Editor's Note: Recently, the media has put a great deal of attention on the food that children eat.  From news reports to television shows, you can't help put see it everywhere.  However, if you're the parent of a "picky" eater, you may feel overwhelmed because your child wants nothing to do with these foods.  It is for all of those parents, that we've invited Carolyn Vaughn, RD, LDN, a clinical nutritionist at Le Bonheur Children's, to share some advice for parents with picky eaters.  If you missed part one, click here to read it.

by Carolyn Vaughn, RD, LDN
Clinical Nutritionist

Kids want to please their parents and they like attention; use these natural tendencies to shape their behavior.  For instance, when your child doesn’t like something, just ignore it; making a big deal out of it teaches them that not liking food gets them attention.  It begins to define them the more you draw attention to it. 

Additionally, speak in terms of expectancy.  Try saying, “You just don’t like it yet.  You just aren’t old enough.”  Kids want to feel big and using this wording suggests to them that someday they will.  Now they have a motivation for liking it because you have attached the idea of being older with liking the new food. 

When kids try new foods, give them permission to just lick, put it in the mouth and politely spit it back out in a napkin, or putting in mouth and swallowing.  These are all tastes that are not necessarily associated with eating.  They will be much more likely to try a new food if they know they don’t have to eat it. 

When they do try a new food, praise them.  When my daughter was a toddler and tried a new food, I would do the “you tried a new food” dance.  She would laugh so much and would try a new food just to watch me make a fool out of myself.  Now I realize this isn’t for everyone, but at 8 years old, she is in the habit of trying new foods even without the dance. 

Do not cook a meal based on what you know your child will eat.  Give what you want them to have.  If they don’t eat it, that’s okay.  Children do not starve themselves.  Just don’t let them munch on a snack within another 3 hours.  Hunger is a big motivator to try new food.  Make sure that next snack is a healthy alternative to the meal food. 

The goal is to develop a child who wants to try and like a variety of foods.  If you can achieve that, the variety will take care of itself.

About the author:  Carolyn Vaughn has worked at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center as a clinical nutritionist for 15 years and is passionate about preventative nutritional care in children.  Prior to working at Le Bonheur Children's, she worked at Baptist Memorial Hospital's HeathPlex Nutrition Center providing nutritional counseling for adults and children and conducting weight management classes.  She is a mother of two children ages 3 and 8 who love to eat and eat well.  

Editor's Note: Recently, the media has put a great deal of attention on the food that children eat.  From news reports to television shows, you can't help put see it everywhere.  However, if you're the parent of a "picky" eater, you may feel overwhelmed because your child wants nothing to do with these foods.  It is for all of those parents, that we've invited Carolyn Vaughn, RD, LDN, a clinical nutritionist at Le Bonheur Children's, to share some advice for parents with picky eaters.

by Carolyn Vaughn, RD, LDN
Clinical Nutritionist

Pickiness begins at an early age and many times is a problem that can be avoided.  It is true that there are a few kids who are naturally extra-sensitive to textures and tastes, but the picky behaviors will not necessarily last forever.  You, as a parent, can play a large role in your child’s willingness to try and like new food. 

To avoid the picky behaviors, make sure you get off to the right start.  As they get older it is important to give your child the “want to’s.”  What I mean by that is that people who do not like a variety of foods are generally those who don’t want to like a variety.  

So, how do you give your child the “want to’s”?  This starts even in infancy.  Present food to babies and young children in a non-threatening way.  Let them direct how much or even if they eat.  Put a little taste on the lips of babies and let him bring it in his mouth.  If he decides he doesn’t want more, just try again later. 

You might be pleasantly surprised to find that babies learn to like new foods after just a few tries.  Sometimes it is more about texture than taste.   Just be patient, presenting the food in a variety of ways, realizing it could take up to 10-12 exposures to a food before a child might learn to like it. 

In tomorrow’s post, we’ll look at a look at strategies to help get your child to try new foods.

About the author:  Carolyn Vaughn has worked at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center as a clinical nutritionist for 15 years and is passionate about preventative nutritional care in children.  Prior to working at Le Bonheur Children's, she worked at Baptist Memorial Hospital's HeathPlex Nutrition Center providing nutritional counseling for adults and children and conducting weight management classes.  She is a mother of two children ages 3 and 8 who love to eat and eat well.  

My children just turned five years old, and that means another well check up.  I was pretty sure that my children had a vaccination due during that visit (it was my daddy senses).  Since I don't want to be someone that does not take their own advice, I asked my doctor's office to run me through the vaccination process my children would experience.  Now, I'll be the first to admit that I felt a little foolish.  Let's face it, how many parents are asking this question?  Still, I wanted to make sure I was preparing my children with the correct information.

Here's the amazing thing, the doctor's office was great.  They transferred me to talk to a nurse, and got the ball rolling.  I told them that I wanted to be able to prepare my children in advance for their vaccinations, and that they had a rough time with their flu shots.  The nurse completely understood, and even pulled their medical records to give me the most accurate information possible. 

I was informed that my children would need three separate vaccinations, and they would need to be given in three different injections.  Then I asked her to explain what would happen during the actually event.  She explained the process, the equipment, and site (in the thigh), and even took the time to answer my questions.  It was all of the information that I needed to prepare them for the injections.

The first time you ask for this information, you will probably feel absurd.  However, remember that you are the advocate for your child, and if you can find out some information that will help their experience, then you will.  So, please know that this is a successful step, and you should feel empowered to gain the necessary information to prepare your child.  Besides, the only information you need is just a phone call away.