When I became a parent, I expected feeding kids to be a breeze. After all, I was trained as a dietitian and had made plenty of balanced meal plans. I knew that adding a food with vitamin C to an iron-rich meal would help the growing child’s body absorb more iron. I knew that certain foods were choking hazards and best avoided for small children. However, what I was not prepared for was the battle: the psychological warfare that comes into play when a 4-year-old turns out to have a mind of his own — and refuses the same meal he loved last week because it’s now “icky.” It’s enough to push a parent over the edge.
I find comfort in learning that these dinnertime battles are common in almost every family. Sure, there is the occasional kid that seems to naturally embrace all things green with gusto, but most kids put up some resistance to certain foods. Even parents who have spent a career studying all things nutrition can be reduced to bribes, nags and battles over broccoli. Here are some of the struggles other dietitians face in getting their children to eat, along with how they deal with them:
“One of the biggest struggles is just getting him to try new foods. Sometimes, this also includes foods that he used to love, but now will no longer eat and there is no reason why. I do three different things: First, I let him see it before I cook it; then I make sure we are eating the same thing; and finally, he has to take three bites — on his own.” — Megan Kniskern, a registered dietitian and lecturer for Arizona State University
“Having my own children has been the biggest slap in [the] face to my dietetics education. I remember my child-free self, telling clients that they should just keep offering foods and eventually they will eat it. While that might be true — eventually — I never imagined I would have to keep offering foods for years. In general, I make sure that I have some foods at dinner that I know are winners and some foods that will likely need to be introduced [over time].” — Jody Koutz, a registered dietitian nutritionist and lead dietitian for The McCahill Group in East Grand Rapids, Michigan
“For me, the biggest struggle has been the innate reaction that most parents have: wanting to see my child eat. If they ever go through days where they don’t eat as much, or refuse items they once liked or a food I know is good for them, I feel that sense of worry. How I cope is self-talk. I try to just remind myself of the true goal: a healthy relationship with food that is theirs to forge, without pressure or influence.” — Jaclyn Chamberlain, registered dietitian nutritionist and training and resource manager for the Arizona Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
“With four kids, every night is a struggle. I think the biggest struggle for me is having them eat a variety of foods. I have about four go-to dinners: tacos, spaghetti, chicken and rice, salmon — and then mix and match sides to add some variety. One thing that helps is serving food on divided plates made for kids. The kids want each section to be filled — so, at a minimum, three food groups are represented.” — Kelly Schriver, registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of k.schriver, inc., based in the greater Atlanta area.
“My toddler refuses most vegetables (and finds it humorous to feed them to the family dog). I continue to offer a variety of vegetables at least once per day. To help increase his vegetable intake, I prepare vegetable muffins made with riced vegetables” — those put in the food processor or grated to a rice-like consistency — “eggs, milk and small amounts of cheese. I also make it a point to eat the vegetables along with him.” — Kristen Smith, registered dietitian and creator of 360FamilyNutrition.com
The underlying theme in all these stories is to keep your cool. Feeding kids is a tough job, and it’s completely normal for your child’s picky palate to get under your skin. However, this is a marathon and not a sprint. Stay the course and serve a variety of healthy food, and your kiddo will end up getting the nutrition he or she needs.
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Feeding Kids Is Tough for Dietitians, Too originally appeared on usnews.com