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TO SATISFY
Family mealtime can be challenging behaviors associated with picky eating not understand that melted yellow
for a variety of reasons, including can be alleviated by open-minded, stuff on a hamburger is the same
the varying taste buds of moms, dads patient parents who are willing to try type of cheese they eat cubed with
and their kids. new things themselves. crackers for lunch. Rather than create
separate meals, make the dinner
Although there is no consistent EXPERIMENT WITH table look like a fixings bar at a
definition of picky eating, according to a DIFFERENT TEXTURES restaurant. Let kids pick and choose
report published in the journal Frontiers what they want to put on their plates.
in Pediatrics, the term is generally Sometimes it isn’t the food itself This may compel them to be more
used to characterize children who eat but the texture of the food that is the adventurous with their selections.
a limited amount of food, have strong problem. Therefore, parents shouldn’t
food preferences, have restricted intake rule out certain foods just yet. For FIND WAYS TO MASK NUTRITION
of certain foods, or who are unwilling to example, a child might not like the Choose foods that children
try new foods. It’s difficult to account texture of a baked potato, but mashed
statistically for picky eating, but this potatoes are fine. Try presenting the regularly eat and enjoy and experiment
relatively common behavioral problem food in a different way. with ways to dress them up and make
tends to peak around age 3. them more nutritious. Regular mac-
Cauliflower is one food that can and-cheese can be improved with the
Picky eating tends to be genetic. be transformed into many different use of whole-grain pasta and fresh
A study led by Dr. Lucy Cooke of the styles, from being grated like rice, to cheese instead of boxed mixes.
department of epidemiology and public baked into a pizza crust. Don’t give
health at University College London up on foods on the first try. Try making chicken nuggets from
found genes are largely to blame for scratch rather than buying frozen
picky eaters. According to her research, MAKE MEALS MORE HANDS-ON nuggets. Smoothies can be enhanced
78 percent of pickiness is genetic and Many ingredients touching one with fresh fruit and other mix-ins. Even
the other 22 percent is environmental. desserts can include pureed vegetables
another can be an overwhelming and fruits to increase their amount of
Pickiness usually is a temporary part experience for children getting ready vitamins and minerals.
of normal development, and many of the to eat. For example, young kids may
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