Dietitian Jane Watson reveals how to get kids to eat their dinner, as HCF survey reveals problem

A dietitian has revealed the secret to getting fussy kids to eat their dinners – without bribing them with sweet treats or screen time. SEE HER TIPS.

The dinner table has become a battleground in Australian homes, with fussy eaters on one side and stressed parents on the other.

A new survey reveals that as many as seven in 10 parents say they have a child who is a picky eater, as a leading dietitian warns that most of the tactics mums and dads are using are actually making the problem worse.

Of those parents with fussy eaters more than 40 per cent say they have to prepare two or more meals a night.

Mother Hayley Ibbotson on the NSW Central Coast, with sons Asher Stewart, 6, and Levi Stewart, 4. Picture: Sue Graham.

Hayley Ibbotson, mum to Asher, 6, and Levi, 4, is one of those parents.

She says mealtimes are “absolute chaos” in their house and she’s at her wit’s end.

“I see other mums and they’ve got their kids eating beetroot and seafood,” she said.

“I almost cried in the supermarket when they ran out of pasta at the beginning of the pandemic because that’s all Asher eats – boiled pasta.”

Ms Ibbotson, who lives on the NSW Central Coast, and has a full-time job at a real estate agency, said her younger son Levi is a better eater but she said it’s a case of “monkey see, monkey do” and he has begun to reject foods too.

As many as seven in 10 parents say their kids are fussy eaters. Picture: iStock

Ms Ibbotson should take comfort from the survey of 2500 people by health insurer HCF, which shows she is far from alone in these food battles.

Two thirds of parents admit to bribing their children with a sweet treat and more than half bribe them with screen time, to get them to eat their main meal.

Accredited dietitian Jane Watson said families have so many commitments and time pressures that making different meals kids will eat has become an easy option.

“We can understand why just keeping the peace at night is a high priority when everyone has had a busy day,” she said.

However, she said many of the classic tactics parents are using, such as threatening to withhold dessert, actually makes the problem worse.

She said parents should offer kids the same food as everyone else, making sure there is something on their plate they like, and if they don’t eat it, don’t comment or offer anything else.

If dessert is on the menu allow them to have it, but make sure the portion is small.

And, limit snacks and drinks like milk before dinner so they are hungry.

In the survey seven in 10 parents say the majority of food in lunch boxes gets eaten.

Ms Watson said some children are too busy playing to eat their lunch at school and will catch up later in the day.

She said parents don’t need to make Instagram-worthy lunch boxes, just a sandwich, piece of fruit, carrot or cheese sticks will do.

Hayley Ibbotson with sons Asher Stewart, 6, and Levi Stewart, 4, says she makes multiple dinners a night. Picture: Sue Graham.

TIPS FOR PARENTS OF FUSSY EATERS

* Limit snacks and drinks, especially milk, before dinner

* Serve the same food to everyone, with at least one thing the child likes

* Do not comment if they don’t eat it all and don’t offer anything else

* If dessert is on the menu, allow the child to have a small portion even if they don’t eat dinner

*Remember, children have varying appetites, sometimes they are not hungry and other days ravenous

* As long as they are growing and thriving don’t worry too much

* If you are worried about your child’s growth, energy or weight see a GP

Source: Accredited dietitian Jane Watson

Originally published as Dietitian Jane Watson reveals how to get kids to eat their dinner, as HCF survey reveals problem