Page 161 - MHF-FeedingMinds-final.indd

152 5.2 Common Nutritional Problems in Preschool Children

Dos and don’ts for managing challenging eating behaviour

Do Reason

Finish the meal after about 20–30 Dragging the meal on for a long time is unlikely to result in a
minutes and accept that is all the toddler eating much more. It is better to wait for the next snack
toddler is going to eat or meal and offer more nutritious foods then

Arrange for toddlers to eat with Some toddlers eat better when they are with their own age
other toddlers as often as possible group. Their eating habits often improve dramatically once they
begin eating with other children on starting nursery or school

Involve toddlers in food shopping This will encourage a positive attitude to food
and preparing for the meal, such as
putting things on the table

Involve toddlers in simple cooking Handling and touching new foods without pressure to eat them
and food preparation will help a toddler become familiar with new foods and become
more likely to try them

Change the venue of meals and have an This will make eating and food a fun experience for the toddler
impromptu picnic with everyone in the
garden or on the playroom floor

Don’t Reason
Rush a meal Some toddlers eat quite slowly and rushing a toddler to eat can
reduce their appetite
Insist a toddler finishes everything on Toddlers should be allowed to eat to their appetite and parents
his or her plate and carers should respect this
Coerce toddlers to eat more when they
have indicated that they have had Toddlers will soon take advantage if you do this. In the long run it
enough is better to offer family meals and accept that your child will prefer
Take away a refused meal and offer a some foods to others. Always offer one food at each meal that he
completely different one in its place or she will eat
That will make the sweet course seem more desirable
Offer the sweet course as a reward Large calorific drinks will reduce appetite for food. Give water
Offer large drinks of milk, squash or instead
fruit juice within an hour of the meal Snacks will reduce appetite
Offer snacks just before a meal Many parents may do this just to ensure their toddler has eaten
Give a snack very soon after a meal if a something. However, it is best to have a set meal pattern and wait
toddler hasn’t eaten well at the meal until the next snack or meal before offering food again
Tastes change with time. Some toddlers need to be offered a new
Assume that because a toddler has food up to 12–15 times before they feel confident to try it
refused a food he or she will never eat
it again

Growth and dietary intake can be assessed in ●● asking parents to record a 3–7-day food diary
children with selective eating by: that can then be assessed in terms of food group
content (see Chapter 2.2, page 48–54).
●● measuring weight and height accurately
on calibrated scales and plotting on growth In most cases parents can be reassured that the
charts child is eating adequately and growing normally. If