Managing mealtimes

theSun, Tue 04 Aug 2009

When it comes to mealtimes, I sometimes wish children came equipped with an on-off button so that we could keep them under our control at the touch of a button. In our hectic lifestyles, mealtimes appear to be about the only time we have to unwind and spend time together as a family.
When a family includes young children, mealtimes often become pretty stressful. The common problems parents have are their children’s refusal to eat, being picky with the food and not being able to sit still.

What can we do to tackle these challenges?

We need first to believe that they will not starve. From 18 months to three years of age, a child’s growth rate slows down. The child is less hungry so he eats less. He would grow in height more quickly than gain weight. He is learning to be independent and wants to assert it.

The more we force children to do something they do not like, the more likely a power struggle will take place.

Some parents, including me, tend to force them to eat, which in actual fact, is wrong. If they are energetic and growing well, we should not worry too much.

Look at how much of food they eat over a week, rather than the quantity they consume every day. This will give you a better picture of their overall diet and how balanced it is.

Offer children a variety of foodstuff and serve them in small portions. Children feel good about themselves when they are able to finish what is on their plate.

When there is too much food, they might feel overwhelmed and refuse to eat. When introducing a new dish, serve it with food they like and serve it several times. The more times a child gets to taste it, the more likely he is to accept it.

If your children are old enough, throw in some activities to make the introduction of the new food item more exciting. You can get them to help prepare it or cut it into fun shapes or decorate it to make the dish more interesting and appealing.

Young children are curious, love to explore and are easily distracted. Thus, it is difficult for them to sit still. Instead of allowing them to eat while watching television or allowing them to bring their books and toys to the table, we could try making them eat at the table for an appropriate amount of time by using a timer (I picked up this tip on the Internet).

The amount of time they sit at the table can be increased gradually over a period of time. They should be rewarded with praise or a sticker if they are successful. Start interesting conversations and share funny stories to keep them at the table.

If they are playing before mealtime, give them ample warning as to when they should stop. Children need time to end their games, and ‘switch over’ from an activity that is stimulating to one that is relatively mundane in their eyes.

Ask them to help you do simple things in preparation for the meal, like setting the table.

While these suggestions make sense on paper, we often lament that they are easier said than done. Often times, none of them seems to work but we should rest assured that slowly, over time, and done consistently, these steps will help make mealtimes less stressful.