Picky Eater Tip! 🍽️Ditch Pressure- Here's How

It’s easy to fall into the trap of using pressure to "get" our children to eat, which might work short-term but often backfires in the long run. Pressure applied at mealtimes can create anxiety around new foods, It can put cert

ain foods on a pedestal, and it can teach kids to ignore their natural hunger/fullness cues. And research shows that parental pressure at mealtime actually leads to more picky eating😳

The tricky part is that pressure comes in all different forms and it's not always obvious or intentional. Here are some different examples to give you an idea of how a child may perceive your words or actions as pressure.

🥦Bribes: “You can have dessert if you eat two bites of chicken.”

🌮Pressure: “Everyone has to take a “no-thank-you bite.”

🍠Catering with cooking: “I made you rice, look! You don’t want rice? Want some buttered noodles instead?”

🍞Guilt: “It will make Mommy happy if you eat the food she made”

🍲Praise: “You’re such a good girl for eating all your food today!”

🍔Reward: “You get a sticker/tv time/dessert etc… because you ate all your food today!”

🍓Distraction: Distracting with screens to have a child zone out and eat.

See how subtle it can be? So how do you know if your words might be perceived as pressure? Ask yourself this: “Am I saying or doing this to get my child to eat more, less, or differently than they are now?”

Of course, every child is different and you know yourself and your child the best. Remember to give yourself grace. Raising an adventurous eater takes time, patience, and persistence. You're doing great!

As always, feel free to reach out for support

✨www.ameeratherapy.com✨

Do you find yourself using pressure tactics to "get" your child to eat?