You are child's role model for food choices
Food is the fuel of your child's development, so naturally you want him to eat well -- and not be too fussy. What are some of the ways you can accomplish this worthwhile goal?
Don't say one thing then do another: You are your child's main role model, and this also is true when it comes to the kitchen table. Even if your children are too young to understand what you say, they are never too young to understand what do. Your actions speak loudly to them; so, if you refuse to eat certain foods you say they should eat, they will wind up copying you anyway.
• The dinner table is no place to play "deal or no deal" as in "If you eat your broccoli, you can have dessert." The reason this doesn't work is because if your child doesn't like broccoli, ice cream for dessert won't make her like it any better. Keep trying to get her to eat the broccoli by offering it to her at various meals or cooking it in a different way (try steamed with melted cheese). Eventually, she will likely give it a try.
• Variety really is the spice of life at the dinner table: Left to their own devices, would your kids eat only pancakes, pizza and French fries or some other limited variation of a menu? While you may want to please your kids by offering them limited choices, you are not serving their nutritional needs.
Serve a variety of good wholesome foods -- lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Think color when you shop for your family meals -- that way you also are assuring that you serve your children an array of vitamins and minerals.
• Make your dinner menu decision and stick to it. In other words, don't offer a restaurant of choices just because your kids each like something different. If you make just one meal, you will be more likely to focus on getting the best variety of foods into your menu. You can treat the family to a night at a restaurant as budget and time permits so that they may each choose what they want as a special treat.
• Choose your food battles. Pressuring your children to eat foods they don't want to eat makes what should be a pleasant experience for the whole family -- eating together -- into a war zone. It becomes a control issue and ceases to be about the actual food and more about who is in charge.
• Don't be too strict about table manners with very young children. Toddlers, preschoolers and very young children may be too interested in the texture of the food, the combinations of tastes, how a piece of corn can be rolled around a plate or making sure foods don't touch each other to be concerned about putting a napkin on their laps or holding the fork correctly.