Preventing Picky Eating in Babies
Parents Control the First Line of Defense:
When purchasing food, parents should pay attention to stocking only healthy food at home. They should also educate their children about different types of healthy ingredients and their functions and nutrients, so that they learn how to make healthy choices from a young age.
Don't Deprive Children of Their Choices:
Parents should provide healthy food options for their children and allow them the freedom to choose what and how much they want to eat. As long as the choices are within the range of healthy ingredients, children can eat healthily and happily.
Don't Force Children to Finish Their Meals:
Children can sense when they are full, and external pressure often leads them to eat more calories than necessary. Therefore, parents should not serve too much food at once, and should respect their children's choices if they are full.
Create a Positive Dining Atmosphere:
Many parents use mealtime as an opportunity to discipline their children, which only makes them eat quickly and leave the table early. On the other hand, engaging in pleasant conversation and sharing interesting experiences can make children eat well and be physically and mentally healthy.
Prevent Picky Eating from Infancy:
Children may develop picky eating habits in infancy, so it is important to provide them with suitable, beneficial, and diverse ingredients starting from introducing solid foods. To help them accept new foods, parents can try multiple times in different situations, but should not force them to eat. Start with small bites.
Leading by Example is Always Important:
Whether it's manners or lifestyle habits, parents play a significant role. If you cannot control your own eating habits, your child will also relax their standards. Therefore, if you want your child to live a healthy life, start by eating healthily yourself.
