Recommendations for "picky" eaters
- Offer your child 3 meals and 1 - 2 snacks every 2 - 3 hours so he will be hungry when it is time to eat.
- Feedings/meals should last no longer than 30 minutes.
- Do not offer anything to eat or drink (except water) between scheduled eating times.
- Discontinue all Koolaid® , punch or other sugar-sweetened drinks. Limit juice to 0 - 4 ounces per day. Offer milk with each meal and snack. Don't give more than 20 - 24 ounces of milk each day.
- Offer foods from most food groups at each meal. Offer fruit and vegetables at least 2 - 3 times each day. Offer high protein food (meat, poultry, fish, eggs, legumes, nut butters as age appropriate) 2 times per day.
- Feed in a chair at the table without the TV on.
- If he refuses to eat, has tantrums at meals or wants to get up from the table, wait for a few minutes and try again. If the behavior continues, end the meal and wait until the next eating time to offer any food or drink (except water). Try to do this without giving a lot of attention or making it seem like a punishment.
- Do not discuss eating in front of your child except to ask if he wants more or is done eating. Do not ever force him to eat.
- If the child is underweight, add extra calories to everything: See the list below.
Adding calories
Each day include an extra 200-400 calories in your child's diet. Add calories to everything your child eats and drinks. Each of the following is about 40 - 50 calories per serving
|
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
|
1 teaspoon butter/margarine
|
|
1 teaspoon mayonnaise
|
1 teaspoon peanut butter
|
|
2 teaspoons honey
|
2 teaspoons sweet condensed milk
|
|
2 teaspoons salad dressing
|
1 Tablespoon tartar sauce
|
|
1 Tablespoon Miracle Whip®
|
1 Tablespoon cream cheese
|
|
1 Tablespoon whipping cream
|
1 Tablespoon cheese spread
|
|
1 Tablespoon chocolate syrup
|
1 Tablespoon chopped nuts
|
|
1 Tablespoon jelly
|
1 Tablespoon sugar
|
|
1 Tablespoon syrup
|
1 Tablespoon caramel sauce
|
|
1 ½ Tablespoons raisins
|
1 ½ Tablespoons granola
|
|
2 Tablespoons hummus
|
2 Tablespoons sweet and sour sauce
|
|
2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce
|
2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese
|
|
3 Tablespoons catsup
|
3 Tablespoons dry milk powder
|
|
1 egg (never raw)
|
1/3 envelope Instant Breakfast powder
|
- ½ teaspoon oil can be stirred into mashed potatoes, yogurt, applesauce, pudding, milkshakes.
- Salad dressing, mayonnaise, sour cream and cheese spread can be used as a dip for chips, vegetables.
- Top crackers or bread with peanut butter, jelly, honey or cream cheese.
- Dry milk powder or Instant Breakfast can be added to milk, pudding and yogurt.
- Add 1 cup milk powder to each quart of whole milk.
- Caramel sauce, yogurt and honey can be used as a fruit dip.
- Add granola, raisins, honey and nuts to cereals or yogurt.
- Make tuna salad with mayonnaise and chopped hard boiled eggs.
- Be sure to brush teeth after meals and snacks, especially if adding extra sweets.
- Do not offer peanut butter, raisins or nuts to a toddler or a child with swallowing or chewing problems.