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Expert Q&A
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| By Cynthia Lair Nutritionist | ||
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How do I get my child to eat other foods besides peanut butter?
Remember that you are the parent and you are in charge of your child's nutrition. Set up some boundaries. Tell your 3 1/2-year-old that she or he can have a peanut butter sandwich for lunch on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, but that on other days you will serve something else. At dinner your child is welcome to eat what the rest of the family is eating but there will not be any peanut butter sandwiches served. Now it is clear when PB is served and when it is not served and after a week or so of your child complaining and begging and you sticking to the boundaries, things will change. You can also ask your child to name 10 foods other than peanut butter that he or she likes -- only one can be a sugary food. Write them on a list and post them on the refrigerator. Include those foods at regular meals. This is a positive action that involves your child in meal planning. Routine and ritual work very well with preschool aged children."
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