Feeding Children

It is so common for parents to feel concern over what foods are eaten or not eaten by their children. From the moment of conception, health care professionals are monitoring weight and growth and this can place a lot of pressure on parents to optimally nourish their child.

To make matters more challenging, it is very common for children to be selective about what they eat, with ever-changing likes and dislikes, as well as neophobia or fear of new things. As parents and caregivers, it can be easy to pressure or praise children about their eating in an attempt to get them to eat certain foods. However, research shows that pressuring children to eat does not help them develop into positive and competent eaters.

Renowned dietitian, Ellen Sattyr pioneered work in the feeding relationship and recommends that parents and caregivers be responsible for WHAT, WHEN and WHERE to eat. Children on the other hand, are responsible for IF and HOW MUCH they will eat.

This may sound like giving children full control with no rules over food. However, there is still much that lies in the responsibility of parents and caregivers. Children need their caregivers’ and parents’ support to develop into competent eaters. The parent or caregiver is responsible for:

• WHAT to eat and this means determining which foods are brought into the house and offered to children. If there is a food that a child does not need on an everyday basis, perhaps it can be purchased only for special occasions.

• WHEN to eat and this means offering food to children regularly with meals or snacks every 2 to 3 hours. If food does not get eaten by children at one meal or snack, there will be another opportunity for them to eat at a predictable time coming up.

• WHERE to eat and this means children can be expected to come to the table for meals and snacks, whether they are eating or not. Focus on positive conversations about activities occurring that day or in the near future rather than discuss food or eating or using screen-based devices.

Nicole and Shannon support parents and caregivers in helping to implement these recommendations and troubleshoot challenges. For the last decade, they have been content creators and lead trainers for the Child Health BC initiative www.appetitetoplay.com which supports families and Early Years Providers with improving the food, feeding and physical activity of 0-5 year olds.