At Monkey Puzzle West Norwood, we encourage children to have a varied diet with healthy snacks and meals. Children are picky eaters and parents will experience periods when they refuse certain foods. This can be a concerning time for Mums and Dads but we’d like to let you know that fussy eating is very common and there are a number of approaches that can ease these phases.

Children are unlikely to cause harm to their health if they don’t eat enough for a short time. If the problem continues, seek advice from a healthcare professional.

We do not fret and fuss if a child refuses to eat but we do encourage a healthy diet and eating habits. Children will always be offered a small portion of pudding, unless parents have asked that their child only have dessert if they have eaten their main meal.

We never offer our children alternatives food. We believe that the children are offered enough healthy food during their day and soon get into the habit of trying new flavours and textures.

Reasons for fussy eating in children:

• Showing a sign of independence
• Demand for attention
• After an illness or infection

Here is some guidance and suggestions of how to improve mealtimes and fussy eating:

• Offer small portions at meal times. If these are finished more can be offered.
• Keep meal time away from television, gadgets, music and toys.
• Eat the same meals with your child. Watching a parent eat and enjoy a wide variety of foods, will encourage them to try new foods.
• Sit at a table for main meals.
• Keep meal times to around 30 minutes.
• Ensure meal time is a period to speak and engage with one another.
• Involve your child in the selection, preparation and cooking of their meals.
• Leave at least 2 hours between snacks and meals.
• Offer a new food with a familiar food or in a different way e.g. chopped, mashed, roasted.
• If your child refuses a food at first, leave it a few days and try again – it may take 17–20 times before new food is accepted.