Feeding Kids - Everybody, act casual....

One of the tricks of feeding kids is to act casual. They are watching.

Here's what I mean - you carefully prepare a healthy dinner, complete with two vegetables and a lean protein source (OK, a dinner of marinated chicken breast, buttered noodles, sauteed spinach and brussel sprouts). You put the plate in front of 4-year old, who promptly proclaims "Ewww - I'm not eating this".

Here's the moment of truth - what do you do?
A. Beg. Then bribe. Then plead. Then play choo-choo. Then repeat.
B. Jump up to make him hot dogs and Mac & Cheese. Put it on his favorite plate.
C. Make him eat it or sit there until bedtime. Serve said food for breakfast. Repeat.
D. Say "you don't have to eat it". Then sit and enjoy your dinner and act like you haven't a care in the world.

If you picked anything but "D", you may be creating the picky eating problem in your house.

See, there is a psychology to feeding kids (see my post about feeding kids here). These little guys get very suspicious when they sense that we are trying too hard. In their minds, trying too hard = something unpleasant. Think shots at the doctor's office. We don't have to try too hard when there is an ice cream cone, involved, now do we? They are on to us....

The best way to feed these little detectives is to simply do our job - provide the structure (meals and snacks), and decide on the menu. Then, back off. Cool as a cucumber. Couldn't care less if he touches the spinach. Before you know it.... Houston, he has tried the spinach!