Encouraging Kids to Eat Food Instead of Forcing Them

‘Beta bas ek bite aur!’, ‘Just a little more!’I know a lot of moms would have been there and done that. Isn’t it mommies? We mommies do whatever we can to make our little ones eat but many times no matter what means we use to lure kids into eating their food, it would go in vain. Right? Then comes scolding and forcing which may work at a point but surely make kids more reluctant and irritated. 

Here in this article I will be sharing a few tips on how to encourage your kids to not only eat but to enjoy their meals as well. 

1. The first step is to make their plates look colourful as colors always attract every kid’s attention. Try to include a lot of colours in their meals. You can add colourful veggies which undoubtedly look colourful and solve the purpose of a healthy balanced diet.
2. Try to use colorful and easy to handle plates, spoons and cups. If a kid can carry his or her own spoon and cup all by herself then it will surely increase their appetite. Imagine yourself using a heavy spoon for eating, will you be able to enjoy your meal?? A big no I guess! 
3. Do not repeat the same dishes daily. Instead of cooking the same thing over and over again, try to include all kinds of nutritious things in kids’ diet charts. This will break the monotony of cooking and eating the same thing daily.
4. We mommies have a habit of first feeding our children and then eating our meals afterwards because of a number of reasons like for our own mental satisfaction, eating afterwards so that we can eat in peace and alike. But trust me eating together will encourage kids to eat their meals on their own. I can assure you that this way they will enjoy the food as well.
5. Many mums don’t let their kids eat food on their own in order to avoid them from making a mess. This is so wrong at so many levels. This way kids won’t be able to concentrate on their meals, let alone enjoy it. So, try to keep the worry of them creating a mess at bay, instead watch and love how fondly they would pick their food and eat it. 
6. Many times we make an unintentional yet big mistake of stuffing our kids with snacks like cookies and chips. Although there is no harm in giving them such foods once in a while, remember not to make it a habit. These foods don’t provide essential nutrients and decrease appetite gradually and eventually. So, try to keep room in their tiny stomach for required nutrients like proteins, vitamins and minerals as they ensure proper growth and development.
7. Presentation is one sure shot way to attract a kid’s attention to their foods. Try to cut bread(roti, paratha and so on), fruits and veggies in different attractive shapes or maybe their favourite cartoon characters. This way they will come running to have their meal.
8. If your kids love snacks then you can choose corn, roasted makhanas (lotus seeds), nuts and raisins, yogurts, cheese etc. to make delicious snacks. These foods will provide both nutrients and taste. Read more on health and nutrition for kids "https://themomstore.in/blogs/blogs-for-moms/tagged/health-and-nutrition".

The key is to make mealtimes fun. Meal times should not be made stressful in which a kid is forced to eat because this can work for a day or maximum a week but not always. In order to trick kids into eating their foods you can also let your kid help in food preparation. So dear mommies you will have to put an extra effort in making kids eat but it will be worth every effort of yours because seeing your kid eating with all their heart is one of the best experiences in the world.

Akanksha Saini, mother of two lovely toddlers who brighten her day with their smiles and giggles. She has a passion for reading and writing. She believes in living life to the fullest. 

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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are the personal views of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of The Mom Store.