Tips on Avoiding Eating Problems
- Offer small portions
- Family eating time is an opportunity to talk, laugh, share and enjoy each other’s company
- Food should be used as neither a reward or a punishment
- Show interest in trying new foods yourself
- Encourage children to assist in preparing for meal time
- When a meal is finished, remove food from the table
- Offer well-balanced, attractive meals
- Beware of over-snacking, which leads to decreased appetite for meals and potential obesity
- Offer some food choices to encourage a sense of responsibility in the child
- Make eating time pleasant, not a struggle for power