How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7 (The How To Talk Series)

by Joanna Faber

REMINDER: Food Fights Resist the urge to . . . . . . insist that your child clean his or her plate, eat a specific food, or eat a predetermined amount. . . . offer dessert as a reward for eating healthy food, or withhold it as a punishment for not eating. . . . be a short-order cook. . . . label your child a picky eater. . . . make food a battleground! Instead you can . . . 1. Acknowledge Feelings “Even though you usually like chicken, you’re not in the mood for it tonight.” 2. Offer Choices • Put an empty plate in front of your child and let him serve himself, or ask for what he wants if he’s too young to serve himself. • Serve some of the meal as simple separates so kids can make choices about what they put on their plates. • Offer a simple alternative if kids don’t want the “grown-up” food—peanut butter sandwich, bread and cheese, hard-boiled egg, raw carrots, red pepper. 3. Manage the Environment Keep sweets and sugary drinks out of sight. Make it easy to avoid temptation! 4. Put the Child in Charge Let kids have as much involvement as possible in planning, shopping, as well as preparing the meal, if you can tolerate some food landing on the floor. (Your dog will thank you!) 5. Give Information Let kids know that “tastes change,” so they don’t feel stuck with their limited palate. Tell them, “You might want to give this a try when you’re ready.”