HELP !  I CAN'T GET MY KID TO EAT !!!

Aunt Sue has some suggestions; although this is a tough question since there are so many variables and phases a child goes through.

The first is transition from breast or bottle to solid food.  Uncle Buck serves up some tips on making baby food and food service for infants but he thinks children are like any other "customer" in your restaurant; they have their own likes and desires.   With infants you are trying to provide the maximum amount of nutrition in the easiest to swallow format.  This may be a concentrated version of what you or I may be eating but they seem partial to green, creamy, gruel-like mixtures that look pretty disgusting but they find Mmmm... good. Don't be afraid to add a teaspoon of brown sugar or some honey; small amounts of sugar make children eat; sad but true.  Many times they want to make sure that YOU will eat it too.  If they offer you some, try it.  If they are refusing it perhaps there is a reason.  Or try one for me, one for you.

The next transition is from high-chair to table.  At this point it is unrealistic for them to sit quietly at the table and discuss their day and world events with you.  They will be running around and may eat dinner over a 2 hour period; nibbling here to there; and this is fine since they will probably still want a full bottle before going to bed.  We suggest leaving out small plates of finger foods that they can always be discovering and nibbling on; one for each hand. 

When they are old enough to eat dinner with you.  Then they suddenly decide that they are "not hungry".  This could be for a variety of reasons; perhaps they had a big snack at 4:30 while watching TV for example; and you just got home.  Another suggestion is to ban juice or pop for a week.  Believe me, removing juice and pop in your house is more difficult than you think.  Most children are accustomed to bottle feeding from birth and could transition to a point when the get most of their food energy from the sugar in juice.  Turn off that tap and they certainly will start to become hungry for some real food.

How about you; do you have any tips and tricks to get your kids to eat?  VIEW /POST your comments below:

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