The good eater technique
Introduction
Getting used to new foods and sitting down at the table can be troubling for a child, and nutrition is a constant worry for parents and carers. As seen on the show, the good eater technique can be a useful method to calm and encourage a fussy eater, and help get mealtimes back on track…
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Raising a good eater
Food phobics or very fussy eaters will often only eat two or three things, so it’s vital to work on expanding their range of foods, even if you’re up against a habit that has built up over years. This technique gives the child responsibility for what’s on their plate, while leaving the parent to control the choice of options. It’s also a great way of getting us to cook food ourselves rather than buy ready-made meals!
Steps towards good eating
- Think up two menus – things you would like your child to eat that they might realistically try – don’t start off with sprouts unless they already love them!
- Write each menu up on a paper plate, call the family together and ask your child to choose between the menus.
- Make whichever menu she chooses for your meal. Praise her for every mouthful of new food.
- Stick the paper plate up on the fridge so your child can see which meals she has chosen (even if she didn’t eat much) and at the end of the week, allow them to choose their favorite to eat again.
If your child continues to refuse to eat new foods, you could cut down on snacks (try the snack jar technique), don’t offer any alternatives, and let them know that there will be nothing else to eat until the next meal.
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Supernanny Team
Related Links
- Placemat reward chart This may help overcome initial worries about new foods, and ‘a nice clean plate’ could be added to their general Reward Chart categories.
- The little chef technique This technique encourages children to try new foods and get engaged in food preparation.
- The snack jar technique The Snack Jar Technique is used to limit a child’s snacking, to encourage her to eat a balanced diet at mealtimes…
- Discuss eating with other parents in our forum.