Improving Picky Eating by Changing Adult Behavior

In this blog post, Kelly Dorfman, MS, LND, offers advice about how to address picky eating by changing adult behaviors.

Parenting a child who refuses to eat is distressing. Hours can be wasted on creative dishes that are spit out. Help is on the way!

Treating underlying biomedical and sensory problems is always the top priority when trying to improve the diet. Ruling out digestive and oral motor issues are important first steps.

Positive change also occurs when parents take charge of their own behavior. Psychotherapists insist that you cannot change another person but you can affect the dynamics of the relationship by changing yourself. This article looks at how adult behavior can contribute to picky eating, and devising a workable plan that encourages a wider choice of foods without resistance.

Accidental Negative Reinforcement

Frustration with a child’s rigidity often leads to fruitless negotiations and bribes. When inducements fail, yelling is next. Yet this inordinate amount of focused attention “accidentally” reinforces the very conduct that needs changing. Children need attention and they will accept it whether it is positive or negative. Eventually, youngsters learn to get attention by cooperating.

To encourage children to eat better, stick to your goals without forcing. Eating behavior is tricky to address because even a child with severe developmental delays can refuse food. People like to have power over their environment. Children with sensory issues have a stronger need to control their surroundings in order to lessen their anxiety. In the hopes of avoiding angry scenes, sympathetic parents give up.

Don’t Force, Don’t Give in

Giving in reinforces the stuck behavior by enabling poor eating. Because the child is closely linked to the parent, he must shift in response.

Make Your Plan

Step 1:  Work on one food at a time.

A new food every day can be overwhelming. Pick one item that would improve the diet. If a child already eats ice cream and milk, pudding is not qualitatively better. Consider fruits, vegetables or protein foods (like small pieces of chicken). These foods are often missing in the diets of fussy eaters.

Choose a version of the food close in texture to other foods the child eats. Kids preferring soft creamy foods might handle applesauce or pureed chicken soup. For those drawn to crunch try peeled cucumbers or thinly sliced apple. Also consider foods the child liked in the past but no longer eats.

Step 2:  Give your child a small “job”.

Learning to eat well is a job. The child should be told ahead of time that their job is to learn to eat healthy foods like Elmo, Thomas the Tank Engine or some other figure they like. Their “job” is a doable task, such as taking one bite or in extreme cases, picking up the food. Encourage them to help you select the food by giving them several choices. Keep discussion about the “job” to a minimum.

If the job is unfinished, become unavailable for anything else the child wants until it is. Sadly, the TV and computer cannot be turned on. You would love to go to the park, as soon as job is done.

Step 3:  Acknowledge only positive behavior.

Most fussy eaters will say, “no”, when asked whether they want pears or baby carrots. If this happens say, “I see you need help choosing, so I will pick this time. You can choose next time.” The child can then see that lack of cooperation changes nothing.

Food appearing at dinner (a better time than the morning) is another opportunity for the child to see if resistance works. If the task is accomplished, stay warm and connected. Act like you knew he could do it all along. If the child refuses or throws a fit, briefly make sure he is safe and walk away. Say you will return when he calms down.

Do not threaten, “If only you would eat…..”. Instead utilize when; then. “When you are finished eating, then we can read a story.” If the child wanders around all evening without eating the food, simply comment that tomorrow you will be working on the job again.

Step 4:  If you are losing your temper; take a time out.

We want to teach children that cooperating works. This means staying calm, when they are frustrated and misbehaving. After a long day, this can be challenging. When you reach your limit, give yourself a time out. Forcing the child into time-out rewards bad conduct with increased interaction. Your child needs you to stay calm, so he can get calm.

You CAN Do This!

When adults focus on positive attempts at eating, even the most finicky eaters can expand their palates. How about some Brussel sprouts with that hamburger?

About Kelly Dorfman MS LND

Kelly Dorfman is one of the world’s foremost experts on using nutrition therapeutically to improve brain function, energy and mood. Kelly’s special talent for integrating information from many sources and finding practical solutions has made her a popular speaker and workshop leader. She lectures extensively and is a member of Platform (formerly the National Speakers Association) and has been featured on numerous television programs including CNN’s American Morning.

Kelly’s award winning book, Cure Your Child With Food: The Hidden Connection Between Nutrition and Childhood Ailments (formerly known as What’s Eating Your Child) was given rave reviews by Publishers Weekly and the Washington Post.

As a go-to expert on nutrition issues, Kelly is frequently interviewed and quoted in the media. She has been featured in articles in The Wall Street Journal, Parade, Bethesda magazine, Living Without magazine, and the Huffington Post.

Kelly holds a master’s degree in nutrition/biology and is a licensed nutrition dietitian. She is a co-founder of Developmental Delay Resources, which has merged with Epidemic Answers. You can find out more about Kelly and her practice at kellydorfman.com

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