Feeding the finicky

By Dr Bill Maier

Here’s a mystery I’ve never understood – how can a preschooler survive an entire day on one graham cracker and half a banana?

Obviously most preschoolers eat more than that but it doesn’t always feel like it.

Some kids seem to turn their nose up at everything their parents put in front of them.

So what can we do to see that they get the nutrients they need?

Begin by making sure their portions are the right size.

Pre-schoolers only need about a fourth of an adult’s diet, and parents often overfill their plates.

Also, watch their intake of fluids. A lot of young kids will fill up on milk or juice, leaving little room for the foods they need.

And make sure any between-meal snacks are healthy ones.

Finally, don’t worry too much. Kids tend to eat more than we realise.

They’ll hit a growth spurt before you know it and then just try to stop them from eating!

From TODAY, Voices - Tuesday, 21-April-2009