It goes without saying that mealtimes should be enjoyable for both you and your child. It’s a time to slow down and connect, not stress. But many times, mealtime feels like a battle of wills, with your kid refusing certain foods or refusing to eat at all. If you find yourself knee-deep in power struggles or picky eating (or you want to fend off food fights before they start), follow these steps to bring harmony back to your dinner table.
Written by: Jessica Diamond, MPH, RDN
It goes without saying that mealtimes should be enjoyable for both you and your child. It’s a time to slow down and connect, not stress. But many times, mealtime feels like a battle of wills, with your kid refusing certain foods or refusing to eat at all. This might make meal or snack time something you dread. It’s important to remember that some degree of selective eating is expected as your child grows, but how you respond to it will make the world of difference. If you find yourself knee-deep in power struggles or picky eating (or you want to fend off food fights before they start), follow these steps to bring harmony back to your dinner table:
Picky eating and mealtime power struggles can really wear you down. Implementing these simple steps and being consistent meal after meal will eventually make meals enjoyable for everyone.
If you want more information and guidance on picky eating:
And while most picky eating is normal and can be addressed at home, there is some picky eating that may require medical intervention. So, if you feel your child’s picky eating is more on the extreme side – or if they have aversions to certain textures or don’t chew and swallow in a normal way – reach out to a pediatrician, speech language pathologist, and/or occupational therapist for help.