Tips for dealing with fussy eaters

Parenting Australia

Toddler

Behaviour

Tips for dealing with fussy eaters

4 Votes

Tips For Dealing With Fussy Eaters

One of the most common problems parents of young children have is dealing with “fussy eaters”. All of a sudden, a previously easy going toddler who ate everything given to them starts to reject every type of food imaginable with the exception of milk and chicken nuggets. Mum is beside herself with worry that her toddler is going to stop growing properly and continues to offer hundreds of different meal concoctions in the vain hope that the child will finally agree to eat something. Sound familiar?

The most significant component of “fussy eating” is the power play between a toddler and their parents. When toddlers reach the age of 12-18 months, they have reached a stage of development in which they like to exert some control within their environment. What they put in their mouths is one of the few areas of their lives that toddlers have some control over. Everything else, from what they wear, to when they go to sleep is fully controlled by their parents and carers. Spitting out their vegetables, meat and fruit is simply a toddler’s way of telling their parents that they will do what they like, when they like.

The most important thing that parents of fussy eaters can do is to maintain consistent food rules in the house at all times. If a toddler rejects a particular food or meal that they have previously enjoyed, the worst thing a parent can do is offer them a food alternative, particularly a sweet tasting one. For example, if your toddler starts rejecting vegetables, and you offer them milk as an alternative to dinner, the toddler very quickly learns that if they do not eat their vegetables, they will get some milk. Remember that children will always prefer sweet tasting foods (milk, yoghurt, fruit, and custard) to more bland flavours (vegetables, meat). It is therefore important that parents continue to offer the standard meal options and not give alternatives. If a child rejects the meal, it is probably because they are not hungry.

We often forget that toddlers do not need a lot of food. It has been shown that children under the age of five self-regulate the amount of food they need very well. If we force feed them, toddlers may learn to eat when they are not hungry, which leaves them more vulnerable to overeating and weight problems later in childhood. So, if you are offering your toddler a meal of a couple of different food types such as meat and a couple of different vegetables, with different tastes and textures, and they still reject them, it is likely they are not really that hungry. In this situation, take the food away and try again in an hour or so when the child requests food again.

If you have a fussy eater, the other thing check is how much milk and fruit juice they are consuming. I often see toddlers who are consuming a number of cups of juice and bottles of milk each day, which is providing all of their calorie requirements. It is no wonder they are not hungry! Remember, a maximum of 100ml of fruit juice each day and 600mls of milk is plenty for children aged 1-3 years.

By Susie Burrell

B.Sc (psych)(Hons.) B.Nutr&Diet (Hons.)
http://www.susieburrell.com.au
Susie Burrell is one of Australia’s leading dietitians.

16 Comments

Feed

Tabitha makes this comment

Sunday, 17 January 2010

My 2.5year old daughter has been through alot of the fussy eating you describe. A few things I have discovered; always give very small servings with only 2 or three different foods on the plate at a time. Have a pre-dinner food and drink fast if possible. Have a structured meal-time with everyone in the house at the table at the same time and tv off. Serve simple foods for your fussy eater - my daughter will eat grilled cheese on a rice cake but not grilled cheese and tomato on a rice cake. Give foods in snack sized and interesting shapes. I always try to give some encouragement and praise at meal-times but not too much as she gets shy. If they won't eat, after you have tried everything at the table, offer something else. My daughter has a kids multi, chewable tab once daily, blackmores, which helps with appetite and actual vitamin intake. Failsafe meals include pasta with cheese sauce, mash potato, fresh ham and peas. I always offer fruit and yoghurt as well.
Tamara makes this comment

Thursday, 25 March 2010

My daughter is now 4, and has been a fussy eater for a long while, but is now on occasion completely refusing to eat for long period of times. I have tried all the tips and tricks, and am not getting anywhere. I am becoming increasingly concerned, and increasingly frustrated.

Does anyone know if there could be actual medical reasons why she may be having such severe food refusal. Or does anyone know of some sort of food therapist service that is available?

I am sick of the 'that's just kids' line, and I want to know what's going on!
toddler meals makes this comment

Tuesday, 06 April 2010

When child become bigger then he doesn’t ask, only tell...
brontee makes this comment

Thursday, 15 April 2010

Tamara, something for you to consider and by no means advice. My youngest daughter will go days sometimes without eating(she is now 8, this has been going on since she was 3). I now know why...she suffers from anxiety and this is one her ways of dealing with the issue when she is stressed. Whilst it concerns me, I try to deal with the anxiety as the issue and not the food as this is just a coping mechanism. If that isn't the problem for you maybe keep a weekly diary of what she is eating...you might be surprised (one way or the other!) at what she is or isn't eating. If you are still worried then a trip to the GP, diary in hand, might be a start. But if she is thriving then you probably don't have anything to worry about, though you don't mention how long this has been a problem for you.
Malia makes this comment

Friday, 16 April 2010

Tamara, I too have a very fussy 4 year old. I recently saw a dietician about his eating habits and she has given me some strategies to implement at meal times. Depending where you live, my suggestion would be to have your daughter checked by a paediatrician to make sure there is no medical reason for the food refusal then seek the advice of either a paediatric dietician or a dietician that specialises in fussy eaters and food refusal. Apparantly not all children are locked in a power struggle with their parents at meal time, my son's issues are sensory related.
Best of luck because I know how worrying it is!
Ann makes this comment

Monday, 19 April 2010

my daughter has just turned 1 two weeks ago. She was a very happy eater when we first introduced solids (5.5 months), ate everything and loved it. Then, a month or so after that, she stopped gaining weight, pediatrician advised she needed more calories, so to add fatty dairy foods to what we gave her, and the Polyjoule powder.
Ann makes this comment

