To avoid mealtime being a daily battle, here are some tips.
Having a good feeding habit is something you learn from a young age, but take it easy, if your child is no longer a baby, he can still do it.
The key to making a child eat everything begins when he still does not eat anything, that is, at 6 months. From that age, you have to start putting the porridge on the table that the doctor indicates. But remember that mealtime should be a special time when everyone shares food and this should be seen by your little one. Although he does not eat the same as you, that he eats his porridge at the same time that you eat, he reinforces his learning.
It is important to let him explore, you can serve him a little on his own plate and as one part will throw it on the floor and another part will throw it on top, you can offer him with a spoon of what you have on the plate, with this he will understand that food can be touched, smelled and shared. It is part of learning!
Eat the same as him and never force him to eat more than he wants. No young child will eat badly if food is available. Babies’ tastes change and what they may not like today they will accept tomorrow, don’t give up!
Don’t worry if you think he eats little. Sometimes it is a matter of perception, we believe that half a banana, three bites of bread and two tablespoons of rice is little or nothing , but for a small child it may be enough. You should be guided more by their growth and weight gain with your pediatrician.
Between the ages of six months and two years, offer him new things and let him touch them, smell them, and eventually reject them. If you don’t want something special, let a couple of weeks pass and serve it again. When you can eat the same food as others, it is important that you let them know, you will feel? Big boy? and the excitement of eating the same as mom or dad can make you try new things. Don’t make him special food!
Between two and three years old, you should balance his plate so that he eats everything. At each meal, the plate should be composed of 60% cereals, 1.5 grams of protein for each kilo of weight and the rest vegetables and legumes.
And if your child is older, remember the basic principles of having a good atmosphere at the table, the same food for everyone, that everyone choose what and how much to eat, offer variety, be consistent and never apply punishments.