Should Parents Make Children Eat Certain Foods?
Most children go through periods of fussiness about food, particularly during the toddler stage. It's perfectly normal for them to be wary of trying new things. Getting children to make healthy food choices can be a challenge, and some parents may give in to demands for less healthy snacks on the basis that eating something is better than eating nothing at all. Other parents may force their children to eat certain foods, believing they have their best interests at heart. In order to avoid future health problems such as nutritional deficit and obesity, parents should avoid both of these methods.
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A Healthy Approach
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Gently encourage your child to eat healthy foods. A Pennsylvania State University study cited in a 2008 article in "The New York Times," found that children reacted negatively when their parents put pressure on them to eat certain foods, even if there was a reward being offered. The risk of this approach is that kids will grow to dislike the foods they feel under pressure to eat. Children are more likely to try healthy foods if they are simply placed on the table in front of them, says Kids Health, a website of nonprofit children's health organization Nemours. Parents should remain neutral and avoid praising the child if she eats the food and criticizing her if she doesn't. Don't worry that your child will starve if she doesn't eat the food you prepare. Children will learn to be flexible rather than go hungry. Continue to set a good example to your child by eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables yourself.
Cooking Together
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Cooking together can be a fun family activity. Involving children in meal planning and food preparation means they are more likely to eat the healthy foods their parents want them to. Asking children to help with the cooking of simple dishes increases the likelihood of them wanting to sample the end product, says Isobel Contento, Professor of Nutritional Education at Columbia University's Teachers College.
Family Meals
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Eating meals together is fun for the whole family. According to a Harvard Medical School Study, also cited in the 2008 "New York Times" article, children who regularly eat meals with their parents eat greater quantities of fruits and vegetables than children who eat alone. It won't do any harm to serve your child a different meal than the meal you prepare for you and your spouse, says Sandra Bastin, food and nutrition expert. It is more important to have a variety of foods on the table and to encourage your child to try new flavors. Keep your child's portions small, as adult portions may overwhelm him and make him not want to eat anything. A child needs approximately one tablespoon of food for each year of his age, advises Bastin.
Sweet Treats
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The cookie jar should not be used as a reward. Parents should avoid using desserts and sweet treats as rewards for when their children finish their main meal, says Kids Health. This tactic might appear to work because your child cleans her plate in order to get ice cream or cookies, but the risk is that she sees the treat food as more valuable than the healthy foods. Cookies, chocolate and other snacks should not be hidden away. If a child views a certain food as forbidden, she is more likely to crave it.
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