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Expert Q&A
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| By Leanne Ely Leanne Ely, C.N.C., Certified Nutrition Consultant | ||
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My 3-year-old eats very few foods and will not try new things. What can I do?
I believe children should eat what their families eat and mom shouldn't be expected to be a short order cook. I have been where you have been and will share some tips that worked for my two.
First, make food an adventure. In my book Healthy Foods: An irreverent guide to understanding nutrition and feeding your family well (Champion Press) I have two sidebars that tell you how to get a picky eater eating:
Put it on a stick, try it with a dip.
One: On a stick. Kids love to poke at stuff; whether the pokee is food or their sister! So why not give them a big toothpick and try eating some new food with the toothpick? Give them some new veggies (or even old ones that you hadn't had much success with) and instructions to only stab the food! Then let them have at it. The kids will have a blast and will usually at least try something new.
Two: Try it with a dip.
If you want to increase your chances with getting your child to try something new and venture out a bit, try giving them a stick and try serving it with a dip. The dip factor adds extra oomph to your efforts and makes the whole adventure a new frontier. Kids love a good dip -- but make it a healthy one! Skip the icky ranch dressing and go for something good. My book has quite a few recipes. Here's one to help you out.
Avocado Dip
2 avocados, smushed
1 clove garlic, pressed (go easy with very young children or eliminate)
1 teaspoon Braggs liquid aminos, available in health food stores
1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
2 tablespoons dill
1 dash cayenne (optional)
Mix it all together and serve with veggies for dipping.
Per serving: 41 Calories (kcal); 3g Total Fat; (66 percent calories from fat); 1g Protein; 3g Carbohydrate; 1mg Cholesterol; 11mg Sodium
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