Dealing with fussy eaters

Aditi Garg

• Eight out of ten children are fussy eaters.
• Eighty-five percent parents have a kid who is or has been a fussy eater.
• Among the fussy eaters, 22 per cent have parents who were themselves picky eaters.
• Less than 1 per cent kids above five years of age eat a healthy diet.

These numbers are based on data collected during various studies and if these are anything to go by, fussy eating is a rampant problem and something to worry about. A lot of us have looked at a mother trying to force-feed a kid and wondered if she shouldn’t just let the child be. But it is easier said than done when you have a cranky kid who refuses to put most of what you offer into his mouth.

So, why do kids become fussy? Elizabeth Pantley, a parenting expert based in US and author of The No Cry Picky Eater Solution, found in the course of her research that while people tend to blame parenting for fussy eating habits of kids, a whopping 85 per cent parents have kids who are fussy eaters and they cannot be all wrong. Based on her interaction with parents of 294 fussy eaters, she has concluded that it is a normal part of growing up which along with genetics and mother’s diet during pregnancy, among other factors, can turn kids into picky eaters.

Manpreet Walia, mother of a five-year-old boy from Mohali, had a harrowing time feeding him till about a year back. She says, “He preferred everything pureed; including chapattis and breakfast cereal. He simply hated chewing. But when I realised that he would chomp down on chips and other junk food, I decided to turn things around. Using these favoured foods as incentive, I laid down the rules that he could eat all these only after a proper meal without choosing between which vegetable he will and will not eat. At school, I urged his teacher to allow him to go to the jungle gym only after he finished his tiffin. It was then that he turned a new leaf and now, I don’t have to pressurise him to eat.”

But as every child is different, the approach needs to be tweaked as well. Even from one generation to the next the outlook towards fuss regarding food changes. Shalu Jain from Jammu is a grandmother who has six grandchildren from two daughters and a son. She has a different take on it. “When we were younger, mothers had five-six kids. So, feeding each one a different thing was out of the question and when the children knew their whims would not be heeded, they did not make any fuss,” she says.

While the reasons are debatable, the fact remains that picky eaters exist and they can make mealtimes very trying. But the one thing you can find solace in is the fact that most picky eaters will outgrow it. Contrary to popular belief, kids who are fussy eaters will not suffer any long-term harm to their health. Although long-term refusal to eat properly could predispose them to nutritional deficiencies and even suggest an underlying problem.

Delhi-based Akshita Aggarwal, clinical nutritionist, has been dealing with kids too. She says, “Food habits are home grown and the kids learn what they see. You cannot expect them to eat vegetables if you yourself don’t.” Fussy eating is not learnt from parents but may find encouragement in their habits. Be a role model if you wish to see your kids eating well.

Rules of the game

Check out for some problem

Check if the kid is constipated. It is very likely that he has   problems with his bowel movements which make him less hungry and leave him   with appetite only for his favourite foods. 

Lead by example

If you want your child to eat certain foods, eat them in front of him   at a shared family meal time without forcing him. 

Get creative

There are fruits and vegetables that the child will not eat in overt   form and you can be a bit creative and hide it in foods he enjoys. Include   vegetables in pav bhaji, mash them in the atta, pack them in a wrap and add   fruits in the form of shakes, chopped and served with ice-cream or juice them up into different mocktails. 

Don’t force

Forcing him to try new foods will only encourage rebellion and drive   the kid further away from those foods. Let him taste it, if he wants to, and   learn to like it with time.

— Nutritionist  Akshita Aggarwal