Fussy Eater Solutions
Hands up if you think feeding grandchildren is a bit of a minefield! Do you agree with your daughter-in-law’s choice of foods? Are you happy to be told what to serve? Believe it or not, parents also can find it tricky to talk about these issues! “My mother calls me every day to ask if my child has eaten and what” said Anna, the first time mum of an extremely fussy eater.
Feeding grandchildren can be challenging, when it should be pure enjoyment peppered with a bit of indulgence! I like to bring everyone on board when there are difficulties in feeding. Finding consensus is imperative for children to progress with the variety of food they eat. Here are some:
do’s and don’t for feeding fussy grandchildren.
Do’s
- Teach where food comes from
- Show what grows in the garden
- Take the children out shopping for food
- Prepare and cook food with the children
- Introduce traditional recipes
- Show enjoyment of food and model good eating
- Create a fun, friendly mealtime atmosphere
- Trust children when they say they are not hungry anymore
- Engage in conversation with grandchildren at mealtimes
- Offer known food with less familiar foods
- Indulge grandchildren in a way that is consistent with parents’ views.
Don’t
- Force tasting or eating
- Feed children constantly between meals and snack times
- Insist that children finish their plate
- Use rewards for eating
- Offer only what grandchildren will eat
- Label grandchildren fussy eaters
- Pressurize parents with regards to how much or what their child is eating
Every day grandparents step up to help look after grandchildren for families all over Australia. They are ideally positioned to help fussy eaters develop an enjoyment of food. They are likely to offer home made foods. They can help shape a lifelong healthy relationship with foods. The “do’s and don’t” can help start a conversation, however parents can also learn to be more flexible with grandparents who feed their children. That’s because grandparents can do wonders for fussy eaters. I have written about this here .
If a fussy eating child is turning grandparents and parents’ mealtimes upside down, it may be time to contact the Fussy Eater Specialist.
You may also like to read:
Ways to Help out the Grandparents who Help with Regular Childcare
