What causes a child refuse to eat

Many parents can understand the frustration when their child refuses to eat. It starts small when they turn their noses to the "wrong" type of chicken or "smelling" broccoli.

The next thing to know is that you have the same three items in every meal and wondering if your toddler can actually survive with buttered pasta, crackers and sliced ​​apples. Is to be.

Keep in mind that refusing to eat is a common child's behavior before falling into the food fight pattern or serving cereals for breakfast, lunch, or supper. And most of the time, it's not big, and it's normal:

Personal preference (admission: I don't like cauliflower-although its benefits are undeniable)

Lack of hunger

Hesitate to try new ones

Common childhood illnesses (sore throat, abdominal pain, etc.)

Day break (all are), but more serious problems can occur. And even if you don't, you don't want the phase to become a lifelong habit. Therefore, it is important to understand why children refuse to eat and how to develop a healthy relationship with food.

Is it noisy food?

When a child refuses to eat, the first thing many parents do is to label the child as a likes and dislikes. But it's important to understand what this label really means, and that it's not the only reason children stop eating.

A noisy eater is usually someone who refuses to eat a particular type of food or just wants to eat the same food over and over again.

The whole family enjoys a variety of foods at once, but you may just want a chicken nugget or peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Often, their rejection has much to do with taste.

On the other hand, in addition to the limited settings, you may also notice other issues such as:  Choking, or if it is difficult to swallow or chew certain foods. This is unusual, but it can indicate that your child isn't just stubborn. There may be a fundamental problem, which we'll discuss later.

Whatever the problem, don't try to force your child to eat. But it's not up to you to become a short chef. A better approach is to include at least one of your favorite healthy foods in every diet, while also serving other foods.

You can allow them to eat only what they like (or put it on their plate). They may push rice and broccoli aside, but they love to eat chicken. The important thing is to make a variety of foods available and keep things positive.

Get ready for a successful meal

Here are some ideas to encourage likes and dislikes, sitting happily at the table while tasting a variety of foods.

Reduce the interruption of meals

Allowing tablets, smartphones and TVs while eating can cause children to lose interest in eating. Keeping her calm and busy may seem like a way, but it's a good idea to limit the use of electronics and other distractions during your diet. You can even imitate this by putting your own phone!

If you focus on food, conversation, and family ties, your child may find it easier to eat. Also, make sure the dining area is relaxed and there is space for everyone to enjoy their meals. Use booster seats or find a chair that fits your child comfortably at the table.

Providing the right amount of food

Perhaps the problem is not that the child refuses to eat, but that he refuses to eat all the food on the plate. Remember that children don't need as much food as adults. Therefore, if it is placed too much on the plate, it may not be completed. It's not because they're difficult, but because they're full.

Give it to your little child little by little. You can always ask for the second part.

Also, don't forget that you may not be hungry in the first place. Children, especially young children, can experience significant appetite fluctuations over the course of a day, or even days or weeks. Kids don't have to eat every meal. 

Do not plan meals that are too close to bedtime

It can be difficult to sit and feed a sleepy and restless child. So don't be too close to bedtime or too early before or after your activity. If that means multiple meals that work on everyone's schedule, that's fine.

Relieving stress during meals

Forcing, pressured, or yelling at a child does not improve the situation. When they get upset or start crying, they have no chance of eating. So you may want to encourage eating, but don't put too much pressure on them.

Involving children in preparing meals

Many toddlers like the same food every day, but diversity can make meals more exciting. If you find yourself continuing to serve the same type of food, it can be helpful to change things, perhaps even because your child requested food in the first place.

Help your child choose new foods. Encourage them to help with meal planning, shopping, and preparation. If they help prepare the meal, they may look forward to the meal more.

Reduce non-meal foods and drinks

Some children refuse to eat if they have too many snacks and drinks during the day. I'm hungry, so it doesn't take long to get full. And if your child doesn't feel hungry when eating, he eats less. So while your child doesn't want to refuse food when he's really hungry, he might want to discourage a simple snack (for example, a bowl of munch on the table) until dinner time