In the last post I talked about Sensory Sensitivity, a condition where some kids are highly sensitive to some aspect of food -- taste, texture, smell, appearance -- and rejects anything that is unfamiliar. If you have a child like this you know how challenging it can be to introduce new foods. Most kids, however, don't have this condition. There's no big reason behind their … [Read more...]
For Extreme Fruit and Vegetable Avoiders…
I know you've heard the advice: you have to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables if you want your child to eat them too. But what if you eat plenty of apples and carrots in front of your kid, but he refuses to bite? Well, a new study out of England shows that something else might be going on. It's called Sensory Sensitivity. Sensory Sensitivity refers to degree to which … [Read more...]
Good Habits? What Are They?
I have been transcribing tapes of an interview I conducted a few months ago and I was struck by something that has come up with almost every parent: most people have an idea of what good eating habits are but when it comes to articulating them they get flummoxed. People always mention something about fruits and vegetables, maybe they same something about eating a … [Read more...]
Cutting Toast Triangles & Cucumber Squares?
Yesterday we had a wonderful seminar called Why Some Kids Eat Peas and Other Don't. One question that came up from a few people was whether or not they should honor their children's requests to have food cut in particular ways. I know this is something that many parents ponder. Well, it depends. What lessons are you teaching your children and what habits do they … [Read more...]
Give Your Child Permission NOT to Eat.
One of the things that seems to worry parents a lot is the amount of food their child eats, or rather doesn't eat. Especially when we're talking about toddlers. There are some very good reasons why your child might not eat as much as you think. The most common reason is that your child actually needs less fuel than you think. (If you look at the USDA … [Read more...]
What’s Holding You Hostage?
If your child has acquired a handful of challenging habits, then chances are, you probably have a couple hanging around in your closet too. And I’m not talking about your eating habits; I’m talking about your parenting habits. With a little reflection and honesty, it is easy to see that most of us use food to cope with at least … [Read more...]
What’s In It For Your Kid?
It may surprise you to find out that most parents don’t know what motivates their kids to eat the way they do. We think it boils down to taste, but it doesn’t. In fact, most kids don’t really know what they like. If you have ever had a kid stop liking something mid-meal, you know what I’m talking about. Now it is true that children do have some genuine likes and dislike, … [Read more...]
Think Big! Habits for a Lifetime.
Most of the parents I talk to have given little thought to the lifelong habits they want their children to learn. And that’s kind of like driving without knowing where you’re going. Successful parents chart this out in the beginning. Here are some habits you might want to teach your kids: How eat foods in proportion to their healthful … [Read more...]
Is feeding the kids really your job?
Guess what? It's not really your job to feed your kids. OK. Well, you do have to keep them nourished. But thinking that's the full extent of their job holds most parents back. People who are successful getting their kids to eat right think about the job differently than people who struggle. The successful mentality begins with the recognition that … [Read more...]
Why feeding kids is not about nutrition – Part 2
At first, the focus on nutrition seems to make sense. Nutrition, after all, is the science of nourishing our bodies. Surely, the more we know about which foods are most beneficial for promoting growth and sustaining healthy lives the more likely we are to eat them. Right? And the more we know about the artery-clogging effect of steak, the sodium-spiking result … [Read more...]
