Parenting 

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Your kids and food

iVillage nutritionist Catherine Matthews hosted a live online chat, answering your questions about kids and food. If you missed it, here's a sample of some of the questions she fielded

What to feed a 19-month-old?
My 19-month-old daughter can sometimes be a fussy eater. I tend to give her Weetabix and yoghurt for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch and usually she will have what we are having for her tea. She snacks on apple, banana, grapes and raisins and sometimes crisps. What else can I give her to eat as she is so fussy sometimes? I never know what to give her and how can I get her to eat more meat.
abianes-mum

Catherine Matthews: It sounds like your daughter has quite a healthy, balanced diet at the moment but I understand you are concerned that her picky eating habits may spiral out of control. There are simple ways to persuade a child to eat foods that are good for them:

• Set a good example. If you and your family eat and enjoy healthy foods your child will pick up on this and do the same. Then, praise them for eating well.
• Explain to your child why healthy eating is good for them. Use examples they can relate to, like Popeye eating spinach to make him strong, or that characters like Superman and The Incredibles always eat their greens.
• If possible, don't take your child to the supermarket. This limits the amount of say they have on what you buy.
• Teach your child good eating habits from an early age. Present healthy foods as a treat rather than something they 'have' to eat. Be creative and encourage your child to try new things.
• Always feed your child breakfast. This will prepare them for the day ahead. Cereals, fruit, wholemeal toast or juice are tasty, good for your child and will give them the energy they need. Lack of breakfast will cause your child to feel tired and irritable. Then, they'll be more likely to snack on junk foods such as chocolate and crisps later in the day.
• Stock your cupboards with a variety of healthy foods for your child to choose from. This takes away the 'you have to eat this because it's good for you' battle that can cause children to rebel.
• Pack a healthy but fun lunchbox so your child gets into good habits.
• Do not force your child into eating something they don't want to. Instead, experiment with recipes and ways of presenting food so that it seems appealing and tasty. For example, you could give your child meat in a pie or stir-fry.
• Disguise foods that your child doesn't want to eat by thinly slicing them and mixing them with a sauce, cheese or mashed potato.
• Let your child have occasional treats. By banning snacks, you may make your child want to eat them more. To satisfy a child's sweet tooth give them healthier snacks such as low-fat cereal bars and cakes. Dip fruit in plain cooking chocolate for an occasional tasty treat.
• Make healthy eating into a game. Ask a young child to count the amount of peas or carrot slices they eat.
• Limit the amount you give your child fast foods. Instead teach them to enjoy healthier options. Rice cakes are a good alternative to cakes and biscuits but offer them as a treat rather than a meal staple.

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