Do you struggle with a picky eater?

At some point as a parent or caregiver, we have dealt with our child(ren) giving us the gears (or even some tears) about eating their meals. Whether it is eating their vegetables at dinner or refusing to sit down at breakfast because in a rush they need to go to the washroom. Kids can be relentless and frustrating when it comes to meal times. 

I can recall my own children at dinnertime sitting at the table. They make faces or push the food around on their plate and give a thousand reasons NOT to eat their dinner. In a perfect world, I would have preferred that my children (all 4 of them) ate their delicious and nourishing food that I slaved to cook for them every single night, BUT we don’t live in a perfect world so I choose to pick my battles with them. Dinnertime became more of a hostage situation than a lovely meal enjoyed with loved ones! LOL!

So if this sounds familiar, I got you…

Here are my tips around picky eaters.

1. Involve your kids in deciding what is for dinner. If they get to choose, then they will be more likely to eat what is staring at them on their plate.

2. Offer a variety of healthy foods for mealtime and snacks. This will encourage them to explore new foods and discover their likes and dislikes.

3. Give them small portions of each food at dinnertime. This way they don’t feel overwhelmed or discouraged if they don’t eat all their food. Sometimes I was dishing out seconds (only if they really liked it). 

4. Serve meal times at the same time everyday. I found it helpful especially once my kids could tell time, they knew dinner was ready around 6pm. Kids thrive on routine and so do their bellies! (I understand that sometimes this is not realistic, we have busy lives and half the time we are running kids all over town to get to their activities, however if you are able to plan a consistent dinnertime schedule 3-4 nights a week…I call that a win for you! 🙂 

5. Provide them with at least one food at every meal that you know they will eat. So if that means giving your daughter strawberries everyday, so be it! Yes, there are lots of other delicious fruits out there but if she loves strawberries then give her the strawberries. In my experience, eventually they get tired of eating the same thing over and over. At that point, it’s an opportunity to introduce something new.

6. Set an example. Most children will follow in your footsteps if they see you eating healthy and nourishing foods. I believe it is important to discuss the difference between a treat ( that is eaten occasionally) and meals that will provide you with the proper fuel for your body.

7. Bring them grocery shopping. I used to have my kids pick out one vegetable and one fruit. This is providing them the confidence to make healthy food choices as they grow up.

I hope these suggestions help you, like I said at the beginning, I decided to choose my battles around food. Being a parent or caregiver is not easy, there was no instruction manual that came with each kid. But what I do know is this… kids will eat if they are hungry and be stubborn when you try to convince them otherwise. 

All we can do is consistently show up with positive support and allow them to embrace what they like and respect what they dislike. 

Check out my book “Don’t All Cats Eat Chicken?” An empowering children’s book that shows how to be your true, authentic, awesome self. Featuring 2 cats with unique tastes... Find out what it means to embrace differences and have the courage to show your genuine self. 

It is available now at Amazon.

How to encourage individuality in kids

Encouraging our kids to find their own individuality helps them feel confident and it boosts their self- esteem. When given the freedom to find out what they like and don’t like, we see from an early age their little personalities and character develop. Traits like kindness and respect, curiosity and creativity will be carried into their grown-up life.

Here are  5 ways to encourage individuality in children:

1. Providing a variety of extracurricular activities such as sports, arts and clubs. By introducing activities like ballet or soccer or piano lessons, you are opening their minds to new possibilities. From there, they will let you know if they enjoy it or not! Visiting museums or going to the theatre or even signing up for a junior cooking class can provide meaningful exploration. It gives them the opportunity to learn and develop their particular set of skills and talents and discover who they are.

   2.    As your child grows, so will their interests. It is our job to support and be present for them with the things that they love. You might not be a fan of Super Mario Bros or Barbie or understand the humor in Diary of a Wimpy Kid BUT your kids love it! So if it’s something that brings them joy, we should acknowledge it. They are going through self-discovery right now, which is key for their development. Hey, you never know, you might get enjoyment from reading a Diary of a Wimpy Kid to your little one!

   3. Show enthusiasm; when they are passionate or proud of something. By showing that you care means a lot to them, it helps them feel self-assured and certain. It gives them an identity that they are looking for and knowing that there are adults who are backing  what they love.
   
   

   4. Having open communication with your child is important. Talking to your kids  about everything and anything, even at an early age, lets them know they can talk to you about anything. Humans are social beings and we are created for connection on a scientific  level. We rely on our interpersonal skills and teaching these skills to our youngsters will guide them to know how to connect with oneself and with the world.

   5. Be there when they go through changes. One day it's Paw Patrol, the next it's Bey Blades or ice skating to martial arts. As they develop into their teens, changes come fast and hard. They start exploring different  types of clothes and changing their appearance or pursuing different interests.  It’s those transitions that they are learning to become themselves and embracing who they are and that’s perfectly normal.

As parents and caregivers, it’s important to support and strengthen their dreams. It is those dreams that create who they will become. We shouldn’t downplay what their ambitions are. Maybe they dream of being a doctor or a race car driver or maybe their dream is being a toy tester! Rest assured that encouraging your child to believe that they are capable of anything is a positive message that allows them to embrace who they are, to stand out from the crowd and be their authentic self. Regardless of what the rest of the world might say!

In my book “Don’t All Cats Eat Chicken?” Cooper and Chloe demonstrate what it means to be an individual and embrace who they are. Grab your copy today and share this delightful story with your kids.