Some individual may be fussy or picky on what they eat. A little bit of taste variation can put them off or they are very choosy about the ingredients used to prepare the food items.

Parents resort to forcing the children to eat a whole lot of vegetable varieties even if their children resist them persistently. Finally, the children end up becoming fussier and start hating food. This is certainly not good for their health, taste buds and mental development and taste towards food.

The best way to get your child to taste a variety of foods is to make sure the entire family eats certain meals together during a week. It may not be possible on a daily basis but probably weekend lunches and dinners could be had together. This creates a huge positive impact in the child’s mentality. They observe other members of the family savouring certain dishes closely and try them out with an open mind.

Make the family meals special but having some item that the child relishes, and also include some new veggies or specialities for the child to try out the first time. Do not negotiate the child into eating those food items he does not prefer. Or resist them on eating delicacies they like. Never put a rule that they can try what they like only when they eat things they do not relish. This only disappoints them further.

Offer them the new food items and ask them whether they want to try. They may resist the first few times but ultimately choose to try them. If they still resist after tasting, there is no point compelling them further to eat vegetables. Never punish a child for refusing to eat a food item. However, do not allow them to waste.

Sometimes, children resist certain foods because it does not suit their body. Certain vegetables may cause rumbling in their stomach. Some of them feel itchy in the throat after eating certain foods. Some of them do not have a palate for certain types of tastes. Hence, the individual taste buds need to be respected and nurtured over time with a lot of patience, commitment and perseverance.

Generally, all kids love the sweet taste. That is probably one reason why most of the children do not resist breast milk. Some children take time to adapt to new tastes and start resisting them initially. But when they start enjoying a variety of foods and are given the necessary independence to explore, they end up eating a variety of foods just by observing their elders or even peers.

Broaden the variety of vegetables included by making mixed gravies. For example, if you child like potatoes and tomatoes, make a gravy containing both the vegetables but introduce a new one to taste, for example broccoli.

Sometimes, your child may choose to eat a very light meal since he or she has discomfort in the stomach. Do not force ‘quantity of food’ during every meal. If the child chooses to skip some dishes, just leave them as long as they do not end up getting up from the table still hungry.

Jason Ladock

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