Fussy Eating in Toddlers

Fussy eating is common in toddlers and young children. It is a must for parents to handle this issue patiently, as it is important to ease them into healthier eating habits that are better suited to fulfil their nutritional needs. Read on to find tips for coping with fussy eating in toddlers.Dealing with a toddler who is a fussy eater can be really frustrating. Parents have the biggest responsibility for what their child eats. It is very natural for parents to feel frustrated if they cannot ensure adequate nutrition for their children. Parents realise that a child’s growth is delicate and majorly dependant on whether or not their body has all the nutrition it needs to help their child’s body grow strong. Childrens bodies grow at a much more rapid rate than adults or even teenagers. This means they also need fuel for that growth. That fuel comes in the form of nutrition, the various hormones their bodies secrete and the various ways in which these hormones stimulate the growth of muscles, bones, organs etc… The primary source of this nutrition, which fuels their healthy growth, is the food they consume. This is why paediatricians always encourage a healthy and varied diet for children, one which involved food items from the various categories, so all sources of different vitamins, minerals, fats, and protein are covered. A well-balanced diet ensures that the body has all the ‘ingredients’ it needs to do its job - keep your child fit and fine, and growing in a healthy way.But when children are fussy and refuse to eat certain dishes of certain fruits and vegetables, it poses a dilemma for parents. Skipping out on these ingredients also means missing out on the nutrition they provide. For example, if your child throws a tantrum every time they are served spinach, and refuses to eat it, you realise they are missing out on iron, protein, Vitamin C and calcium present in it. That can be frustrating for a parent, knowing their child is refusing something that is necessary and beneficial for them. Instead of losing our cool and getting angry with the child and ourselves, it is best to take a deep breath, relax and remember that this is a normal phase that most toddlers will outgrow after some time.Most toddlers demand and eat enough calories to meet their body requirements. Forcing or compelling a child to eat more than what they are willing to almost never works. If a child eats less during one meal they are bound to make it up by demanding and eating more during the subsequent meals. Although, the responsibility of ensuring that the child eats nutritious food rests with the caregivers, the kid herself should be respected and allowed to choose the quantity of food they require. At the end of the day, the body knows what it requires the best, and it will communicate that to the child. If their stomach feels full, it means their body does not require food for the time being. This natural signal is something we as parents may not be always right about. The best we can do is to encourage them to eat things that are good for them.Tips on How to Manage Fussy Eating in ToddlersFussy eating habits refer to the behaviour some children may exhibit upon being served food that they don’t like or don’t feel like eating. Every child has some things they don’t like or don’t prefer eating and that is understandable. It starts to become a problem when there is a very small category of food they will eat, or when they flat our reject most of the things that are served to them. It becomes a problem when a majority of things are what they won’t eat, as opposed to 4-5 things. If your child is fussy about a handful of things, it can still be manageable as parents can look for alternatives that can substitute the nutrition in the things they won’t eat. When your child agrees to eat only a handful of things, it is a serious concern for parents since it can create a severe deficit in their nutritional needs and inevitable welcome an array of health issues and developmental complications. To combat this, parents will need to learn how to deal with such problems. While dealing with fussy eating problems in toddlers here are a few things you must avoid:1. Never Rush a MealSome children eat very slowly, and that is natural. Rushing a meal reduces the appetite of a child, and they won’t be able to appreciate the food either. Some toddlers naturally eat much slower than others. Hence, the caregivers must learn to be patient and let the child eat at their own pace. It can be a little time-taking, but it is an amazing thing if you can be patient and can take the time to let them finish the meal on their own time. There are actually many benefits to your child eating the food slowly. The first and foremost is that they will chew their food properly and well before they gulp it down. This is beneficial for their digestive system as the saliva and other enzymes have plenty of time to start breaking down the food. Another benefit of them chewing their food properly is avoiding a choking hazard. Another benefit od children who eat slowly is that it takes some time for food to reach the stomach, and if they take their time eating slowly they will know when their body tells them when they are full, rather than overeat and feel uncomfortable which may happen if you eat too quickly and have already eaten a portion that’s too big as your stomach has not had enough time to signal your brain that you are full.2. Have Meals TogetherGet your child to eat meals with the family as much as