Parenting Australia

Dealing with fussy eaters

Praise them for trying new food even if they don’t like it

Always remain emotionally detached so the child does not use food as a means of “pressing your buttons’. Put new food out with food you know they like. When the child communicates they do not like that food. You reply with ” I know that, I like it and now you are bigger you may like it too” or “your eyes cannot tell you what it tastes like only your taste buds can, have a taste”. If they refuse to taste it, let go of it, avoid making a fuss and offer the same food again in two or three weeks time, remembering to use the same language. Keep offering the food on several occasion. Children are more likely to try food when they see the rest of the family or other children enjoy it. Variety is more important to us than them. It does not matter if they eat sausages, peas and carrots three times a week!!

• Do not insist the food is eaten or offer a reward for eating it. Both measures have been shown to make children dislike that food.
• If they do not eat the food, remove it, and move onto the next part of your routine.
• Refer to eating tips.
• It can take 8- 15 tries before the food becomes familiar and the child accepts it.
• Swap dinner with lunch if a child is not eating much dinner

Bill Granger, parent and one of Sydney’s top chef s& restaurant owner says "Just don’t stop serving them new food. A lot of parents get tired and they don’t want a battle at the end of the day. Unfortunately there is no easy way out. Just keep putting different food on the plate- perhaps add lemon juice or a tiny bit of salt- and don’t make a big deal out of it. You don’t want to give children a complicated relationship with food."

Praise them for trying new food even if they don’t like it

If your child continues to avoid hard foods, or dislikes certain textures in the mouth check with a good osteopath or chiropractor for lack of sensory integration

Introduce new food out with food you know they do like.

Making food fun

It is important to establish a routine about meal times but it is also good to be spontaneous, flexible and fun with the routine.

• Make a clown face with the food using lettuce for hair, carrots for the eyes, and peas for the mouth.
• Use textas to turn a hard boiled egg into a person or “Humpty Dumpty “
• Cut sandwiches or toast into triangles.
• Present snack food in divided containers with small amounts of various foods both savoury and sweet.
• Place food on a tray and allow them to serve themselves.
• Have a rug on the floor in the family room and have a picnic dinner,
• Eat dinner outside on the grass or the veranda.
• Have dinner in the cubby or the nearby park.
• Pretend you are in a restaurant, have candles, flowers and you are the waiter.
• Try a backwards dinner, having dessert first

I bet you are thinking they won’t eat their main. If dessert is buckwheat pancakes and fruit it is a whole meal in itself so it won’t matter.

Occasionally make a clown face with the food

Feeding tips

It is so important to ensure your child is not tired at meal time. When children become unco-operative, oppositional, and irritable, there are two things to consider. Tiredness and energy. Bring mealtimes forward by 15 minutes each few days until you establish a time when your child is fresh and happy to eat. Toddlers may eat the evening meal as early as 4.30pm. Ensure all meals and snacks throughout the day are balanced and contain foods that will sustain the child’s energy levels.

Check list

• Have a child sized table and chair. If your child is into bright pink buy bright pink
• Make or buy fun place mats, involving the child in the creation or purchase
• Sit with your child
• Ensure the child is not tired
• Provide small amounts of varying and interesting food
• Provide utensils
• Allow use of fingers and hands
• Put plastic mat underneath the table if mess is of concern
• Respect your child may not always be hungry
• Stay calm and relaxed
• Involve them in cooking activities
• Remove uneaten food without comment
• Give small serves
• Invite a friend over for a meal

Janet Cater is a parenting adviser. You can find more advise and articles from her on her website www.janetbcater.com or you can email her - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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