How to make the pickiest eater enjoy eating

We all know which one of our children is a picky eater, and we worry about whether they are eating right and growing healthy. No matter what new meal has been created, you just can't seem to change the mind of a picky eater.

There are ways to make sure that your finicky eater gets the food they need:

• The less you emphasize cleaning the plate and eating everything, the more enjoyable the experience.
• Try creating meals that have a lot of different colours and textures. Talk about their size, their shapes, and other characteristics. Have your kids join in on meal preparation to get them more involved.
• Arrange food on the plate to make faces or pictures. If your child is not allergic to food colouring, try adding food colouring to food and drinks to make them seem colourful and better tasting (it doesn't change the taste at all, but young children do not know the difference).
• Allow your child to pick out healthy foods at the grocery store. When children are made to feel part of meal time, they are more likely to enjoy the experience.

Marlene Veloso