"These tastes.. they are a-chaaanging'

Most parents worry at one time or another about their child's eating habits. Some children ask for the same foods over and over again, some may refuse to try anything new, and some may constantly demand snacks. We've all experienced how our darling little Susie loved peas last week, but is sneaking them to Rover under the table tonight. Even though Rover may be a big fan of this, it may leave you feeling a bit unsettled.

It's pretty simple, children will eat what they like and leave the rest on the plate. Their needs and likes for certain foods will change often. When you start finding a stash of carrots in Jimmy's pockets as you get ready to launder them, please recite this mantra- "This is normal, and to be expected."

Try your best to remain flexible and not get hung up on the fact that your little sweetie's tastes are a changin'. So what if their love of peas has faded. There's a whole world of other healthy foods to chose from! One things is for sure, if they are hungry and their body is in need of nourishment, THEY WILL EAT! I can't ever remember reading any newspaper headline
"4 year old Picky eater starves to death."

First things first, start your daily routine by making breakfast a non-negotiable meal.
Breakfast is necessary to provide the nourishment and energy for their active day. It has been proven time and time again that children do better in school when they begin the day with breakfast. There's a reason it's called the most important meal of the day. That's because it is. Even if it's just some yogurt or an apple, having something in their tummy will make a difference. As a preschool teacher of 10 years, I can attest to this hands down. I assure you that I can trace a child's ability to maintain focus as well as their overall positive attitude entering the classroom back to what they had for breakfast.

I often hear concerns about children not eating their lunches at school. Remember that
lunch is a very social time for them. It usually seems to go in phases. They may eat well
one week, and not so well the next. You may want to invite them to help you make it the
night before. Give them some healthy choices of what they can pack and let them go at it!

Let your child be involved as much as possible in meal planning and preparation. He is more likely to eat foods that he has helped to put on the table. Cooking at home with your child encourages curiosity and motivation to try new foods. Pull up a stool and let your child add a cup of this and stir a bit of that. You'll see their little face beaming once their meal has hit the table! They may surprise you and try many a new dish if they've helped to create it.

Good luck and let me know how it goes! Feel free to share your ideas and comments on how you've dealt with picky eaters.
~Miss DeAnna