Handling a “Choosy” Eater

— Written By and last updated by Nicole Vernon
en Español / em Português
Español

El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.

Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.


Português

Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.

Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.


English

English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.

Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.

Collapse ▲

What would you do?

  • Grace won’t eat anything green – she even refuses a whole meal if one green pea appears on her plate.
  • Gideon is interested in everything at the table BUT eating.
  • Faith gets upset when one food on her plate touches another.
  • Laken won’t eat anything but strawberries and cucumbers. Two days ago she’d only eat peanut better sandwiches.

Ten Effective Ways to Handle a Child Who is a “Choosy” Eater

  • Treat food jags in a calm way since food jags don’t last long.
  • Consider what a child eats over several days, not just at each meal. Most kids will eat more food variety than a parent thinks.
  • Trust your child’s appetite rather than force a child to eat everything on the plate. Forcing a child to eat more encourages overeating.
  • Set a reasonable time limit for the start and end of a meal, then remove the plate quietly. What’s reasonable depends on the child.
  • Stay positive and avoid criticizing or calling any child a “picky eater”. Children believe what you say!
  • Serve food plain, and respect the “no foods touching” rule if that’s important to your child. This will pass.
  • Avoid being a short-order cook by offering the same food for the whole family. Plan at least one food everyone will eat.
  • Substitute a similar food – if a child doesn’t like a certain food, maybe sweet potatoes, offer squash instead.
  • Provide just two or three choices, not a huge array of food. Then let your child decide.
  • Focus on your child’s positive eating behavior, not on the food.