WELCOME TO UNH COOPERATIVE EXTENSION'S FAMILIES AND PARENTING PAGES!

UNH Cooperative Extension provides research and evidence-based family life education and support to families throughout the State of New Hampshire. Our county and state based parenting and family expert team members provide direct educational programming as well as support to other programs and agencies who are working to make New Hampshire a great environment for families.

 

This Month's Feature Article

Enjoying the Thanksgiving Dinner with your Picky Eater

by Claudia Boozer-Blasco

For many children and youth in New Hampshire, the Thanksgiving holiday represents memories and expectations of gathering together with family to enjoy the traditional meal and foods that it offers.  The yearly ritual can help strengthen family bonds, and research shows that extending the family meal to most days of the week reduces the likelihood that children and teens will get involved with substance abuse.

Yet for many parents of young children, Thanksgiving and family meals throughout the year can be a source of stress, particularly if their child is a picky eater. Parents worry that their children aren’t getting sufficient nutrition or growing at normal rates. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “in general, children will outgrow the food preferences without any harm to their physical well-being.”

For most preschoolers, picky eating is temporary and will usually end by the time they are school-aged. Young children often want to explore food rather than eat it. They may refuse a food based on a certain color or texture, be unwilling to try new foods, and only eat a certain type of food.

So, what is a parent to do?  They can try to relax and not make too big a deal of it.  Here are a few more tips parents can try during this Thanksgiving season that may help improve their child’s eating habits:

• Get your child’s help selecting and making holiday foods. Get their help at the market picking fruits for the holiday salad.  Let them help wash the potatoes, mash the winter squash, or stir the muffin mixes.
• Offer choices.  Rather than asking “Do you want mashed potatoes?” ask “Which would you like, mashed potatoes or the winter squash?” Encourage your child to sample the various foods, but don’t force them.
• Have a few of their favorite foods available. Encourage them to try at least one new food, but don’t worry if they refuse. Teach your child how to refuse politely.
• Serve small portions. Offer your child a smaller plate. Encourage them to select or scoop small amounts of food, saying they can get more if they still feel hungry. Don’t force them to eat all the food on their plate, but rather let their internal feeling of fullness be their guide.
• Try to make the holiday meals stress-free and enjoyable. Focus on the enjoyment of conversation and being together with family and friends.  Let your child see you and everyone enjoying the appearance, smells, variety, and tastes of the holiday foods.

Some helpful resources:

• http://www.aap.org/: American Academy of Pediatrics provides information and advice on the physical, mental, and social health of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
• www.mypyramid.gov: The U.S. Department of Agriculture website has additional information on helping children develop healthy eating habits.
• http://www.extension.org/pages/Family_Meal_Times_Build_Strong_Family_Bonds : Family Meal Times build Strong Family Bonds is an article provided by national experts at E-Extension.
• http://www.casacolumbia.org/absolutenm/articlefiles/380-Importance%20of%20Family%20Dinners%20IV.pdf: The Importance of Family Dinners IV, The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, September 2007.

 

Claudia Boozer-Blasco is an Extension Educator in Family and Consumer Resources with the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension in Rockingham County. She can be reached at claudia.boozer-blasco@unh.edu or (603) 679-5616.