Children become picky eaters for many reasons. The main reason is that they are growing rapidly, and their stomachs are smaller. Most children go though phases where they become picky eaters, or they refuse to eat all together. This is not an unusual thing as long as the child is still very healthy. "There is a big difference between a child who refuses to eat, or a child who eats so little they lost weigh, and a child who insists on eating Peanut Butter and Jelly (sandwiches) at every meal!" Refusing to eat is the child's way of asserting their independence, so do not take it p

Most importantly, do not force a child to eat what repels them. Parents can do many things to encourage their child to eat, but most importantly they must exercise patience. Patience is required because it takes time for a child to be more apt to try a new food. How do you get your child to eat new foods? One expert recommends making food selection a game. "Take them to the grocery store, and have them pick out 'new' colors of fruits and vegetables. Give them stars on a calendar for choosing and trying a new food." Also, get the child involved in the food making process because they are more likely to try something new that they helped to make. "It's the parents responsibility for when and what foods are served, but it is the child's responsibility to decide which foods they would like to eat, and how much they want to eat." A good tip for a parent is not to rely solely on what kids want to eat at mealtime; offer a few new things instead. Make the food attractive by cutting it up into bite-sized pieces, or even make them into various shapes using cookie cutters. In turn, this allows the child to eat with their hands rather than utensils. Picky eating is a normal occurrence for children, experts recommend that you keep offering your child smaller portions of what the rest of the family is eating. The more times a child sees a new food, the more likely they will try it. Researchers say that picky eaters, "...limit the number of foods choices, were unwilling to try new things, totally avoided some food groups, and exhibited strong food preferences, including food presentation and preparation methods." A great tip for parents is not to worry if your child has food left on their plate. Also, avoid getting into food battles. Try offering a new food fun. Offer fruits, vegetables, or offer new foods with dip. Introduce new foods one at time, along with foods they already like. If your child does not like vegetables, offer more fruit, or visa versa. Most of all do not use food as a reward or punishment. Resist the urge to make dessert a reward for finishing their dinner or for being good. If you make dessert a reward, the child will crave it more than nutritious foods. Previous studies shows that pi

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