I often heard the word “yuck<\/em>“.<\/p>\n She wasn’t gaining weight, nor was she really eating.<\/p>\n I was a foodie, yet I sadly dreaded meals with daughter.<\/p>\n So I took the bull by the horns and dove into the literature and research on children’s eating. \u00a0I wanted to find out WHY my daughter was so picky and HOW to turn things around. \u00a0Of course, I was fearful she would be one of 30% of children whose “picky eating” persists into adult years.<\/strong><\/p>\n At the time, I couldn’t see our life any other way: this was just the hand we were dealt. Yet all of the studying and Certifications eventually paid off and were used to create a structured mealtime plan for my daughter. \u00a0It was the protocol I implemented to transform mealtimes and Sienna’s eating who\u00a0went from being an extremely picky eater to one of the most adventurous eaters.<\/p>\n Those feelings of failure at meals are long gone, along with the worries around whether she was getting ‘enough’ protein and nutrients to thrive. \u00a0As others heard our story they asked how we did it, and so I started to share our plan with families I work with.<\/strong> \u00a0Today that plan is known as the “Picky Eater Protocol<\/a>” (or the PEP).<\/p>\n I watched Sienna happily eating her lunch of veggie scrambled eggs alongside hummus and red peppers (foods she would NEVER touch in the past). I wanted to smile and cry knowing how far she had come. \u00a0It helped her tremendously, but these 6 phases gave me confidence when<\/strong>\u00a0the picky eating habits<\/a> started to surface with my youngest daughter. \u00a0I knew EXACTLY what we needed to do. We did it and we got her eating back in control.<\/p>\n Then it dawned on me – I needed to share this protocol with parents who follow me. \u00a0So here I am, sharing the 6 critical phases\u00a0to fix picky eating, that I use daily.<\/p>\n Before I dive in, let me just say this..<\/p>\n When working with kids, it’s best not to overwhelm them with change. Nor do we want to overwhelm parents. \u00a0If I give you a long list of mealtime tweaks, it’s tough to commit to them. \u00a0That’s why I created (and use) this 6-phased proven approach to transform mealtimes. Ultimately building a healthy relationship with food for your child<\/strong>.<\/p>\n I’m going to quickly summarize them here (and you’ll learn much more about them in this\u00a0upcoming Free Webinar<\/a>).<\/p>\n First we have to find out where your little one falls on the picky eating spectrum<\/strong>. \u00a0Are they going through a developmental phase or are there underlying challenges contributing to their food preferences? \u00a0 If weight <\/strong>is a concern for your child, it’s important to pay attention to our mealtime approach. \u00a0Are you pushing your small child to eat more than they need (as I once did)? \u00a0Or a larger child to eat less? \u00a0How we treat food today sets the foundation for your child’s future eating habits too<\/strong>.<\/p>\n In Phase 2 we ensure you have a solid daytime routine<\/strong> with appropriate gaps between eating opportunities. Amazing things can also happen when you start meals with the right words and actions. \u00a0And when you end meals in the right way, it prompts children to try new\/more food and speeds up eating<\/strong>. \u00a0If appetite is lacking, we need to look at possible nutrient deficiencies <\/strong>andother factors possibly suppressing their hunger.<\/p>\n In Phase 3, we become aware of any forms of (completely innocent) pressure or nudging <\/strong>to eat at meals can profoundly change the way our kids approach new foods. \u00a0When they know mom or dad is discontent with their eating, it suppresses appetite and fuels the power struggle<\/strong>. \u00a0So this is where we look at what we should and shouldn’t say<\/strong>\u00a0to encourage better eating. \u00a0Ultimately, I give you confidence<\/strong> that you are doing all the right things to help your child have a healthy relationship with food. \u00a0For today and as an adult.<\/p>\n In Phase 4, we focus on creating a\u00a0positive mealtime experience<\/strong> with the help of my favourite (and mostly free) tools. \u00a0This involves removing tools that serve as distractions.<\/strong>\u00a0 We all want our children to eat in response to their hunger (and not overeat when full). \u00a0 In this phase, you will know how to make mealtimes fun, and ultimately make it easier for your child to come and stay at the table.<\/p>\n In Phase 5 we get into the nitty gritty of what makes a balanced meal<\/strong>\u00a0and how to improve their variety<\/strong>. \u00a0Do you know if you little one’s blood sugars<\/strong> are affecting their appetite (or regular tantrums)? \u00a0Are you offering the right new foods at the right times? \u00a0We answer these questions by taking your child’s eating preferences into account. My goal is to help them feel successful at meals. \u00a0<\/strong>Without this success (or when our child fears failure) it’s VERY unlikely that they will go near anything new.<\/p>\n Ultimately, we all want our child to\u00a0get “enough” of the critical nutrients<\/strong> for growth and health. Be it protein, fat, fibre, iron, zinc, calcium, and the list goes on. \u00a0So this is what I tackle in the final phase with parents. Knowing the signs of common deficiencies<\/strong> is helpful; however, even if your little one has a selective diet there’s always a way to amplify nutrition<\/strong> through food or supplementation.<\/p>\n Well, within each of these 6 phases are specific steps for parents. \u00a0Steps to help your child establish healthier eating habits AND reduce your mealtime anxiety and frustration (to the point where meals are actually enjoyable<\/em>…seriously!). \u00a0I’m going to give you a taste of these phases in my upcoming FREE Webinar {10 proven ways to improve your child’s eating}<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/IMG_3266-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBut I was a Nutritionist and a mom who couldn’t accept this as our fate.<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\n6 critical phases to fix picky eating<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nWhat’s the next step to ‘fix’ picky eating?<\/h2>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n