5 tips to get fussy eaters to finish their meals

If your child is a fussy eater, it can be a never-ending struggle to get them to finish the meal that is on their plate. Even if you get them to finish one meal, it doesn’t mean that the issue is fixed as soon enough there will be food that they refuse to eat the whole struggle starts again.

As an expert nanny agency, here at Beauchamp Partners we know the struggles that parents can sometimes go through to get children to eat the meal that has been cooked. An article on the Metro website has shared tips from nutritionists and here we have shared some of them.

Let kids help themselves

When children get to an age where they can be more independent, letting children choose what they want to fill their plate with can work.

Helen Burgess, nutritionist, parent and founder of Little Cooks Co, said: “This shifts the responsibility for choosing food and recognising when they are full onto your child. Provide a selection of foods that you are happy with. You may get a few nights when they only eat the potato, but be patient. When they see everyone else digging in they’ll soon feel like they’re missing out and want to get their fair share.”

Involve children in the meal prep

To help your child get a bit of independence over what they eat, Helen added: “Children who cook eat more veggies. It creates a sense of ownership that means children are more likely to try what they’ve cooked – what’s more fun than getting to eat your own art project?

“Sit with your fussy eater at the weekend, pull out some cookbooks and decide what meals you will cook the following week.”

Show and tell

Nutritionist Sonal Shah told the Metro that you should not only tell the children to eat something, you should also show them as they can copy those habits.

Hide the vegetables

A child can often be a bit hesitant when it comes to eating vegetables, but whether it is green veg or another type, it can easily be hid in something that they enjoy.

Sonal adds: “It’s okay to disguise vegetables into soups and smoothies and milkshakes.”

Helen also told the Metro: “Just whizz up leftover vegetables you have (courgette, peppers, mushrooms, cauliflower etc), add passata or tinned tomatoes to turn it red and then make your meals as normal.”

Make meals fun

Whether you are shaping food into dinosaurs or superheroes, there are plenty of ways to make mealtime more fun to encourage children to eat their food. Another idea that nutritionists recommend is to eat with the kids and to play games at the same time.

Here at Beauchamp Partners we are regularly advertising positions for a nanny and housekeeper jobs, so if you’re on the hunt for a new housekeeper or personal staff, then get in touch.

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