"Food refusal" - this about children's food intake and appetite
I don't really like the word "food refusal" but I'm using it now for lack of anything else. A child usually doesn't refuse to eat for the sake of it. In the vast majority of cases, it's about other things.
- Children's food intake varies - it's completely normal
I can understand that many parents are concerned about their child's food intake, you don't want your child to go hungry, have low energy or be stunted in their development. But it's completely normal for children to have periods of lower appetite and it usually doesn't mean they are negatively affected. Sometimes my daughter eats "lots" and sometimes just a bite. It really goes up and down!
- Children are intuitive eaters
It is important to remember that children actually work a little differently than the majority of us adults. We adults often eat more on a routine basis and we know that we should eat to keep going later. Young children don't really have that feeling. Children eat much more based on their appetite and their needs at the moment. That ability is actually amazing and important to cherish.
- Look at the whole picture - not individual meals
Therefore, you should not focus on individual meals but look at food intake over a longer period of time (the whole). The vast majority of children actually manage to eat enough over time. Children can survive on very little food at times (although they also often eat more than you might think/experience). Of course, it can get grumpy when the energy dips, but it's better than letting mealtimes become a struggle.
- Do I usually give anything else to my daughter? when she doesn't eat the food that is served?
No, I don't usually do that. My principle is not to offer anything else directly after the meal as I want to avoid ending up in a vicious spiral. Instead, I can offer her a larger/earlier snack or evening meal. Sometimes she has to wait until the next meal, depending on how the rest of the day has been. Here you can of course do exactly as you want, but that's how I think.
/Elin Oresten
Lic. nutritionist
More from Knatteplock:
