If you have children at home, chances are you are dealing with a fussy eater. That means you have to spend a substantial amount of time convincing them to eat healthy food and in some cases, even eat at all. Children are stubborn and if they say no to something, they usually stick to it. But that leaves parents worrying about how to get them to eat food that’s good for them. Many of them have even come up with their own rituals (like reading their children a story or playing with them) as a way to distract them so they can eat a little. Plus, easy access to junk food isn’t helping either, especially once children know what candy and crisps taste like.

Statistics show that nearly 75% of parents complain of their child being a fussy eater. Moreover, lack of nutrition leads to issues such as low immunity levels, nutritional deficiencies, low energy levels, poor appetite, poor eating habits, obesity and dental issues. These matters then pave way for more serious issues, which can affect your child’s health dramatically.

But don’t lost hope just yet. Here are simple tips for kids to handle these little fussy eaters and get them to enjoy food.

1) Innovate recipes with foods they dislike
Incorporate foods that they avoid in the recipes they love to eat. For instance, if your child doesn’t enjoy spinach, try and include it in parathas or pastas.

2) Don’t force them to eat more food.
Let them decide how much food they want to put on their plate because if they see a large amount of food in front of them, they might get intimidated by it and lose their appetite.

3) Take them grocery shopping and let them choose what they want to eat:
By that we don’t suggest junk food, but fruits and vegetables, and take them to different sections where they understand about different food groups. The more you involve your child with your regular grocery shopping, the more interested they will be in the food you cook.

4) Make mealtime fun for them:
Which most of you already do. But if meals can be seen as a fun activity instead of a chore, then your children will look forward to their meals instead of avoiding them.

5) Include new ingredients gradually and in an attractive manner:
Create a story about a new ingredient that you’ve purchased with your child so that your child is interested in trying something new in their meal.

6) Do not offer other foods as rewards:
Something most of us do but we shouldn’t, because children will rush through their meals or not finish them in order to get to dessert.

7) Try and understand why they are saying no to something:
Sometimes some foods make children feel nauseous, which makes it important for us to know why they are repulsed by certain foods. Once we understand, we can find a way around that food and get a substitute.

8) Avoid eating with the television on:
So your child isn’t distracted while eating and learns to enjoy food and its health benefits instead of wolfing it down.

9) Involve them while you are cooking:
You may even get them to sit on the kitchen counter with you as you whip up a delicious meal so can inculcate the love for food in your child.

Simple ways to include these food groups in meals include:
1. Milk: Milkshakes, custard or a smoothie

2. Vegetables: In parathas, tikkkis, rolls and wraps

3. Fruits: Custard, juices, smoothies and candies made out of fruit (without any added sugar)

4. Dals and Vegetables: Mixed dal dosas and tikkis

Kids are notorious but as adults we can always outsmart them. Try these tips and involve your children in a healthy living lifestyle from the younger days itself so they grow up fit and vibrant.

Hope that above mentioned tips for kids turns out be useful to you and helps you have a healthy parenting.

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