Food facts for little nibblers

Don't pick on picky eaters
Unless you force a variety of foods on your kids, they'll always be picky eaters, right? Wrong, says Shefali Raja, a registered dietitian from Vancouver. Picky eaters are often the product of too much parental pressure. Here's Raja's advice for helping kids expand their tastes.

• Keep mealtimes relaxing. Children eat best when they have a comfortable, stressfree environment for meals.

• Try not to offer substitutions, such as a grilled cheese sandwich in exchange for chicken or any other food he doesn't like. If you do, your child may expect you to be a short-order cook all the time. If he doesn't choose any of the other foods at the meal, realize that the next meal is not far away.

• Include a couple of items your child likes along with the new food that you're trying to introduce. This approach will ensure that he has some options.

• Don't make an issue of food because this can reinforce the negative behaviour.

• Lead by example. Eat regular meals together and make healthy food choices yourself if you want your children to do the same.

The first best meal
Kids need to eat well to learn well. Help your kids start the day right with breakfast for their brain. Visit www.breakfastforlearning.ca and click on Resources for recipes hurried parents will love.