Yummy in my tummy!

The Role of ParentsResearch has found that parents’ food preferences are linked to their children's food preferences (Borah-Giddens & Falciglia, 1993). This is not a big surprise to me. Not only are we more likely to prepare the foods we like, but your children are closely watching your reaction to eating these foods. If you are having trouble with a picky eater, don't be discouraged. Your child may need to be exposed to new foods more than 10 times before they try it. Here are a few suggestions to help your child enjoy a range of foods.

• Eat a range of healthy foods yourself. Remember that you are setting the example that your child is likely to imitate.


• Prepare meals together. Your child can help stir or pur in ingrediants. They are moe likely to try something they have helped "create"


• Avoid showing disgust or disinterest when trying new foods. A study found that mothers who showed (with their facial expressions, body language or words) that they didn’t want to try a new food had children who also tended to refuse new foods (Carruth & Skinner, 2000).


• If your child seems sensitive to certain textures of food, try adapting how you prepare it. For example, offer apple slices instead of applesauce or combine it with a crunchy food that she does like.


• Make sure you have a realistic expectation for the amount of food your child should be eating. A toddler's stomach is about the size of their fist.

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