There is growing concern about the variety of feeding related problems amongst children today. It is quite natural for parents to be concerned and anxious. The prevalence of such problems has increased in recent times but the bright side to such problems is that they can be prevented. If parents are equipped to deal with such problems before hand the task becomes very easy. So do not lose heart, but begin to take action early. The 3 main issues that need attention are

INDEPENDENCE

LET THE CHILD START FEEDING HIMSELF/HERSELF AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. Most parents are not very comfortable with the idea of allowing children to eat by themselves as they tend to make the area messy. However in the future interest of the child this is an important step that parents should follow.

A VARIETY OF HEALTHY CHOICES SHOULD BE OFFERED. This will help the child experience different flavours of foods and pave the way to better health in the future.

ALLOW EXPERIMENTATION. Do not give up if the child rejects the carrot sabji you have prepared for him. Carrots could be served as salad in interesting shapes or used as filling for the bread or chapati. As a parent it is important to be open to the idea of trying out new recipes with new food items.

Being aware of the above mentioned points will solve many feeding related issues. At the same time it is crucial to be aware of the pitfalls which have been mentioned below and some common mistakes that parents tend to do in the desire to feed children. Being aware of the follies and at the same time learning to deal with them rationally does translate into better physical as well as emotional health for the child.

• Very often parents force children to eat when they are feeling full or force them to eat a food that they do not want. After all meal times are not just about the physical act of eating. There are many other forms of child development that take place on the dining table. Mealtime should be pleasant occasions and not about displaying power play and who gets to have their way. Conversations on the table should center on pleasant topics and not the child’s eating related problems.
• Making available to the children in large quantities sugary drinks, sugar coated cereals, sweets and chips. Such foodstuff has very little nutritional worth and at the same time kills the appetite for the main meal. Snacks should be limited to only 2-3 in a day and preferably something that has some nutritional worth
• Try and ensure that most of the eating and drinking is done on the dining table itself. The child should not be followed and fed all around the house.
• Allowing the child to consume too much milk or fruit juice will not leave the child hungry for a meal/solid food which helps provide other food groups like cereals, pulses, fruits and vegetables etc, which are essential to add variety in a child’s diet.

Bribing and rewarding the child for the desired action is something that should be avoided at all costs. This can lead to many problems in the future. If the child does not want to eat what has been prepared for him then do not force him to do so, nor should he be punished. The next step is very hard to execute but extremely crucial. Do not make the mistake of offering an alternative food. This would send many wrong signals to the child regarding behavior norms. Missing a single meal on such a count would not cause starvation but if you offer alternatives it is akin to ensuring feeding related trouble in the future.

There is yet another kind of problem that I have also noticed amongst ‘first time’ parents. They are prone to excessive worrying about their child and feeding issues. It is true that on many occasions you may feel that the child is not consuming a well rounded diet that you would like him to. However there should be no reason to fret and worry if the child is growing normally and the energy levels are normal. Review the child’s weekly diet to see if it is more or less balanced which should be good enough. As a parent you should make an effort to introduce the habit of consuming breakfast regularly. It is the most important meal of the day after all! Parent’s efforts should be focused on introducing new foods to the child. Children are usually hesitant to try new foods but you should continue to offer the child small amounts regularly (say two times a week). Most children will give in after being offered the food 10 to 15 times. Persistence does pay! HAPPY PARENTING.