Many parents feel as though mealtimes are out of their control — they harp and fight with their kids to eat certain foods, yet ultimately, their kids are in charge. In my nutrition counseling practice, I often meet with worried and frustrated parents of “picky eaters” who describe scenarios of their kids orchestrating meals, while…
The #1 Reason Your Child Isn’t Hungry at Meals
There’s nothing more frustrating than preparing and serving a balanced, healthy meal after a busy day, only to have your little one push his plate away and say “not hungry” or “no thanks” or only taking a few bites before declaring that he is “done”. I can sense a collective “ugh–YES!” coming from many of you reading…
Praising At Meals: Why it May Hinder Rather Than Help
I’ve always thought that praising my kids for positive behaviour, kindness, sharing, etc., has worked well to increase the chances of continued positive behaviour. However, after years of being a pediatric and child dietitian, I’ve realized that praising does more harm than good. Learn how praising your child may make picky eating worse. I can…
Want Your Kids to Eat More Veggies? Do This!
The simple yet game-changing trick that you need to try: It’s like clockwork- every evening when I start preparing dinner, my kids run into the kitchen hungry and whiny. Requests for snacks are rampant and there are little fingers dabbling in dinner ingredients all over the place. Not only does this make it harder for me to prepare…
3 Picky Eater Strategies That WORK (and what doesn’t work)
Navigating the tricky world of feeding toddlers and young kids can be exhausting. Especially for those who are parents of picky eaters — I know this from first-hand experience. Although my kids are both fairly good eaters, they have each put us through our paces at mealtimes, whether it’s refusing to eat, throwing food and making…
How This Well-Meaning Habit is Enabling Your Picky Eater
It seems that moms and dads are constantly reaching into their purses, bags, strollers, and pockets for portable snacks to hand to their squirmy tots in malls, indoor playgrounds, on walks, and just about anywhere else. And trust me, I am guilty of it too. I rarely leave the house without a bag full of…
3 False Assumptions Parents Often Make At Mealtimes
This meal might just be the meal where she finally accepts it! Can you relate to this statement when it comes to feeding your kids? Last week we were eating turkey burgers around the dinner table when I couldn’t help but notice my son watching my husband’s every move. My husband put ketchup on his…
The Game-Changing Question Parents Of Picky Eaters Need To Ask
Sitting down to dinner can seem like a daunting task if you have a fussy eater. As a Mom of little ones, even the task of making a healthy balanced meal can seem challenging enough, but when your child refuses to eat it, you might wonder “why do I even bother?!” I’ve been there, and I understand…
What To Do When You Have a Snack-Obsessed Child
Is “Mommy, can I have a snack?” something you hear several times a day, most days? If it is, you’re not alone. Here’s what to do when you have a snack-obsessed child. It’s easy to create a chronic snacker when you’re a parent to a little one–their appetites are all over the place, they often…
Setting Mealtime Boundaries For Your Child
As the parent of a preschooler and baby, I know firsthand how stressful mealtimes can be. They are certainly not relaxing by any stretch of the imagination, but they can be enjoyable and less chaotic if boundaries are set. It’s up to us parents to set these boundaries and consistently enforce them, while at the…
Five Common Feeding Mistakes That Parents Make
Feeding our little ones can be tricky. From how and when to introduce solid foods, to dealing with picky eating, to packing school lunches. Some parents find that feeding their kids is a very pleasant experience (most of the time) and then others find that it is the most frustrating part of their day. But…
Picky Eating: Four Common “Mealtime Battle” Triggers
You’ve prepared a healthy meal for your family, making sure to include all of the food groups and lots of nutrition. You’re feeling hopeful that your child will eat what they’ve been served–even a portion of it, but much to your dismay, they decide that they don’t like it before they try it. They push…
Feeding Your Toddler: What Is Your Responsibility As The Parent?
Having a two year old is fun, fascinating and frustrating all at the same time. Especially when it comes to eating. These little people are now asserting their independence and trying to gain some control over their lives, and they will take control if we let them. If this happens, we as parents feel as…
5 Tips On How To Help Toddlers Establish a Healthy Relationship With Food
It’s a tricky job, this Mommy thing. Personally, I am finding meal times particularly tricky with my toddler, who (as cute as he is) is asserting his new found independence in…destructive ways. Just tonight, I made my gourmet macaroni and cheese (ok, I defrosted it) and placed it on his tray with some of his favourite…
Why I’m Not Concerned That My Kid Doesn’t Eat Vegetables
Most kids go through some sort of picky eating stage at some point. Let me put it this way- you’re a very lucky Momma if you have kids who readily accept all foods. More often than not, I find that toddlers and young children don’t get too excited over vegetables. In my toddlers case, veggies…