The infant
The picky toddler and child
Every child, teen, and adults too (that's mom, dad, siblings, and uncle Joe who's crashing the living room couch)
Why is the doctor so insistent on not giving my child juice?
- You can start pureed foods at 4-6 months. Introduce one new food every 3-4 days to allow time for you to notice if your child is developing an allergic response. If your child does well with two types of foods individually (such as oatmeal and pears) then you can start combining them. Talk to your child's pediatricians for more information.
- If you are inclined to MAKE YOUR OWN BABY FOOD, check out this website here, it is sooo easy and much cheaper!
- NEVER GIVE JUICE unless desperate (long trip or ill child needing to stay hydrated) or at a birthday party or as a medication for constipation as directed by the doctor. There is no nutritional value in juice.
- See this webpage for more advice!
The picky toddler and child
- ENGAGE your child in age appropriate food preparation, from picking out the vegetable or fruit at the supermarket, to tossing the salad, or sautéing them in the pan. If they are involved, they are more likely to try. Check out ChopChop for more ideas on how to cook as a family with simple and delicious ideas for both kids and adults!
- IMPLEMENT such as a "no thank you bite" or "two good forkfuls" where the child has to try one or two bites no matter what, no if ands or buts.
- PRESENTATION!! See this website for some ideas or google for your own.
- KEEP TRYING. Sometimes you have to try up to 20 times before a child will "like" the food.
Every child, teen, and adults too (that's mom, dad, siblings, and uncle Joe who's crashing the living room couch)
- Avoid sugary beverages. NO JUICE OR SODA.
- Snack on fruits and vegetables instead of chips and candy. Fat free ranch dressing can be helpful.
- Bake instead of fry.
- Eat at home instead of eating out. If eating out is the only option, then choose a salad with a side of a fruit instead of fries.
- Check out the Academy of Nutrition and Dietics website for handouts and tips on eating right on a budget and on the go!
- Sit down together to have meals as a family, make the table a zone free of electronics. Research shows that teens who eat with their families are less involved with risky behaviors and have healthier weights, but these habits start young.
- Turn off the TV at meal time! Kids who watch TV at meal times tend to eat higher calorie foods and more quantity.
Why is the doctor so insistent on not giving my child juice?
- Great question!
- 100% juice is still 100% sugar.
- Diet drinks still trick your body into responding as if you are eating sugar.
- There is enough extra sugar hidden in other things we eat - bread, pasta, tomato sauce, ketchup, dressing, meatballs...
- See Dr. Robert Lustig's ABC video for the short version of why sugar is so bad for your child. Here is the one hour version with more than 4 million views.