A detailed guide for picky eaters

Most often we hear mothers of toddlers lament that their little ones refuse to eat vegetables or fruits. They are fussy eaters.

Doctors and Paediatricians recommend introducing one fruit and one vegetable at time when babies are put on solid foods at the age of 5/6 months.

Vegetables such as carrots, potatoes are boiled cooked mashed and given to the little ones. Similarly apples and oranges. As they grow and enter year one it's best to include fruits and vegetables at least in two main meals of the day ...

One mother I know introduced her son to Eric Carl s book The Hungry Caterpillar and she would read the book  right from the time the baby was 6 months old and was introduced to solids. The story begins on Monday hungry ate one juicy, apple Tuesday it says  2 big pears etc.

Interestingly here the child associated numbers with the days of the week and the corresponding fruit and vegetables that the caterpillar ate. This way her son would finish off the fruit or vegetable for the day along with the cereal or the breakfast dish of the day. Now her son who is 5 years old  loves all the vegetables and fruits .....Another interesting thing this mother did was she involved her son while preparing breakfast such as making pancake with strawberry sauce .....This worked very well with this mother and son duo..

In complete contrast I have seen another little girl who was habituated to eating only soft semi solid food such as ragi porridge or dal rice and at 5. She is still eating the same food, now it's getting difficult for her mother to feed her fruits or vegetables in any form.

 Involving your toddler in the  process of preparing breakfast or any one important meal of the day , creates a sense of belonging and he/ she will enjoy eating with a sense of accomplishment ...Say  you are preparing dosa , ...talk about the colour of the batter , what shape is the Tawa / ,griddle ...you can suggest shall we add orange and green colour to our dosa ..you can grate carrot and chop coriander and prepare this colourful dosa. Similarly, fruits can be served cut creatively in shapes and colour combo.

Some simple and interesting ways to include fruits and vegetables in toddlers’ diet 

Breakfast: 

1.  Vegetable dosa (carrot/ beetroot / peas / capsicum ...onion coriander can be added for flavour

2.  Button idly with vegetable topping 

3.  Mix veg Upma 

4. Whole wheat bread vegetable sandwich 

5. Tomato onion Omelette 

Lunch 

 How vegetables can be incorporated in lunch menu ...

Encourage children to eat salad vegetables diced, cubed can be given to children as lunch is being served 

1. Potato carrot Beans peas stir fry subzi can be served with a roti/ chapati or Dal rice  

2.  Beetroot pooris 

3. Cabbage Paratha 

4. Mixed vegetable Khichdi

Similarly, variations can be made and vegetables can be included in dinner menus too ...

How fruits can be included: 

1.     Fruits such as apple, orange, apple can be added to pancakes. B. Fruit toppings and fruit sauces can be added to dosas and pancakes 

For breakfast 

2. One serving of any fruit must be given along breakfast or lunch.

Leading by example is the best thing. Young ones tend to emulate their parents and follow them 

 We all are aware that a habit once set is a habit for life.

We adults tend to put the blame on children.

It’s for our convenience that we give them the mobile and play rhymes or switch on the tv and play some cartoon movie ...on the other hand if we read out a story or narrate one just like our mothers and grandmothers did so before the advent of technology ...it will be far more effective and have a positive influence on  the child.

Well young mothers would retort back and say where is the time ..we are so busy.....my answer would be take turns in the beginning ..once the pattern is set you won't have to be there to coax the child to eat vegetables or fruits ...they will do so.

To avoid your child from getting addicted to the mobile or tv screens while eating best option would be to tell stories or read out books that have table manners, food habits, healthy eating habits and advantages of eating fruits and vegetables. Each child is unique. So its up to the mother to innovate and formulate best practices and eating habits to suit them .."TO EACH HIS OWN" .Earlier you begin, the better it is for the child to inculcate the good habits..

I do hope some of you mothers who have young toddlers will share your experiences..

Comments and feedback  are welcome !!!

Usha Achar 

Usha Achar, Educational consultant, having more than 30 years of experience, held the post of Principal, Headmistress, Senior Supervisor, Teacher training Institute, Training InCharge. Has the distinction of training and mentoring a large number of Primary and Preprimary teachers, conducted ECCE workshops in Coimbatore, UAE and Bangalore. As a consultant, she has shared her expertise with startup Preschools and Kindergarten schools by providing complete know-how of curriculum framework, activities, events infrastructure and functioning module. Also, a freelance artist, having held art exhibitions. Her passion for teaching and mentoring teachers is the key to her recognition in the field of education.