Picky young eaters usually grow up to like a variety of foods
BY AP Wire Service
Monday, January 14, 2013
1/14/13 at 3:59 AM
Doctor K: My preschooler will eat only white foods. I'm worried he's not getting the proper nutrients to grow and develop. What can I do?
Dear Reader: The good news? By the time most children reach the age of 10, they're digging into a wide spectrum of foods.
While you're waiting for your child to mature, you might be worried your little one isn't getting enough nutrients and fiber. But if your child is measuring within the growth chart and has energy to spare, there's probably nothing to worry about.
Of course, that doesn't mean you can't try to gently change your child's eating behaviors:
Counteract your concern If your child's favorite foods don't include all the vitamins he or she needs, multivitamins in liquid or pill form may deliver what's needed - until your child eats a more balanced diet.
Set an example Show your child that you enjoy making healthy food choices.
Make white or beige smoothies Make a smoothie out of soy milk and then add some white fruits such as pears, yellow apples or white grapes.
Be sneaky Combine cauliflower with mashed potatoes and your little one won't be the wiser. Try other ways to sneak vegetables in with beloved white foods.
Opt for Cream of Wheat cereal It's white and has a child's daily requirement for iron.
Ask your child to help with simple food prep By handling and touching different non-white foods without pressure to eat them, your child may be more likely to taste them at mealtime.
Be patient A typical young child needs multiple exposures to a new food before he'll risk tasting it - and 10 to 20 tastes before he actually likes it.
There's a great new book - a short, inexpensive e-book - called "Getting Your Child to Eat (Almost) Anything" by Harvard Medical School's Dr. Qian Yuan, with Robin Westen. You can learn more about it on my website, tulsaworld.com/DrK
Write Dr. K at www.AskDoctorK.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut, Kansas City, MO 64106
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