Monday, 19 April 2010

I started implementing that advice and, by coincidence or by change of taste, my child went off her foods, and stopped eating, as if she was a different child! She never went back to the 'happy eater' and we are still concerned, because she is surviving for days and weeks and months on some ridiculously tiny amounts of food, like some blueberries, tiny bits of ham or chicken, a sip here and a bite there... She still likes her breast milk, and sometimes will not stop crying until she gets it. She is super-active, energetic, happy, but TINY child. We did blood tests and checks and there are no abnormalities. She has 8 teeth that all came one after another, and I suspected that could be the reason for low appetite. If anyone has any suggestions, ideas or advice - I'd like to hear it all. Thank you.
Ann, a concerned mum of a non-eater.
Ann makes this comment

Tuesday, 08 June 2010

Ann, that sounds so familiar... My 5YO was a fussy drinker and eater since birth. At 12 mths (7kg) after getting all clear from paed, a dietitan was helpful with some strategies to get her eating again. (Was living of 2 weekbixs and a tub of yogurt per day) Then at 2Ys problems again, blood tests came back OK but terrible constipation, on to Laxatives and eating picked up (9kg). Last month 5Ys she was back under 3rd percentile (13kg) so requested more blood tests. Today she was diagnosed with celiac disease (gluten intolerant). So my advise see a paed who is thorough and a specialist dietitian, and monitor the situation, as with my daughter her problems and solutions kept changing.
toddler meals makes this comment

Tuesday, 07 September 2010

Really fussy eating is the most common problems parents of young children are dealing with. I noticed that in all above posts that all are sharing their babies’ experiences. This situation of both the parents and baby needs proper solution. My sister is also one of them who are facing the same problem. Please suggest some effective solution. Thanks for sharing all about it.
toddler meals
baby food makes this comment

Saturday, 27 November 2010

Give a new dimension of eating to your child by planning a special meal for a get together; stopping for eats at a healthy food joint occasionally; packing some favourite lunch for a family picnic. Such occasions provide a good change to your picky eater’s food jargons. Be also careful of what you serve to your fussy eater. Raw chunks of vegetables not properly chopped can choke a child younger than 2 yrs of age. Hard and chewy candy, nuts, chunks of meat may also suffocate a child younger than 3 to 4 yrs of age. Some children may also be allergic to nuts or certain foods. Discuss these issues with your child’s paediatrician. I hope it would be very helpful for all readers.
Loz makes this comment

Tuesday, 30 November 2010

i'm having the same issues with my 1 and a half yr old boy.
he is refusing everything but milk and occasionally will have bites from a ham and cheese sandwich.

He has had persistant ear infections over the last couple of months which i think is contributing to his appetite problems.

Does anyone know if the ear infections and lack of appetite could be caused by teeting?
jessika makes this comment

Friday, 11 February 2011

Hello there i have a 4 and a half yr old daughter and FUSSY is a major understatement. She will only eat a certain group of food and she doesnt like to eat alot she like snacking and not actually eating. She has NEVER eaten vegies since she could talk she my husband and i have tryed everything we are soooo in need of any ideas with her i feel its just that CONTOL but how do i compate this at meal times. I also have 6 monbth old son whom eats everything.
karen makes this comment

Wednesday, 03 August 2011

I have a four yr old girl has gone from eating everything at two, till now who refuses most and its getting worse.....I hadn't thought of anxiety as one reader mentioned. It is a war zone at dinner time and i am over it. She is always full of energy and loves apples. I was once heard apples are an appetite suppressant. Is this True?
Rachel Dietitian makes this comment

Sunday, 21 August 2011

As an Accredited Practising Dietitian and accredited practitioner of the SOS Approach to Picky Eaters and Problem Feeders, I recommend a full assessment of your child's nutrition, feeding, language, oral motor and developmental milestones. It is not fair to always say "it's just the age" or it's "behavioural". Particularly if your child is only eating one texture or nutrition group, there are most likely deeper sensory issues which require professional assessment and treatment. Eating is a learned behaviour and one of the most difficult sensory tasks a child can do. Help yourself, help your child by consulting a trained health professional in the area.
Tia makes this comment

Monday, 05 September 2011

I have a 10month old who just doesnt want to eat or drink his milk. We have been put on Polyjoule as well. He used to eat really well till he was about 5.5months, then just wasnt intrested in anything we give him. he had blood test and all the works done, and they found nothing wrong with him. Can someone provide me with some receipes i can try for my 10month old as finger food. I seem to have tried everything in the world.
Mika makes this comment

Tuesday, 20 September 2011

Today i just gave up and i cooked a home-made tomato soup which we eat as a family none of these silly recipes from the net specially formed for babies, cause with my bub IT HAS NOT WORKED! Try giving a table food that you eat and mash it or rip ii into pieces and put it in front of bub, and eat your meal and try to get baby to eat his/her meal at the same time. I was so shocked today my husband couldnt believe my smile and shock! it was quiet funny really... she even had the meat off the drumstick chicken which was in the soup!I'm still shocked : Worth a try...
Recipe: 2 drumsticks with skin, peeled & chopped carrot pieces, parsnip half peeled and chopped, parsley, and water a little salt and a little pepper, boil on low for 1-1.5hrs collecting all floaties during process, then add tomato paste 2 tubs (yogurt size tubs), and a cup of rice cook for a further 30 min, and you have a tomato soup which your toddler might like... worth a try... good luck..