As children continue to get older they get pickier with their food choices. Their food selection narrows and it gets more and more difficult to get them to try a variety of healthy foods. Some of their food choices are influenced by their peers. Popular food choices for kids tend to be macaroni and cheese, pizza, and chicken nuggets. Schools serve all those options on a regular basis. These food choices may not be the healthiest -- packed with fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals, but kids prefer these foods if given the choice.
How often should these food choices be a part of their meals? Since all of them are processed foods with a substantial amount of sodium and fat they should not be eaten on a frequent basis. The other problem with these choices is that they usually make up the entire meal so lots of vitamins and minerals are missing. There are ways to make the meal more nutritious by adding some vegetables, milk, and/or fruit to the meal. Making your own pizza, chicken nuggets, or macaroni and cheese can save on added fat and sodium. An easy way to make chicken nuggets is take boneless, skinless chicken breasts and moisten them and add shake and bake seasonings, then bake in the oven. The original chicken nuggets have 18 grams of fat and 280 calories per serving and these only have 2.5 grams of fat and 160 calories and less sodium.
What do you do when your child only wants to eat those foods? If you have a picky eater try making sure that he or she isn't eating a big snack after school or filling up on juice, soda, or even milk before dinner. Try and offer smaller portions so that there isn't as much left over on her plate. Don't offer bribes or rewards for eating. Consider not offering her anything else to eat if she misses dinner or just offer a small, healthy snack. Don't let your concerns about her eating become a power struggle. Set a good example by eating a variety of foods. Encourage your child to get involved in planning and preparing meals. Keep offering different foods choices and eventually your child’s taste preference will change. It takes on average thirteen tries to find out you truly don’t like it, so keep trying!