Picky Eaters - Successful Strategies Part 1Written by Jason Katzenback
What is in a name?The answer is everything! Jo J. of Victoria, Texas said that her son was a very picky eater between ages of four and six and refused to eat many of dishes she made, until she discovered art of renaming recipes. “One evening I discovered that he would eat ANYTHING he thought might be on diet of characters of his favorite TV show at time, ‘The Young Riders.’ Oh, yeah,” Jo says, “The Kid's Beans, Teaspoon's Favorite Casserole, Young Riders' Skillet, and many others became sudden favorites of my picky eater son. To this day, he still enjoys dishes that were once refused simply because of inventive renaming!” While most adults and some children look forward to new food experiences, understand and accept that your picky eater will look forward to eating same foods over and over again. This often gives them a sense of comfort and security, which is generally not hazardous to their health unless it is sugar or sodium laden. Studies have shown that repeated exposure to foods greatly increases likelihood even a picky eater child will eat it. Some experts feelthat new food has to be offered anywhere from 8 to 18 times before it is acceptable. You can prepare food in different ways, but offer it on a consistent basis, especially when your picky eater child will be hungriest. Offering food as part of a nutrition activity or snack may make it more interesting. Also seeing other children sample foods may encourage a picky eater to become more adventurous. If you know in advance that one or more of food choices will be met with howls of disgust, have something else available that your picky eater will find pleasing to his or her palate. Encourage your picky child to taste one of “repulsive” foods before chowing down on one of more desirable ones, but do not be offended if he or she refuses.
| | Mom vs. Dad: Navigating Parenting Differences With All Good Intentions Written by Dr. Charles Sophy
Let’s face it: raising children can be quite adventure. Rewarding at one turn, challenging at next – it’s ultimate roller-coaster for parenting thrill seeker. In Game of Life, you rolled dice and accepted role of co-parent. While rules seem deceptively simple, (raise child into healthy adult), game is often complicated by differences in parenting styles between partners. It’s these differences, if unresolved, that can abandon you in land of defeat and leave you feeling overwhelmed and discouraged, with “game over” flashing on your internal video screen. Bridging a significant difference in parenting styles is one of most difficult aspects of building a family. Parenting is substantial task of balancing your beliefs and values (about child development, love, tradition and discipline) with your childhood experiences, in order to nurture healthy and secure children. Add a co-parent to equation – with their own beliefs, values and experiences - and suddenly, balancing act becomes more complex.Let's pretend: It’s weekend. The sun is shining and there isn’t a cloud in sky. You and your parent partner decide to take your young son, Joey, for a relaxing Sunday picnic in park. Your partner loads picnic basket with bottles of water, healthy ham and cheese sandwiches on whole wheat bread (no crust for little Joey), and slices up a watermelon for a refreshing treat after a few games of touch football. You hop on your bikes and peddle to park, laughing all way as you and Joey play follow leader and he tries to copy your “pop-a-wheelies” with varying degrees of success, your partner watching warily from behind. Finally, park in sight, you all race to be first one there, Joey pedaling as fast as his little legs will let him. You and your partner are on his tail until last moment when you both ease off to allow Joey victory. Elated and winded, Joey hops off his bike and requests a ride on swings. You turn to your partner and say, "I'll take him. Relax. Enjoy your lunch." Joey takes your hand and you toddle off to swings. He climbs aboard, ready for dizzying heights and squeals as each push sends him higher and higher. Seconds later, your anxious parent partner is at your side, saying “Don't push him so high! He looks motion sick. Joey hold tight!" The comments sting, prompting feelings of anger that your partner would think you are not being safe with your child, resentment and even inadequacy. To add insult to injury, little Joey immediately picks up your partner’s hesitation, looks confused and timid, and loudly announces “Daddy, stop!” You quickly catch him and ease his swing into a stop position and watch with mixed emotions as Joey leaps off and runs into your partner’s arms, whimpering as he’s led back to picnic area.
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