7 Eating Problems of Kids and how to Handle them

1. “My child refuses to eat unless he’s in front of the TV. Is this okay?”
“The problem with a child eating in front of the TV is that he becomes distracted and is therefore not aware of how much food is being consumed,” explains Debbie Benito, nutritionist. “Let your child know that there is a time and place for everything.”  

Familiarize him with the different parts of the house and teach him that eating should be done only at the dinner table. Set a time for eating. Try using placemats or utensils with his favorite cartoon characters to entice him to eat at the table. “It all boils down to what’s practiced at home,” says Rea Carganillo, a preschool teacher at Assumption Antipolo. Justine Tajonera, mom to Badger, 5, says that what works for her is to establish that “eating time is together time.” Benito also suggests that parents should make their child participate in tasks like setting the table or saying grace before meals. Such activities will help him give importance to observing table manners and etiquette, as well as playing an active role in the meal preparation process.


2. “Diego refuses to eat his veggies. He always spits them out. How can I get him to enjoy them?”
“Explain to your child the importance of vegetables in his diet,” says Benito. Vegetables are not only rich in natural fiber, essential vitamins, and minerals; they also regulate body processes and bowel movement. “Be creative when it comes to incorporating vegetables into his meals or snacks,” she urges. Try pureeing squash or malunggay leaves and adding these to cookies or cakes. Check out alternatives such as carrot-based pasta or malunggay bread. “Find fun kiddie recipes on the Net that make use of veggies,” suggests Carganillo.

Introduce a new vegetable each week so your tot can taste something different every time. “If he doesn’t like it, it’s okay. Let him try other types,” says Lara Nilo, 36, mom to Santi, 4. Above all, set an example. “Walk the talk,” says Carganillo. “When you set the rules, model them.”

 

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3. “Sophie doesn’t chew her food properly. She swallows it right away. How can I teach her the right way to eat her food?”
“Cut her food into bite-sized pieces,” says Carganillo, who recommends frequent but small doses of food for kids every three hours. “It’s best if she always has something to munch on or snack on.”

“Explain how food is processed from the mouth to the stomach,” says Benito. Stress that nutrients cannot be absorbed if the food is not properly chewed. Try serving soup to help your child swallow food with greater ease, or tell a story of how food travels to the stomach to pique his interest in chewing his food properly.


4. “Lucia likes to move around while we feed her. She’s all over the place! How can I get her to keep still while eating?”
Lara recalls how her son Santi would ride his twist car while eating, only stopping to get food for his refill of “gasoline.” “Such behavior can act as a choking hazard,” says Benito. “Try leading him to the table with a story or a game,” suggests Benito.

It’s possible that your child feels that moving around is permissible behavior because she sees her parents attending to other tasks while eating, says Carganillo. Set an example by actually sitting down and eating together with your child. Explain the possible consequences when your child does not sit down or eat properly (She might get hungry again more easily or she might get a tummyache, etc.).


5. “It takes forever for Andie to finish her food. We feed her for an hour because she is such a slow eater!”
“Identify first what’s causing the delay,” advises Benito. Try coming up with a game or a challenge so your child will be motivated to eat faster. “Guide her while eating,” says Carganillo. Give her ample time to finish her food. If she doesn’t finish it within the given time frame, she should become more eager to finish her food quickly the next time she gets hungry. And never underestimate the power of positive reinforcement. Justine lavishes her son with praise if he successfully finishes his food. You can also give your child a reward. Justine used to give Badger delicious chewable vitamins that came in the form of gummy bears.

 

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6. “Lucas has this bad habit of throwing up, especially if we force him to finish his food. He knows that once he throws up, we stop feeding him. Help!”
“Make sure that the servings are just right for your child,” reminds Carganillo. “He might have eaten something before which caused him to throw up,” says Benito. “It might even be due to a psychological issue.”

Illustrate to your child the possible consequences of not eating. If he simply refuses to eat, have him drink milk, fruit juice, or soup to ensure that there is food in his tummy.


7. “Rafa refuses to eat, unless we promise to give him soda after every five rounds of feeding. I know it’s bad but it’s the only way we can get him to eat. How do I fix this?”
“First and foremost, don’t make it available,” says Carganillo. If you must drink soda, allow your child just a few sips, and no more. Try giving him fruit juices or shakes, while explaining the negative effects of soda. “There are around five teaspoons of sugar in each bottle of soda,” says Benito. “The more you drink soda, the higher your chances of developing diabetes and dental caries (when bacteria damage the tooth enamel).


Snack Attack!
“Always check the label to help you choose what snacks to buy, and always consider the food pyramid,” says Debbie Benito, field nutritionist. Instead of junk food, feed your child apples, bananas, langka, taro, casava chips, raisins, breakfast cereals, or biscuits, which are more nutritious. Make sure to observe variety, moderation, and balance when looking after your child’s diet.

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Eat, Read, and be Merry!
Need more expert advice when it comes to handling your tot’s erratic eating habits? Check out these books at your favorite bookstores

The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood: Ten Ways to Get Your Family on the Right Nutritional Track by William Sears, M.D., Martha Sears, R.N., James Sears, M.D., and Robert Sears

What to Expect: The Toddler Years by Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkoff, and Sandee E. Hathaway, B.S.N.

Photography by David Hanson Ong