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Children's nutrition: 10 tips for picky eaters
Content
1. Respect your child's appetite — or lack of one
2. Stick to the routine
3. Be patient with new foods
4. Don't be a short-order cook
5. Make it fun
6. Recruit your child's help
7. Set a good example
8. Be creative
9. Minimize distractions
10. Don't offer dessert as a reward
1. Respect your child's appetite — or lack of one
If your child isn't hungry, don't force a meal or snack. Likewise, don't bribe or force your child to eat certain foods or clean his or her plate. This might only ignite — or reinforce — a power struggle over food. In addition, your child might come to associate mealtime with anxiety and frustration or become less sensitive to his or her own hunger and fullness cues.
Serve small portions to avoid overwhelming your child and give him or her the opportunity to independently ask for more.
