We’ve all been there. Prepared the most delicious meals only
for our toddlers to throw it all over the walls, or floor (if you’re lucky!) So
how can you make sure your little one gets a balanced and varied diet? Here are
five great expert tips.
1. Don't give up
Experts suggest that it can take up to 12 times of trying a
food for a child to get used to it and like it. Instead of writing off yet
another new food once they’ve spat it out or thrown it across the kitchen, look
on it as part of the learning curve.
It may only be 11.30am and you’ve not long since finished
your breakfast but eating with your little one can set a great example to them.
When you can, try and eat together as a family, it will help your little one
get used to meal times and encourage them to eat their food if everyone else
is.
If you’re bored of what you’re making for your tot, then
chances are they’re bored of it too and who can blame them if it’s pasta again,
or beans on toast. Use this summer to introduce them to seasonal fruit such as
berries and tropical varieties too, like mango and pineapple which will tickle
their taste buds. Make batches of couscous, rice or pasta salads instead of
slaving away over the stove making hot food. Even sandwiches can be jazzed up!
It’s easy to get stressed when your little one refuses to
eat or worse, throws your beautifully prepared meal onto the (clean) kitchen
floor before you can catch it. But getting stressed or upset doesn't
necessarily help
One reason that little ones may not be eating at mealtimes
is because they’re actually full. These days it can be really easy to lose
track of the number of snacks we give them between meals, but if they’re having
too many then they won’t be hungry enough for lunch or dinner. So keep a track
on how many between meal snacks you’re giving them and try to cut it down –
especially if they’re not eating any or all of their main meals.