{"id":2746,"date":"2017-02-23T20:55:17","date_gmt":"2017-02-23T20:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/?p=2746"},"modified":"2017-10-20T21:30:34","modified_gmt":"2017-10-21T01:30:34","slug":"why-parents-should-fix-picky-eating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/2017\/02\/why-parents-should-fix-picky-eating\/","title":{"rendered":"Why parents should ‘fix’ picky eating early"},"content":{"rendered":"

So my techy husband set up our television at home to function as a digital photo album when the screen is idle (i.e. when my girls aren\u2019t watching Calliou or Frozen for the 20th<\/sup> time). \u00a0\u00a0He’s\u00a0also a photographer so I have the luxury of seeing beautiful family photos cycle through \u2013 photos that bring back mostly<\/em>\u00a0pleasant early parenthood memories.<\/p>\n

Although, the other day I caught\u00a0a photo that didn’t spark those\u00a0fond\u00a0memories in the slightest. \u00a0It was a picture of Sienna\u00a0looking unhappy at the table. \u00a0What you can’t see is her\u00a0anxious mother (me)\u00a0sitting nearby and\u00a0wanting so desperately for her to eat more.<\/p>\n

Those were not my happier days.<\/p>\n

\"why<\/p>\n

That photo sucked me in and brought me back to ‘those times’…when\u00a0I shed tears\u00a0at the table and truthfully was fearful of mealtimes.\u00a0 I was a foodie and loved to cook\/eat but living with a picky eater took the joy out of eating.<\/p>\n

It saddens me to think that I spent the better part of time together\u00a0consumed with getting Sienna to eat better and worried about her nutrition (being a Nutritionist, I knew what she needed). \u00a0I worked so darn hard trying to expand her appetite and food favourites, but with no real plan\u2026and no real results.<\/p>\n

While our wonderful pediatricians were telling us everything was \u201cfine\u201d, my mommy instinct was telling it was not ‘fine’.<\/p>\n

Sienna was far from\u00a0fine<\/em> (she was so unhappy at meals and not interested in food).<\/p>\n

I was far from fine<\/em> (I was worried and emotionally exhausted from the constant food battles).<\/p>\n

I see and speak with so many parents who are in \u2018my old shoes\u2019 and I so desperately want to help them get out of those uncomfortable things! \u00a0Addressing picky eating takes guts and commitment, which is why so many of us avoid making profound changes. \u00a0Sure we\u2019ll try the one-off tips (some of which can work, or maybe just temporarily) but making lasting changes is daunting for a busy family. \u00a0\u00a0So I\u2019m writing this for parents like me (the old me) who resisted the change because it’s \u2018easier\u2019 to stick to the same foods and tricks at meals.<\/p>\n

It’s easier to sit back and wait for it to pass….or is it?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Why parents should fix picky eating early\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

1 – \u00a0The sooner, the better (and easier)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Research shows that the younger the child is, the easier and faster it is to turn eating behaviours around<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Because of their cognitive development, under\u00a0age 3 a child has a primitive stress response vs. making a mental decision to avoid eating. \u00a0After the the age of 3\u00a0they start to\u00a0worry about what will happen in the future at a basic level (i.e. if it made me feel bad last time, will it happen\u00a0again?). \u00a0 They are more apt to employ the fight or flight response by screaming or running away, refusing foods, and taking the path of least resistance by\u00a0only eating easiest foods (i.e. packaged foods, sweets, etc).<\/p>\n

If your child is 5, 6 or 10 it doesn’t mean it’s too late. \u00a0The changes may just not happen as quickly as it would for a child who is younger. \u00a0But once a plan is in plan, you will<\/span> see improvements.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2 – Stress is unhealthy (for everyone) \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Life is stressful.\u00a0 Work, traffic, and finances all keep our anxiety levels high.\u00a0 Some acute stress is healthy and totally ok. It\u2019s the chronic stress we need to address. \u00a0Like the anxiety that ensues at most\u00a0dinners, when you bust your butt to make a meal and your child says \u201cno\u201d AGAIN. \u00a0Or when you\u2019re worried about whether he\u2019s getting enough iron or too much processed foods.<\/p>\n

The constant stress is unhealthy.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s why:<\/p>\n