Written by: Marita Bezuidenhout (Founder at Tummies full of love), spokesperson for BabyWombWorld)
Picky eating happens in the blink of an eye- one day, your baby is happily gobbling up any food you offer, and the next, they pull up their noses and CRINGE at the sight of that sweet potato they used to love.
Laying down the foundation for healthy eating habits starts when introducing solids. The more effort you put into this phase, the easier it will be to maintain healthy habits later in your child’s life.
The goal here is to build a positive relationship with food- hoping to avoid the “picky eater” phase all together.
We know when it comes to toddlers it can become a sticky, picky, trying and crying situation.
Picky eating sometimes start out as refusing foods they have been eating for the first year and all of a sudden they pinch their lips and turn their heads away for food they loved as babies.
Why do kids become picky eaters?
From around 12-16 months your toddler start to realise; “I am my own person. I can do what I want.” Suddenly, they feel empowered and ready to use this new found skill- enter THE PICKY EATER!
How to get back to a healthy food relationship?
Marita Bezuidenhout, our industry expert from Tummies Full of Love shares her approach to picky eating:
I am a firm believer in not settling for a tub of yogurt or noodles if my kids decided they are not eating.
I explained to them, even at such a young age, that we will try again later. Around 20-30 minutes after their initial refusal, I serve that meal again. Within a week or so, they realise that this is not a battleground and give up the fight.
I never force my kids to eat, but it’s important to be consistent, I am, after all the parent and a picky eater won’t get me down.
Your one-year-old might have strong feelings about the meals you offer, so give them options! Yes, you can give options, but even when giving options, give them on your terms & what you know is healthy a option.
Always ask the following questions:
- Is this meal going to fill them with nutrients or empty calories? (like sweets, chips & cooldrinks)
- Check the ingredient label, the first 5 ingredients give you an idea of what they are eating. If sugar, sweeteners & lots of hidden sugars like, glucose, maltodextrin, fruit juice concentrate are part of the first 5 ingredients, it may be wise to look at an alternative.
- Whole fresh foods will always win, no additives & colorants & as close to nature you can get.
- Is the colour, taste & smell diffrent with each exposure (berries for example, sweet, sour, squishy & firm) all of these elements teach our kids the natural taste of products.
- Have you tried a fresh ingredient in different ways, for example: Carrots – cooked, mashed or julienne strips, raw with a dip, cut into different sizes.
Stay away from foods that don’t add vitamins and nutrition, that merely add empty calories to your child’s diet.
These type of foods or beverages include:
- Cool-drinks
- Sweets
- Cookies
- High GI foods, like muffins, flap jacks and white bread.
- Processed foods like nuggets, viennas and processed cheeses.
We do encourage parents to serve healthy meals. It is NEVER to late!
Some proven methods that will help get them to eat those healthy meals:
- Get your kids involved in the kitchen
- Let them help prepare meals and have snack bites available for them to try.
- Set the example, they do what we do, not what we tell then to do.
Picky eating doesn’t have to define your child’s relationship with food.
With patience, consistency, and a little creativity, you can guide them back to balanced, nourishing meals without turning the table into a battleground.
Keep offering healthy options, stay calm in the face of refusals, and remember that this phase is just that, a phase.
By setting clear boundaries and modelling positive habits, you’re not only feeding your child for today, but shaping a confident, healthy eater for years to come.
ENDS
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