Fussy Eating

Fussy eating is a common problem in children, particularly in toddlers and pre-school aged children.

Parents often notice that the amount of food their child eats decreases as the child moves from infancy to toddler hood. This is because children are not growing so rapidly from 18 months to 3years. From birth to infancy a child’s weight triples, but from one to five years the weight gain is only two kilograms per year.

Although it is important to rule out any underlying medical issues or specific food sensitivities, fussy eating is so common in young healthy children that it is generally accepted as a normal part of early childhood development. The hunger alert is a built in mechanism and healthy children rarely starve themselves. Parents, siblings and peers can provide important role models for young children and repeated exposure to initially disliked foods can breakdown resistance.

For most children these eating habits are transient and normal eating habits develop as the child becomes older. Eating habits learnt in childhood tend to continue to adulthood so it is important that your child develops a healthy relationship with food. This means your management of your fussy eater is important long term. Forcing food will decrease the liking of that food, coaxing and pleading is likely to be ineffective, and threats and punishments usually make things worse.

Nutrition Solutions program for fussy eaters.

If you are concerned about your child's fussy eating the Fun not Fuss with Foodprogram offered at Nutrition Solutions is the answer. This program is run over 3 individual consultations by Jocelyn Hunter Clarke, Accredited Practising Dietitian. 

At the first consultation Jocelyn will assess the eating habits of your 'fussy' child and provide nutrition advice to ensure daily nutrition needs are met.

Over the next 2 sessions Jocelyn will work with you to improve your child's problem eating  and meal time behaviours long term.

This program helps you to

• Increase your capacity to confidently manage your children's problem eating and meal time behaviours
• Increase your knowledge of key behaviour management strategies to assist with successfully improving the problem eating and meal time behaviours 
• Increase your knowledge and confidence in providing appropriate food and meal choices for your child 

You will receives information and counselling on

• Importance of nutrition
  • Why is good nutrition important
  • Food textures, Texture transition, Life beyond pureed food
• Is this normal
  • My child won't eat lumpy foods!
  • Chewing tips for kids
  • Food safety
• My child doesn't eat enough
  • Keeping a food diary
  • Snacks for kids
  • Drinks
• How much is enough
  • Your child's nutritional needs
  • Suggested sample servings
• Child friendly meals
  • Tips for child-friendly meals
  • Food refusal
• Having fun with food

 To find out more about the program contact us

To make an appointment click here.