My daughter (14 months old) doesn’t like to eat my cooked meals. What can I do to motivate her into participating at our family dinners?
Germany
Do not be too concerned about it. It is normal that young children need more time to get used to a new kind and taste of food. You have to be an example and eat with your daughter. You should offer the new kind of food again and again. If she does not eat at all - watch her weight. If she is going to loose weight you have to go to a doctor.
During these years (1 - 3 years old), a child begins to develop its own unique personality and to exert its independence by moving around freely and choosing foods to eat. Although the child is still growing, the rate of growth is slower than in the first 12 months of life. Three small meals and two snacks a day will probably provide enough energy and nutrients to your child. The provision of a variety of foods will allow the child to experience different tastes, textures and colours to help satisfy their small appetites.
Some children have problems while switching-over from mashed food to normal food, and they need time to get used to this kind of nutrition. A progressive change from mashed food to normal food could be done by decreasing portions of mashed food in the daily meal plan and increasing the proportion of normal food over a certain period of time.
Food intake will be highly influenced by family and peer eating patterns. Early food experiences may also have important effects on food likes and dislikes and eating patterns in later life. Meal times should not be rushed and a relaxed approach to feeding will pave the way for healthy attitudes to food.
Here are some tips which could help you: take enough time for the meals, don't rush; celebrate the family dinner with a variety of healthy foods (which also supports a healthy nutrition of all the members of your family); find out the favourite tastes of your daughter and combine it with other foods.
http://www.euro.who.int/nutrition/Infant/20020730_1
http://www.euro.who.int/eprise/main/WHO/InformationSources/Publications/Catalogue/20010914_21#Feeding_feeding
Chapter10, Table for growth assessment
DALŠÍ OTÁZKY