Several hours before your child comes home and asks, “What’s for dinner?” you’ve already asked yourself that question. You might have had an idea or two, but then, you started to think the food that she doesn’t like and ask yourself again what would you prepare for dinner.
Food preparation becomes so complicated for us mothers. As a result of the plethora of nutritional information available, we are more careful than ever to prepare a properly balanced meal. Somehow, we try to match nutritional standards with children’s preferences.
Aside from the issue of nutritional value of the food that we cook and serve to our children, we are also confronted with other issues like feeding time, children’s lack of appetite, table manners, proper hygiene before and after mealtime, and the like.
The Food and Nutritional Research Institute (FNRI) suggests the following guidelines for parents to consider in dealing with the aforesaid issues.
Lead by example. Be a role model in practicing good eating habits. Our kids will learn how to appreciate the taste of vegetables if they see their parents eating and enjoying vegetables. If the parents prefer to buy fast food and junk food then the children will get the idea that it is just fine for them to eat the same food and indulge in junk food.
Let a child be a child. Expect and be patient with child-like table manners. We cannot expect our children to be adults when it comes to table manners and behaviour. Parents need to exercise more patience and tolerance as to their kids’ child-like manners during the meal.
Be consistent with meal schedules. Serve meals on a regular time, preferably before the children get overly hungry, tired and/or irritable. Being consistent as to the time to serve meals to kids help them come up with routine, not only as to mealtime but to other things that need to be done before and after the meal.
Make mealtimes safe and comfortable. Select chairs, tables and eating utensils suitable in structure and size for children. Younger kids must be provided with chairs that will keep them safe from falling or slipping out of the seat. Toddlers must be provided with high chairs which are equipped with front detachable tray for safety and convenience. Ceramic or glass wares are just not suitable for kids. They may start using breakable plates and glasses if they are already careful and capable of taking care of and feeding themselves.
Serve enticing dishes/foods. Whenever appropriate, arrange dishes attractively on plates to stimulate children’s appetite. For kids, mealtime must be made interesting. Notice how kids eat more when they are served with food that are colourful, looks interesting, and served attractively in beautiful trays, or plates.
Keep dishes simple-flavoured. Children like dishes that are not spicy and strong tasting. Avoid serving chilli hot food to kids and food that are just not suitable for kids’ tastes. Kids would love foods that taste simple. Foods that are too salty or sweet must be avoided or given to kids in moderation for health reason.
Make fruits and vegetables interesting to eat. Cut fruits and vegetables in small fancy-shaped pieces. Fruits and vegetables can be made into different fancy shapes by using vegetable and fruit cutters available in the market. If these cutters are not available then use your imagination and create some art piece out of fruits and vegetables that your kids would love to put in their mouth.
Make mealtimes pleasant and enjoyable. Encourage happy talk to promote good appetite among children. Make mealtime family time. A special time for family to get together and talk about what happened during the day. (FNRI Supplementary Feeding Calendar 2004).