The Citizen e-edition

How to handle fussy eaters

HARDWIRED: FUSSY EATING IS A VERY OLD INSTINCT THAT MIGHT SHOW AFTER AGE OF ONE Parents should relax, the habit in offspring is quite normal.

Citizen reporter

Having a fussy eater is more common than you think and there’s nothing like a food battle with your offspring to raise your stress and anxiety levels. Paediatric dietician Kath Megaw says that fussy eating in children isn’t just common, it’s completely normal.

“While we don’t know exactly why kids become fussy, neophobia (the fear of novel foods), seems to be part of the answer. A fear of trying new foods is hardwired within us from prehistoric times when some of our food choices may have proved poisonous,” says Megaw.

Fussy eating generally starts after the age of one, a time of empowerment for a little one where they feel the need to assert their authority and eat what they want. Around this stage the growth spurt slows and so the demand for energy is less, which means their appetite may be lower, escalating the fussiness.

Finally, food may be fuel to us, but to a toddler it is also power – power to play up to your parents and get their undivided attention.

Megaw recently worked alongside Ucook to develop a range of nutritious, no-nonsense frozen kid’s meals.

She says that witnessing the battles of parents daily, inspired her to help develop a range of foods that are attractive to fussy eaters but contain essential vitamins and minerals from a large quantity of hidden vegetables in every dish.

FRONT PAGE

en-za

2021-12-04T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-12-04T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://thecitizen.pressreader.com/article/282711935313752

The Citizen