Eating Disorders and Eating Disorders Why do so many children not eat properly? The most common reason is that many parents want their children to eat well so badly! Some children gobble up food from birth, even when they are upset or sick, and their appetite does not diminish at all. Some children have smaller appetites and are easily influenced by their emotions or physical condition. But one thing is for sure, children are born with an appetite that is enough to keep them healthy and to allow them to gain weight properly. The problem is that children are born with a natural tendency to resist persecution and an instinct to resent foods that have caused them discomfort. A child’s appetite can change at any time. For example, one month he will eat a lot of pumpkin, and the next month he will be disgusted with pumpkin. Once you understand this, you will know that anorexia can occur in children at all stages of growth. In the first few months of life, if a parent is always trying to get the baby to drink more milk, he will be resistant. Likewise, when you first start feeding solid foods, if your child is not used to it and you make him eat a lot, or force him to eat when he is in a bad mood, he will refuse to eat. Many children become more fussy after 18 months of age, perhaps because they have more ideas, and possibly because they are teething. Pushing your child to eat can further damage their appetite and make it difficult to recover for a long time. Of course, forcing children to eat is not the only cause of anorexia; it may also be the result of some kind of anxiety. However, regardless of the initial cause, parental prodding and anxiety generally make the problem worse so that the child’s appetite does not return. Parents are stressed too When a child doesn’t eat well, the parents are stressed. The most obvious is apprehension – they worry that their child will be malnourished or will lose resistance to general illness. Despite doctors’ repeated assurances to parents that children with eating problems will not have weaker resistance than other children, it is still hard to convince parents. Children who don’t eat well are not at risk. It is important to remember that children are born with extraordinary survival instincts and know how much food they need for normal growth and development, and what food they need. Rarely do we see a child with severe malnutrition, or frequent illnesses, etc. due to picky eating. Of course, when you give your child a physical exam, you should ask your physician about your child’s diet. If you can work together with your doctor, you can ease the stress and worry caused by your child’s picky eating. Have a pleasant meal The goal is not to force your child to eat, but to mobilize his appetite and make him want to eat. Try not to talk about your child’s eating while eating, either to intimidate or encourage. When the child is not stressed, he will notice his appetite. Perhaps you will hear the advice, “Put the meal in front of your child and don’t say anything. after 30 minutes no matter how much he has eaten, you remove the meal and don’t give him anything to eat until the next meal.” This is true, because as long as the child is hungry, he will eat. So this kind of advice is desirable. However, the parents’ attitude should not be angry or used as a means of punishment. In other words, parents should not make a fuss or worry about the eating problem, but keep a tolerant attitude and make the child feel that he eats because he wants to eat by himself. You should prepare something for your child that he likes to eat, to make him crave it at mealtime and can’t wait to eat it. So the first step in developing this attitude toward eating is to make sure that you provide your child with his favorite foods for 2 to 3 months, and at the same time, try to keep his diet balanced by not giving him foods that he doesn’t like. If your child simply does not like a certain type of food and prefers most other foods, you can switch the type of food appropriately, for example, replacing vegetables with fruits, until your child’s appetite is restored or until the concerns and nervousness about eating are completely removed. Don’t give your child too much food at a time For children who don’t eat well, give them small portions of food. If the bowl is piled high with food, it will remind him that he has a lot left over and will spoil his appetite. If you give him a small amount the first time, it will give him the idea that there is not enough to eat, which is exactly what you want. If he has a really small appetite, you should give him a small portion. When the child is done eating, let him ask for it. Even if it takes several days before he asks for more, you should insist on it. Also, it’s a good idea to serve food in a small bowl, as a small amount of food in a large bowl will not feel good to your child.