December 2009 Dr. Mama Question
Dear Dr. Mama,
Our little Angel is 28 months old and came to live with us about 3 weeks ago. He’s adjusting to our family really well and just craves attention and love, and we’re giving him all we’ve got. We have no other children, and my husband and I do all we can to eat healthy, fresh foods without a lot of preservatives or sugar added. The problem is, our new little guy seems to have developed some bad habits along the way and asks for foods that we don’t even keep in the house! He turns up his nose at whole wheat bread and isn’t too happy with vegetables. When we’re at the store he asks for the worst sugary cereals and junk food. I try to explain that it’s not good for him, but of course he doesn’t understand.
He’s scheduled for a visit with his biological family next week, and I’m worried that they’ll feed him all kinds of junk! How can I get nutritious food into this guy?
Hungry in Jamul
Dear Hungry,
Kids and their food habits! It’s a tough thing to deal with, but there are some tricks you can use to nudge your sweet guy towards some better choices. First, accept that his taste buds have gotten used to lots of sugar, salt, and additives and you’re going to need to re-train them gradually. There’s no overnight fix for this one.
Let’s start with the bread problem. Chances are he’s used to the fake white stuff, so your whole grain tastes weird to him – not like bread at all. Try making a sandwich with one slice of white (yes, this means you’ll have to buy some) on the topside, and one slice of whole grain on the bottom. Start with something he likes, like PB & J (a sure winner). Once he’s OK with that, try switching up the filling and adding the second piece of whole grain.
Use the same strategy for veggies and fruits. Find one that he likes (peas are pretty popular and kids love to pick them up one by one) and then mix in just one or two pieces of something unfamiliar. Or, mix a few cubes of sweet potato, always a favorite, with chunks of apple or banana.
This works well for breakfast cereal, too. Mix a little of his sugary favorite in with a healthier option, then gradually decrease the bad stuff so he barely notices the change.
You may need to be patient. It will probably take a few tries before your guy warms up to the new stuff, but be persistent. Remember, you’re smarter than he is and you have more tricks up your sleeve. No need to substitute something that’s not good for him because you are worried that he’ll starve. It won’t happen.
And by the way, don’t stress about what he eats on those family visits. You’re helping to develop habits that will last a lifetime.
Good Luck!
—Dr. Mama
