against poor child health. The cost of continuing to take a soft approach to our children's wants and desires is far too high, both for our health system and for society in general. Bottom line is: if it's not in the cupboard, it can't be consumed!   I hope the tips below can help you to set a healthy precedent for your child and family in general. The rewards of raising a healthy, active and fit child are obvious. The challenge for us is immense but with common sense and determination, it is readily achievable and well worth doing.   "The prevalence of obesity among Australian children has more than tripled in a decade, and the number carrying excess weight has doubled." Sydney Morning Herald Monday, June 4, 2001

COMMON PITFALLS OF THE WELL-MEANING AND TIRED PARENT:
 
Offering alternatives when a child refuses a meal: This is the doozy - the road to misery and woe!! It reinforces the idea in the child's mind that "if I refuse to eat this, something better may come my way". Children are skilled manipulators! What do you think keeps the toy industry pumping along? Do not believe for a nano-second that your child will choose to starve rather than eat your cooking!!
 
Don't give up on a food item at first refusal. Keep offering the item in the future until after at least five offerings, the child is adamant that he/she doesn't like the taste or texture. This does happen - my son won't eat tomatoes (YET!!).
 
Getting angry with a child who won't eat: Unless you've had a particularly bad day and have just got no more patience, try to not get perturbed about food not getting eaten. Just make it clear to the child that nothing else will be forthcoming. After a half-hour or so, if you are feeling weak, offer them a piece of apple or other fruit (never something unhealthy or snack-foody). The aim is to get the child to revert to the uneaten meal at a later stage when their stomach will inevitably start rumbling. Trust me, this actually can and does happen and what a great feeling of triumph it is for you!!
 
Expect them to eat everything on the plate: Don't be unrealistic. Even you don't always eat all that's in front of you. Be happy with a half-eaten meal of healthy, fresh food. What a great triumph that is!! Don't then go on and withhold dessert. Send a positive message about making an effort to eat most of their dinner. Encourage, encourage, encourage!!
 
Making threats of withholding dessert etc: Don't encourage your child to think that the only reason he eats his dinner is to get the dessert. In fact, don't serve dessert every night (just to confuse them!!) - certainly, only offer desserts which are mostly healthy. Ice-cream is fine if it's usually accompanied by fruit (fresh or tinned) and not too much of the sweet topping please!! Offer a lovely platter of fresh fruit, cut up. Always make eating a pleasure, not a drama.
 

TIPS:   Feed them in a timely manner. Don't wait till your child is asking for food. Be the perfect servant and anticipate their needs so they don't have time to think about naughty food like lollies etc. You may well feel like a chef on a roster, but it's really worth it and a good way of avoiding battles, particularly with headstrong two-to-three year olds.   Keep mealtimes happy & fun. Use gentle and creative coaxing and games to get your child to eat his food. Follow him or her around the room with a forkful of food if you have to, sit them in your lap and read a story while feeding them mouthfuls - just maintain the view that getting their food onto their tastebuds and into their tummy is secondary to getting them to sit still and eat the entire meal!! Whatever, however, just let them eat the stuff without any drama. They will eventually have to toe the line and sit at a table to eat, just like the rest of us did.   Offer new foods regularly. As your child grows, so will his eating repertoire. Don't assume he or she won't like what you're eating. Give it a go!

Improve your own diet. Set a good example and try to eat only healthy foods. Don't expect your child won't show an interest in soft drinks if you're glugging them down at every turn. Same for chips and lollies. You are their role model for food so bite the bullet!
 
Sandra Beynon-Dick is the author of Homecooked Food for Babies & Toddlers: A Simple Guide. RRP $9.95 available at selected Angus & Robertson Bookworld stores or by mail order ($12.00) by phoning 0418 762 615 or writing to sandybeynon@ozemail.com.au.