Picky preschool eaters

Feeding and nutrition

By the age of two-going-on-three, your child is comfortable at the family table and has absorbed the rules and routines of mealtimes. In his growing quest for independence, however, he's likely to challenge those routines. Suddenly he is skeptical about every new food on his plate. He ignores his favourite food. He only eats one kind of sandwich. He demands snacks at all hours and then stubbornly refuses dinner. How you deal with this stage will be important in helping your child develop a healthy attitude toward food as he grows.

What does my child need now?

Your child continues to need meals and snacks made up from the four essential food groups -- grain products, milk products, fruits and vegetables, and meat or protein-rich meat alternatives. You may need to increase the quantities as she grows. Canada's Food Guide takes into account the smaller appetites of two- to five-year-olds and specifies appropriate portions, ranging from a half to a full serving.

Depending upon your child's age and activity level, she should be eating between 5 and 12 child-size servings of grain products each day; 2 to 3 servings of milk products; 5 to 10 servings of vegetables and fruit; and 2 to 3 servings of meat or protein-rich meat alternatives. If you can't believe that your little person could eat so much food, keep in mind that half a slice of bread equals one child-size serving of grain products; a juice box equals two servings of vegetables or fruit; and a mere tablespoon of peanut butter equals one child-size serving of a meat alternative. Take time to record your child's diet for one or two weeks, and you'll probably find that he's consuming the minimum daily requirements.

Your child may already have a breakfast routine. Don't let anything get in the way of that good habit. A nutritious breakfast kick-starts your child's brain functions and enhances his ability to learn. Eating breakfast also positively affects a child's mood and behaviour.

Strategies for picky eaters

The major complaints from parents of preschool-age children are that they will not eat and that they will only eat junk foods. Remember The Golden Rules of Feeding: You decide what to serve and when and where to serve it; it's up to the child to decide whether or how much to eat. When well-intentioned parents try to cross that line and wheedle, cajole, or threaten their preschooler into clearing his plate, they set up a power struggle that can make mealtimes miserable for the entire family. If you can accept that food is one of the first things your child can say No! to and have control over, it will help you disengage from the battle.

Set clear boundaries around food and eating. If your child chooses not to eat at a particular mealtime, don't scold or lecture. And don't become a short-order cook who jumps up from the table to prepare a separate meal for your finicky eater. First make sure your child isn't ill: nausea could put a child off his food, or an ear infection could make it difficult for him to swallow. If there isn't a medical problem, then let your child leave the table without a fuss, just reminding him that the kitchen doesn't open again until snack time. Then keep your word. You will probably have to live with some short-term fussing, but don't weaken. Your child will be genuinely hungry the next time he arrives at the table.