Psychological tricks for children to eat better at home
When children do not eat, the fact that we insist on too much with a specific food makes them think that it is not as good as we try to sell it. Some of the tricks that parents use, for example, insisting that they eat vegetables by promising them a great dessert only exacerbate the problem: deep down, we are reinforcing the idea that vegetables are horrible and the dessert is desirable.
A good way to change situations like these is to let them decide for themselves. That at least indicates a study by the University of Granada, which has shown that allowing a small child to freely choose which vegetable he would like to eat helps to increase up to 80 percent the consumption of these foods in the child population.
The power to deceive the eye by cooking
The green color on the plate and the smell of fish are the great allies of children to refuse food, because they do not like this type of food and it is harder to get them to taste it. A good method to make them eat everything is "hide" these foods through the way of cooking them, by preparing or accompanying them with light sauces.
To camouflage the bitter taste of calcium, very present in spinach, Swiss chard, cabbage, onion, cardoon or broccoli, which can be a sensory factor that has a very negative impact on the palate of children, causing them to reject their consumption , you just have to look for something to counteract that bitterness. Mix them with scrambled eggs or tortilla, or accompany the vegetables with a light mayonnaise or bechamel sauce.
Healthy sweets
Being a child carries almost inherently, desire sweets at any time of day. However, for logical reasons should not be part of their healthy diet (except on rare occasions), so it is up to the fruit to be one more in their day to day.
It is important to love the little ones to take fruit and to see it as the perfect treat before lunch or mid-afternoon. Fruits such as apples are perfect to avoid temptations before the meal, thanks to its satiating effect, and favor the intake of healthy foods.
Stop cooking double
One of the most common mistakes of parents is to cook something else for the children, in case they do not like what they have prepared in order to eat, or eat something. Is adapted food, besides supposing twice as much work for the parents in the kitchen, it misapprehensions the palate of the children, because these are accustomed to take almost exclusively what they like accompanied by some caprice like the fried potatoes.
A good strategy to invite children to try new dishes and different flavors is to present at the table the food that we go to the whole family in fountains and place them in the center. So each one can serve a little of what they want, without having to eat what they have on the plate. In this way, there are no impositions and they take the reins.
Small masterchefs
Between the most effective psychological tricks so that children eat better at home nothing better thanInvolve them in the world of family nutrition From the beginning. From coming with us to the purchase so that they know the origin of the food, help us to place, distribute, freeze and thaw, to the way of preparing them. Helping to cook and even pick up afterwards, will help you to be more aware of the culinary theme, and we will even awaken your curiosity to try new foods, as well as new ways of preparing them.
Let him choose a food that he may not eat
It seems to be something concrete, non-generic. Y with the vegetables do not throw the towel and he continues to serve him new vegetables without assuming that he will reject them. Never force him to eat: to stop forcing him, he will continue eating the same, but without the sufferings and fights that until then accompanied the food. And not to force him includes not blackmailing him, not making the plane with the spoon, not recriminating him that he eats little, he does not want to eat or that you have worked a lot in the kitchen so that later he does not eat it.
Congratulate him when he eats well
Recognize positively your child's behaviors and recognize them, is a good strategy to repeat them. It will seek your approval and try to call your attention by repeating that behavior. Regarding their negative behaviors try not to give them relevance, perhaps not getting your attention, stop doing so.
Follow a ritual for meals
As with the sleep routine, it is best to continue with the children a ritual with food, that can even serve to whet the appetite. We will start with some simple steps such as washing your hands before eating, setting the table, remaining seated until everyone finishes eating ... until you perform this routine almost without realizing it.
Choose the right time to try food
Take the opportunity for your child to try new foods: a good disposition and a hungry moment they are the keys so that it does not reject it. In addition, it is important to give a small portion and accompany the new food of others that you have already tried.
Marisol Nuevo Espín
It may interest you:
- Do you want your children to eat more vegetables? Make them participate in the kitchen
- The 7 big mistakes to teach children to eat
- 6 keys to avoid fights with family food
- How to end battles with your children at lunchtime
- Eating with education: at the table, clear rules
- Children who do not want to eat
