Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/picky-eaters/5018090/
Each day quality child care programs strive to provide for the nutritional well being of their children. Staff thoughtfully prepare menus that target balanced diets and address caloric needs. Careful consideration to nutritional value and safety guides the process of selecting and preparing food. The outcome is appealing, developmentally appropriate, and nutritious meals. Yet this commitment of time, energy, and effort is of little benefit for many children. Picky eaters simply refuse all or part of the meal.Picky eating is a common behavior in young children that appears in many forms and may begin at any age, although the peak time is during the toddler or preschool years:
• some children exhibit strong food preferences from infancy
• others gradually limit their diets to only a few foods prepared in certain ways
• still others appear to suddenly begin exhibiting unique eating quirks
• often children reject all new or unfamiliar foods
• a child may go for days picking at meals and surviving on only small amounts of food
When a child refuses to conform to mealtime routines, parents and caregivers often become frustrated and perplexed.
As child care professionals, we must recognize that our knowledge of nutrition and food preparation alone is no match ...