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Kids and nutrition – ending the power struggle
By Rose Soneff, RDN Community Nutritionist, Thompson area
Flashback to 13 years ago. I had had a long day at work and prepared peas as part of our dinner. My two-year-old announced she didn’t like peas. The power struggle began. I insisted she not leave the table until she ate what I had given her. Two hours later, I was frustrated and my daughter had tears streaming down her cheeks, still bulging with uneaten peas. Reflecting back on that scene I realize how important it is to remember child nutrition expert Ellyn Satter’s golden rule: It is the adult’s job to offer a variety of healthy foods in an appropriate setting and at specific times. It’s the child’s job to decide what and how much to eat. It’s a shared responsibility.
Providing children with nourishing meals and snacks is important to their overall health. But that’s not all. Children who eat healthy tend to behave better and to enjoy the eating experience. Offer children a variety of healthy foods but let them follow their own appetite. Let them serve themselves, helping them when necessary. Follow Canada’s Food Guide to assist your child to choose a balance of healthy foods. But remember, the amounts suggested in the food guide are guidelines only. Never force children to eat when they are not hungry. How we eat is as important as what we eat. Be sure to sit down and eat with your children. As they enjoy meal and snack time conversation, they’ll learn how to eat at a relaxed pace. They will also be more accepting of new foods, because seeing is believing.Kids often need to see others eating a new food – sometimes lots of times – before they feel like trying it themselves. And it may take many tries before a child feels comfortable with a particular choice. Learning anything takes time, and learning to eat is no exception. Try to think of “picky eaters” as “eaters-in-training”.I learned a great deal from food experiences with my own children. Although my daughter still doesn’t like peas, she later developed a taste for other vegetables. For a fun way to reinforce good food messages, check out these children’s books:
Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert
Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
Oliver’s Vegetables by Vivian French
Oliver’s Milkshake by Vivian French
Vegetable Friends by Lawlor and Kociemba
Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman
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