Be a good role model…
23 May 2016
By Dr Emma Haycraft
Many caregivers contact us because their little one won’t eat fruit or vegetables / used to eat everything under the sun and now only eats 10 foods / only seems to want to eat sandwiches and fish fingers. If any of these scenarios sounds familiar, then rest assured that you’re not alone.
One top tip for helping children to eat a wide array of healthy foods is that caregivers need to be good role models. Children love to copy and so seeing you, or a sibling or a grandparent, eating a food makes children much more likely to eat that food as well.
How many of us can say that our children see us eating five portions of fruit and vegetables per day? Even if we do eat the recommended amount, we may well be eating these foods away from our children (as a snack at work, or after the children are asleep, for example). So, if you’re concerned that your child isn’t eating – or won’t grow up to eat – enough fruit and vegetables, try to eat more of them in front of your child. Eat some chopped up peppers or cucumber as a snack with houmous, have some fresh fruit after lunch, and try to eat some meals as a family every week. Family meals doesn’t have to be a daily occurrence, but just sharing some meals together will help children to see others eating, and enjoying, healthy foods which will likely encourage the children’s intake of these foods too.
Children will also copy our unhealthy eating habits too so, if you always leave some broccoli, rarely eat fruit, or like a biscuit with your mid-afternoon cuppa, don’t be surprised if your children want to do the same!
We’ve got lots of other effective suggestions for increasing fruit and vegetable intake in children in our Child Feeding Guide.
If you’ve got any questions about how to help children to eat a wider diet, or how to manage fussy eating behaviours, pop over to the forum and ask away!
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