Comments on: How to Prevent or Fix (Most) Childhood Eating Problems

By: The Best-Kept Secret for Raising Healthy Eaters

The Best-Kept Secret for Raising Healthy Eaters — Fri, 06 May 2011 04:14:50 +0000

[...] followed the Division of Responsibility of feeding, letting her children decide what and whether to eat of what she decided to serve. [...]

By: How to Become an Empowered Parent (Part 2)

How to Become an Empowered Parent (Part 2) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 09:00:24 +0000

[...] of feeding while children are responsible for whether or not they eat and how much they eat. I know Maryann writes about this often so I won’t go into too much detail here, but the bottom line is if you are nagging, coercing, [...]

By: Maryann Tomovich Jacobsen, MS, RD

Maryann Tomovich Jacobsen, MS, RD — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 20:59:01 +0000

HI Cheryl,

Thanks for the great question. I recommend parents make sure there is at least one item at the dinner table they know their kids likes/accepts. That way, if they refuse to eat that food it is likely they are not hungry. Some kids have already used up all their calories and by dinner. Studies also show that kids are more likely to try new foods when familiear ones are nearby. You also want to honor your child’s food prefernces and offer dinners they like too (healthier versions). On those nights, you’ll want to offer different sides. So you feed your child’s favorites with newer foods and over time they will try and more foods to their repitore. Encourage them to try new foods in a non-pressuring fashion. Most kids really want to eat more foods, but they are simply scared and need more time. If you haven’t already, check out my picky eaitng series http://www.raisehealthyeaters.com/category/picky-eating-series/ and this article for more tips http://www.raisehealthyeaters.com/2009/11/how-to-make-family-dinners-more-kid-friendly/

I know it’s frustrating but it’s a very normal part of development. Pressure backfires in the long run.

By: cheryl

cheryl — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 20:19:43 +0000

I like these ideas, but what do you do at dinner or any other meal when your food is met with rejection? the kids won’t even taste the food to know if they like it or not? Just keep dinner going and let the kids be really hungry in the morning? if you don’t have some accountability—will they just figure out that “hey, I don’t have to eat anything my mom fixes and I am not in trouble at all!!”

help please!!!

By: Jillian Ball, RD, CDE, LD

Jillian Ball, RD, CDE, LD — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 18:48:12 +0000

Great post! Ellyn Satter has paved the way with her insight and research in child feeding behaviors. Ellyn is the number one child feeding expert that I refer to and quote more often to my clients than anyone else!

By: Weekly Meal Plan: Monday October 25th

Weekly Meal Plan: Monday October 25th — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:33:31 +0000

[...] like this make following the division of responsibility extremely difficult. But the truth is I can’t make her eat anything. And the more I make it [...]

By: jun flores

jun flores — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 02:33:09 +0000

Great bl0g, it reminds me of what i am doing for the past years when my i and only son is only a baby. Now I have all the Reason to Smile When I Look Back those years pass by.

By: Paintball Jersey

Paintball Jersey — Thu, 20 May 2010 01:13:49 +0000

great idea. we do similar to this but we do try to get them to eat a few more bites, sometimes successfully sometimes not. I may have to find that book to help me with it more! thank you!
+1

By: How to Tell if Your Picky Eater Needs Help

How to Tell if Your Picky Eater Needs Help — Wed, 19 May 2010 05:13:32 +0000

[...] for selective eating is very different than what she recommends for normal picky-eating kids. The division of responsibility of feeding does not work with selective eaters. She utilizes a treatment called “systematic [...]

By: Toni Alabakovski

Toni Alabakovski — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:55:44 +0000

great idea. we do similar to this but we do try to get them to eat a few more bites, sometimes successfully sometimes not. I may have to find that book to help me with it more! thank you!