 While working with families, often the issue of meal times comes up, they can
be, and should be an enjoyable time where a family share their day and various
issues, it's a time where we sit down and relax! Well um, not always so easily
done with a demanding little person who could well be tired, and cranky.
Sharing a meal with
a little person can be frustrating and messy. You've
spent time cooking a meal and they refuse to eat it.
They can be bottomless pits one day, and not interested
the next day, this is not unusual for little people.
Children will eat when they are hungry. Often when they
are having a growth spurt they will eat and sleep extremely
well.
Fussy Eaters
Some children are fussy
eaters they may pick at their meal or push it away. If
your child is a fussy eater here are some strategies for
you to encourage them to eat .
- Serve up a very small serving of food at a time.
- Offer seconds [keeping the
serving very small] Have you tried finger foods?
These can be very inviting for an older toddler, they
may enjoy making the choice of when they
have finished.
- If your child is in a childcare
service discuss with your service what you
are doing at home, could they follow it through?
- Try not to have too much on
their plate for them to choose from. Keep
it varied.
- To encourage children to eat,
keep their food simple, attractive, nutritional
and tasty.
- Was either yourself or your partner or a member of
your families a fussy eater?
Please let us know if you have any strategies
that have worked successfully for you.
Children who are normally
good eaters
After a busy day at work, then rushing
home to cook an evening meal, it can be so frustrating
when your child is not interested in their meal. Why does
this happen? And what can you do to discover why your child
is not hungry at dinner time?
Ensure you or your partner
have checked out what your child has consumed during
the day , whilst they have been in care. You can access this information
at your childcare service from charts on the wall and
communicating with the carers. It could be that your
child is having too much afternoon tea, snacks or drinks.
Try serving small portions and
make their meals look attractive
If they have a cooked meal in the middle
of the day they may only require a light snack or sandwich.
Also if children are tired, often they
will not be in the mood to eat.
Breakfast
This is another hectic
time of the day, and it is common for children to not
want to eat their breakfast when you would like them
too.
Please do not worry about
it, if you are heading off to childcare talk to your
carer/s And let them know your child hasn't' eaten breakfast,
most services will provide breakfast to them.
Pack some cereal, bread,
and milk in their bag, just in case. Many services supply
breakfast and no service will let a child go without
breakfast.
Services do offer morning tea - check
out the times. If it is out of character for your child
not to eat breakfast it may be due to illness. If you are
concerned, monitor them by ringing your service during
the day to see how your child is.
Afternoons
Your service will offer
afternoon tea and late afternoon tea, it is advisable
to check out the times, and what foods are served to
the children, again you can access this information,
by charts on the wall, or communicating with your carers.
If your partner /family
members or friends are picking your child up remind them
to check out, what they have eaten / drunk slept, etc,
as this is valuable information for you so you know where
your child is at.
Look out for your services weekly Menu
[if you are using a service which provides food] check
with your service where it is displayed.
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