If in the early days of complementary feeding, your little one only needs to be fed without much protest, once he is 12 months old, he will start to be selective about what he wants to eat. He also knows what foods he likes and doesn’t like.
Well, you can guess, Mums, children don’t like vegetables and fruit, what they like are chocolates and other snacks. Duh, what should be done so that children want to eat vegetables and fruit so that their nutrition is fulfilled every day? Calm down, Pregnant Friends have tips for Mums!
Why, Children Don’t Want to Eat Vegetables and Fruits?
If your child starts to be picky about food and doesn’t want to eat vegetables and fruit, there’s nothing wrong with your cooking skills or your health. This is a normal thing to happen in this phase of development.
After experiencing rapid growth in the first year of life, children tend to gain weight more slowly. Instinctively, he will experience a decrease in appetite and eat less.
According to Yaffi Lvova, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist, picky eating behavior is often shown by children when they reach the age of 12-18 months. “This is known as ‘food neophobia’, which is the fear of new foods,” he said. This phase usually coincides when your little one starts learning to walk.
Not only for new foods, Barbara Rolls, Ph.D., Guthrie Chair of Nutritional Sciences from Penn State University and co-author of The Aultimate Volumetrics Diet, also adds that children also tend to reject foods that taste bitter because they think they are toxic.
So it’s no wonder that research shows that toddlers and preschoolers eat 25% less vegetables than when they were babies. So, it’s been answered, Mums, the reason why children don’t want to eat vegetables and fruit.
Tips for Kids to Eat Vegetables and Fruits
As previously mentioned, it is natural for children not to eat vegetables and fruit at the age of 12-18 months. However, you shouldn’t give up and make sure your nutritional needs are met, yes! Mums actually just need a little creativity, really!
- Ask your little one to decide
When they turn a year old, your little one usually wants to be more independent and be heard by others. This is done to show that he is big. Well, Mums can use it to invite your little one to determine the food he will consume.
Take your little one when shopping or will prepare food in the kitchen, then give the choice which one he wants to eat to which cutlery he wants to use. For example:
- Do you want to eat bananas or apples today?
- Do you want the vegetables to be sauteed or use gravy?
- Do you prefer Mama to put corn or carrots in the soup?
- What color plate would you like to use, Blue or green?
Then, Mums can also invite your little one to kiss, touch, and see the process of Mums cooking. If necessary, you can invite him to participate in washing vegetables and fruit before cooking! By being fully involved in meal preparation, your little one will feel valued and excited.
- Create a fun mealtime
Creating a fun mealtime is very important to make your little one feel comfortable and relaxed. Who wants to eat while being stared at or scolded, right, Mums? You should also keep away objects that can distract your little one, such as turning off the TV and gadgets.
This also applies to Mums and Dads, yes. Don’t be busy with your own gadgets. Last and not least, do not differentiate the food consumed by your little one with Mums and Dads. If Mums wants him to eat vegetables and fruit, then Mums and Dads must also eat vegetables and fruit, yes.
- Be creative and imaginative with your little one
Experimenting with colors, textures, and shapes can really help your little one to be more enthusiastic about eating. Mums can do this in several ways:
- Use a cookie cutter to shape vegetables and fruit. For example, the shape of a doll, a star, a moon, and a heart.
- Serving food in the form of flowers, dolls, animals, and so on.
- Invite your little one to imagine with the shapes of fruits and vegetables on his plate. For example, “Broccoli looks like a small tree, doesn’t it? Funny, huh?”
Always Complete Your Little One’s Nutritional Needs
When facing your little one who is grumpy when told to eat vegetables and fruit, it’s really stressful, Mums. Even though you can’t force it, it doesn’t mean you give up. Keep continuing your efforts to provide food according to balanced nutrition guidelines every day for the growth and development of your little one.
One of the tips that you can also do to deal with children who don’t want to eat fruit or vegetables is to give Ivenet Bebe Puree. It already contains more than 8 fruits and vegetables, such as apples, pears, pineapples, grapes, cabbage, pumpkins, carrots, lemons, and others, so you don’t have to worry about your little one’s nutritional needs being met.
Besides being rich in vitamins, Ivenet Bebe Puree is also rich in fiber, so it is good for your little one’s digestion. There are many flavor variants to choose from, namely Puree A with fruits containing vitamin A, Puree B with fruits containing vitamin B, and Puree C with fruits containing vitamin C. So, your little one will not be bored.
Ivenet Bebe Puree is made from natural fruits and vegetables without added MSG, flavourings, preservatives, and colorants. It’s definitely safe for your little one’s health, right? Mums can also give Ivenet Bebe Puree to your little one anywhere because the packaging is travel friendly, so it’s easy to carry everywhere! This product can be used for babies aged 12 months and over. To buy it, please check here. Keep it up, Mums! (US)
Source: Teman Bumil