possible. Never offer alternate options for they refuse a meal. By offering options you are effectively letting the toddler decide what they will eat during each mealtime, as they will realise if they simply reject what they don’t feel like eating, they will eventually be offered what they want to eat. Do bear in mind the likes and dislikes of the toddler while planning the meals. If a child refuses to eat the meal prepared for them, rather than offering other different foods it is better to let them remain hungry until they are ready to eat what they are served. It may come across as harsh, but it is also important to discipline them and make them understand the value of food. Ultimately, it is for their good. But before, resorting to such strict measures, it would be a good idea to talk to them and try to understand why there are certain foods they don’t want to eat and explain to them why it is so important for them to eat what they are served. Try to explain to them what can be the effects of nutritional deficits and how they can affect their growth. Try to nudge them in the right direction, and patiently feed them, try to will them through things they don’t like and once in a while treat them with the food they do like as a reward for them eating things that are necessary for them, even if they don’t like them and let them know you are proud of them when they eat healthy things, knowing what’s good for them. Encouragement is the way to go.3. Avoid Forcing the ChildDo not force a child to finish their meal every time. Many parents make it a habit of offering rewards for finishing meals, and while it is a good way to teach them to not waste food during meals, it may not always work in their favour. There is no point in stuffing a child with food that they do not require. It will only make them throw it up later. A better way to ensure they eat till their stomachs are full, but also that they aren’t overfed to the point of indigestion, is to serve them in smaller quantities. While you serve them lesser quantities, also make sure it is an adequate amount and will fill their stomach. If you are unsure, make sure they know they can always ask for more. This avoids food wastage but also makes sure your child is getting sufficient nutrition.4. Avoid Feeding Immediately Before the MealsHaving even liquids like milk or juices within an hour of a meal tends to reduce your child’s appetite. Substitute these drinks with water instead. Similarly, offering snacks just before mealtime will satisfy their hunger to a large extent. As a result, your child may refuse the meal altogether or have a reduced portion as compared to their normal quantity. Even healthy snacks cannot substitute the nutrition of a meal, nor can they sufficiently fulfil their nutritional needs. Snacking should be allowed only if a meal is atleast 2 hours away. It may be tempting to give in to your child’s demand and let them eat what they wish to, and that may even be okay once in a blue moon, but it can be very harmful if it turns into a habit. Snacks or substantial drinks like smoothies and milk can fill up your child’s stomach, and take up space that a good home-cooked and nutritional meal could have. So try to make sure your child is not consuming anything that can make them full up to two hours before their meals.Sometimes caregivers do not take a toddler seriously when they say that they are already full. In our enthusiasm to feed the child, we keep forcing them to eat a certain amount. Sometimes we make them eat their regular quantities, but sometimes they simply don’t want to eat. The body knows how to regulate itself, and the child may be saying the truth, their body may be telling them they are truly full. This is one of the most common causes for a toddler becoming fussy about eating. Caregivers must understand that most of the times toddlers tell the truth when they claim that they are full. Here are a few signs to look out for which will confirm that a child is full:When they keep their mouth shut when offered foodRepeatedly refuses food which they are offered another spoonTurns their head away or pushes away food being offeredRefuses to swallow or spits out foodTries to throw up food5. When to Consult a Doctor?Unless a child suffers from any medical condition, there is no reason to consult a doctor about eating habits. If a toddler eats a reasonable amount of food, is otherwise healthy and maintains body weight appropriate for their age there is no reason to worry. This temporary phase of difficult eating and will pass over a period of time. Do try to establish good eating habits regardless, to make sure their relationship with is healthy even as they grow up. Some general signs to look out for whether their current diet is enough for them would be to observe whether or not they are snacking more than what they eat during meals, observe their energy level and ensure they are not lethargic, how well their immunity holds up and how frequently they fall sick etc…Never feel guilty if a mealtime turns out to be a disaster. There may be days when you may lose your cool with your fussy toddler and regret it later. It is best to forget these incidents and move on without feeling guilty. Learn from the mistakes, and try to be more patient with each consequent meal. After a little consideration, compassion and patience your child will surely be back on track to eating properly and having good and healthy eating habits. Try to find alternatives to what they are picky about and try to substitute in the meanwhile.