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"Diana, just a quick heads up to let you know we are still using your cookbook and the guys will often be heard saying what would Diana say about this or that....really good feed back... I made your potato salad and the oriental coleslaw on Sat. for a family luncheon and had rave reviews so thanks again."
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Pre-schoolers and Food Jags
What is a food Jag? It is a behavior where a child purposely chooses to eat the same food over and over again and rejects other foods. For example, they may choose only rice or only grilled cheese sandwiches and will reject everything else.
There is no set time for how long a food jag can last. Most importantly, parents should know that it is a normal behavior for young children 2-5 yrs of age to exhibit diminished appetite and picky/fussy eating behaviours, including showing preferences and dislikes for certain foods. Parents need not be concerned as long as the child is growing normally. (if you are concerned, use growth charts and plot your child’s weight).
What can you do if you have a child with a food jag or who is a picky eater?
Offer a variety of nutritious foods, including ones they don’t like. It can take 15 positive exposures to a new food before they might try it.
Have scheduled meal and snack times. Try not to offer food between these times or you may reduce their appetite. This includes milk and juice.
Provide smaller more frequent meals. Children have small stomachs. They can get full quickly and hungry sooner.
Model healthy eating yourself
Remove distractions such as TV, toys and electronics.
Ineffective strategies include pressuring a child to eat certain foods, preparing separate meals if they don’t like what is offered and rewarding children for trying new foods.
Remember the division of responsibility. It is your job as a parent to offer a variety of nutritious foods at regular intervals. It is up to the child to determine what or if they will eat and how much. You can’t force a child to eat.