When you have small children, feeding them can be a chore, especially if they are fussy eaters. Their nutrition is very important, and there are ways of getting them to eat even if they do not want to. Such dishes as homemade chicken noodle soup, crockpot chicken noodle soup, hotdogs, or pizza are always favorites.
It might be more of a chore but the easiest thing to do is to prepare a few different dishes so your child can decide for himself what he want to eat. You could even try asking what they are in the mood for. If the child thinks that he can make the decision about food himself sometimes, he will be happy to eat what you have made especially for him. You can do what you like with his suggestions, of course. He might suggest homemade chicken noodle soup, in which case you can make a crockpot chicken noodle soup if you are going to be out all day and won't have much time before his mealtime.
It is a good idea to encourage your child to sample everything you prepare. Many children don't like the look of a food ("it's a yucky color" or "it's looks slimy" are common excuses) but your child won't know what the food tastes like until he tries it, so encourage him to take a no thank you bite. In this way, he will get to taste the food and he might actually like it and ask for more.
Another way to encourage small children to try different foods is to name the food with the name of their favorite fictional or cartoon character. Harry Potter Pancakes or Garfield Lasagna will get a smile from your child and they will probably tuck in, just because of the name. Children identify with shows they enjoy and if they think they are eating their favorite cartoon foods, they will probably eat all their meal.
Making dishes that are colorful and fun is a great way to encourage a finicky eater to actually eat. When you use bright and colorful ingredients such as green, yellow and red bell peppers, and give the dish a name like Christmas casserole, or if you make a veggie lasagna and call it Diego's delight, you will have a better chance of a having a peaceful dinner.
Children know when they like and if you present something, which looks boring, they won't be keen to try it. They don't understand or care about nutrition either so it is up to you to make sure your child gets enough.
If you enjoy cooking, you can involve your child in the preparation. If a child is able to be part of the cooking process, they are far more likely to enjoy the results because they are proud to have helped to create it. They would prefer homemade chicken noodle soup, which they have helped with to "the stuff in the red and white can."
If you know your child does not like something and it is a necessary ingredient, then wait until he or she is out of the room and run it through the food processor until it is finely ground up and then add it to the pot. He or she will never know it is there.
When you are trying to feed your child, it is sometimes necessary to use alternative methods and even alternative ingredients. The main thing to remember when dealing with kids is to be as flexible as possible and know where and when to pick your battles. No one wants to make dinner time a battleground and with some careful selections and a little flexibility, it does not have to be. - 16463
It might be more of a chore but the easiest thing to do is to prepare a few different dishes so your child can decide for himself what he want to eat. You could even try asking what they are in the mood for. If the child thinks that he can make the decision about food himself sometimes, he will be happy to eat what you have made especially for him. You can do what you like with his suggestions, of course. He might suggest homemade chicken noodle soup, in which case you can make a crockpot chicken noodle soup if you are going to be out all day and won't have much time before his mealtime.
It is a good idea to encourage your child to sample everything you prepare. Many children don't like the look of a food ("it's a yucky color" or "it's looks slimy" are common excuses) but your child won't know what the food tastes like until he tries it, so encourage him to take a no thank you bite. In this way, he will get to taste the food and he might actually like it and ask for more.
Another way to encourage small children to try different foods is to name the food with the name of their favorite fictional or cartoon character. Harry Potter Pancakes or Garfield Lasagna will get a smile from your child and they will probably tuck in, just because of the name. Children identify with shows they enjoy and if they think they are eating their favorite cartoon foods, they will probably eat all their meal.
Making dishes that are colorful and fun is a great way to encourage a finicky eater to actually eat. When you use bright and colorful ingredients such as green, yellow and red bell peppers, and give the dish a name like Christmas casserole, or if you make a veggie lasagna and call it Diego's delight, you will have a better chance of a having a peaceful dinner.
Children know when they like and if you present something, which looks boring, they won't be keen to try it. They don't understand or care about nutrition either so it is up to you to make sure your child gets enough.
If you enjoy cooking, you can involve your child in the preparation. If a child is able to be part of the cooking process, they are far more likely to enjoy the results because they are proud to have helped to create it. They would prefer homemade chicken noodle soup, which they have helped with to "the stuff in the red and white can."
If you know your child does not like something and it is a necessary ingredient, then wait until he or she is out of the room and run it through the food processor until it is finely ground up and then add it to the pot. He or she will never know it is there.
When you are trying to feed your child, it is sometimes necessary to use alternative methods and even alternative ingredients. The main thing to remember when dealing with kids is to be as flexible as possible and know where and when to pick your battles. No one wants to make dinner time a battleground and with some careful selections and a little flexibility, it does not have to be. - 16463
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