Feeding kids doesn?t sound like it should be complicated: You make meals; they eat them. But the reality can be just a bit different. There?s a lot for new parents to learn?not just what to feed the littles, but how to feed them (and how not to). In this excerpt from the new Canadian parenting guide Food to Grow On, registered dietitians and moms Sarah Remmer and Cara Rosenbloom walk you through tips and tricks for feeding children, from babies to bigger kids.
Power plays: Is your kid eating enough"
The No. 1 most important thing to know about feeding your kids applies to children of all ages, even babies.
Many parents have trouble believing that a child can choose how much or if they want to eat?we?re part of a culture that tells kids to ?clear your plate? or take ?just one more bite.? But our kids are born intuitive eaters?they know how much they need and when to stop?so we must trust this. By offering five to six eating opportunities a day (meals and snacks), with lots of variety, we can rest assured that our little ones will meet their nutrition needs over the period of a week, rather than focusing on any one specific meal. This makes for a much more pleasant eating experience and nurtures your child?s natural ability to eat intuitively. This philosophy is known among dietitians as Satter?s division of responsibility. We?ve seen it work time and time again?in fact, thousands of times!?in nutrition counselling practices and with our own kids. Please try it. And trus...