How to encourage a 4 year old girl eat more type of food?

[satyagraha]

Hi tanlengkoon,


seems like your girl is taking carbo, protein, vitamins and etc. I think that’s good enough. Key thing that I’ll note is, is she growing acceptably (ie not a fussy eater to the extent that she is unacceptably small).

If you want her to take more vege (which is the toughest for kids), introduce it to her bit by bit. Coax her to just try 1 small piece at 1 meal. Clap and make a bit hooha about her finishing that 1 small piece, noting that it’s a big deal… tell her that she’s better than you when you are young (though it may not be true). You know how kids like to outdo their parents. Telling her how GOOD this vege is doing to her body, her skin, her eyes, her muscles, etc, etc. Use emotional blackmail if needed.

That’s it for that meal. Don’t attempt to get her down another one for that meal. But of course, don’t try this with the same vege all the time. Might get sick of it. Every meal try 1 different vege, you’ll soon go back to the 1st one.

If she’s receptive, after sometime… challenge her by adding 1 extra small piece.

The last thing I’ll do is to "hide" the food while they eat (eg. feed they while they are not aware). Not solving the root cause in this way.

[e3nity]

I got no problems with DS eating. He simply eats anything i place on my dining table. :love:


What i do is make the food look attractive. EG: if DS dislike carrots, i'll cut the carrots in different shapes and design on his plate. I will show him its nice by eating lots of it to encourage him to pick it up for a bite. It works for him. Colours and design of the food brings the kids interest as well. Say ur DD don't like meat. You can consider using minced meat mixed with fish meat. Blending food together gives a different texture but she won't notice its meat since most of it she will taste fish..

We cook different things everyday to expose him to common dishes. Our dining time is like game.. He will start \"snatching\" for food.

[grace_3005.033874hotmail.033874com]

ya lo… it always soup adn rice for him… he will ask for hotdog… so i normally cut the hot dog into small pieces and let him eat too much… have intro to him slowly with tofu, bit and pieces of hotdog… lets cross my finger that the small pieces of tryin can last longer…hehehe

thanks anyway…

[Yummylicious]

I was informed by my friend that Disney is having a Mars Needs Moms movie tickets and premiums giveaway contest.


They have a similar topic on How to get your kids to eat vegetables.

Perhaps Mummies here can post their tips on the contest page and stand a chance to win!

http://www.facebook.com/disneystudiosSG?sk=app_195222697168125

I heard the movie is quite touching!

Now, Gonna think of how to prepare nice and cute looking vegetables in my son's bento tomorrow.
:lol:

[alfa_juliet]

for vegetables, both dds realised tht when they don’t eat veggie, they have problem passing motion (hard stool)


when they were toddlers, i served them cherry tomatoes, boiled broccoli & baby carrots as snacks.

PLUS i make them having NO choices too. i told them what is served/cooked is what they eat & add some stories like children in other countries are dying of hunger or too poor to buy food…yadayada yada

[smurf]

Erm, dun even give choices, eat whatever is served...dun wanna eat? Can, but will be hungry lor, dun give biscuits, snacks after the meal even if the child dun finish the meal and is hungry.. if u do that, next time, he or she would think, never mind lah, if I dun eat this, later also got snacks what...and dun say,'eat more veggies ok? It's good for u, blah blah blah...'


When u nag, your kids usually won't listen.

[alfa_juliet]

smurf:

Erm, dun even give choices, eat whatever is served...dun wanna eat? Can, but will be hungry lor, dun give biscuits, snacks after the meal even if the child dun finish the meal and is hungry.. if u do that, next time, he or she would think, never mind lah, if I dun eat this, later also got snacks what...and dun say,'eat more veggies ok? It's good for u, blah blah blah...'


When u nag, your kids usually won't listen.

i hope whatever i shared is taken with a pinch of salt

..and you're right, parents shouldn't nag at children. we should tell & fill them with facts

[peapot]

How about hiding vegetables in food so that they can’t detect?? Put veg in fried omelet, potato courgette, cake and cereal.

[Shoe]

brainwashing Persuade, convince and extol the merits of eating veges.


I also liked the book: I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato (Charlie and Lola) [Paperback] It worked for my dd

[gladyschan]

i wouldn’t try to use any method to force her to eat, but as she grows up she’ll be curious to try other food…