Many parents have the same annoyance: their babies are really picky eaters: some are determined not to drink milk, some are determined not to eat eggs; some see tofu on the pout, some eat lamb to vomit …… On the contrary, those so-called “junk” food, such as cookies, cakes, candy, sweet drinks, fried chips, instant noodles …… are almost always the baby’s natural love, Cakes, candy, sweet drinks, fried potato chips, instant noodles …… are almost always the baby’s natural love. Childhood eating is the foundation for a lifetime of taste formation, and children who are picky eaters as children are likely to continue this bad habit for the rest of their lives, affecting their lifelong health. The direct result of rejecting many nutrient-rich fresh foods and loving high-fat, high-sugar foods is an imbalance in nutrition and a thin or fat body in children. But how can babies be picky eaters? How can we change their habits? 7 reasons why babies are picky eaters 1. Taste preference due to eating sweet foods in advance This is one of the most common reasons why young children are picky eaters. Babies’ taste buds are far more sensitive than those of adults, and they can drink sweet flavors even from breast milk that adults feel is bland and tasteless. In fact, too much salt is toxic to the immature kidneys of infants and toddlers, condiments such as MSG and chicken can also interfere with the amino acid balance of infants and toddlers, and sugar is also harmful to the nutritional balance. Therefore, babies within one year of age do not need to give any salt and sugar, and it is fine to eat food directly in its light original taste. If no artificially flavored food is given, and even sweetened juices are diluted to a light sweetness before feeding the child, then the child will really enjoy the light sweetness of mashed carrots and steamed pumpkin, the lightness of corn paste and brown rice porridge, and the freshness of ground chicken and duck liver puree. However, many parents do not understand this, but please their babies as if they were pets, giving their children all kinds of processed foods that they find delicious, and think that children are born to eat sweets, and deliberately add white sugar when making food, and give children processed foods containing all kinds of additives, sugar, flavorings, and flavor enhancers. These foods even adults feel strong taste, the child is a great taste stimulation. 2, influenced by the environment on food taste preferences Another of the most important reasons for children’s partial food, is the influence of the surrounding environment. All kinds of food discussion around the people will be overheard by children, and a variety of views on food. For example, children have no discernment and are particularly susceptible to the influence of their peers, so they easily accept all the interesting advertisements for snacks on TV because the children on TV eat such foods. Another example is that parents and friends think that beef is the supreme delicacy, the child is less likely to have an aversion to beef, rather he will be proud to eat this food. Parents themselves do not like green vegetables, children are also prone to alienation of green vegetables feelings. If parents and friends among the phenomenon of partial food, and this behavior is recognized and tolerated by others, then the baby will take it for granted that picky food, and even feel that this is a way to show that they are different and get more attention. The most incredible thing is that some parents even despise those who are not picky eaters in front of their children, thinking that “everything eats, really low”, the child will naturally think that picky eating means that they are noble, they are favored. 3, because of the strong taste of food and aversion As mentioned earlier, compared to adults, children’s sense of taste is more sensitive, which means that the special smell and taste of food more sensitive. Some adults think “delicious” strong taste of food, young children may feel overly strong stimulus, and thus instinctively produce a rejection. This may be the main reason why foods with distinctive flavors such as garlic, celery, parsley, and peppers are so objectionable. Therefore, before children go to school, especially in the early years of 1 to 3 years old, they should be prepared with meals that taste lighter than those of adults, and there is no need to force them to accept foods with harsh smells right away. As long as these foods are always available at home, adults eat these foods normally, then as they grow older, children learn by ear, sooner or later, they will slowly accept them. 4, due to improper cooking aversion Today many parents cooking level is often not as good as it should be, not good at cooking many ingredients, it is no wonder that children do not like to eat. For example, a good green vegetables, do the taste stuffed, taste strange, the baby feel awkward is not difficult to understand. Some children find a certain dish made at home unpalatable and have always refused to eat it, but one day at someone else’s home or in a restaurant, eat this food in a different way, it is likely to be gladly accepted. A mother once told me that her baby used to refuse to eat her fried garlic chard, but when she changed the way she cooked the chard in chicken soup, her baby suddenly loved it. As soon as I heard it, I understood that she had fried the cabbage old, the stalks were too tough, and the baby didn’t like the taste of garlic. The way the chicken soup is cooked makes the dish soft, with a fresh taste and no garlic taste, so the baby accepts the baby bok choy. Therefore, parents do not have to conclude that their children hate a certain dish because they refuse to eat it, but to distinguish between the concepts of “this dish is not good” and “this food does not like to eat”, and try to improve their own cooking skills and try a variety of cooking methods for one ingredient. Try a variety of ways to cook an ingredient. How about this: “Baby, today mommy may not make it very good, tomorrow mommy will try it again in a different way, okay?” 5. Food does not meet the interests of young children. It is also important to consider that babies’ sense of touch and vision are also very sensitive. They like foods that are beautiful and small, and lack interest in things that are too large in shape, too thick, and dull in color. If the baby feels that it is too much effort to eat, it will not be able to finish it, it will become intimidated. Some manufacturers of children’s food is to seize these characteristics of children, so that children “love” some small snacks. Therefore, to make food for children, should be made small, cute, can be grasped by hand, or a bite to eat in. Many smart moms make their children’s dinner plates interesting, eggs into the sun, vegetables into grass, carrots cut into flowers, so that the process of eating becomes vivid and interesting, it is easier for children to eat with great pleasure. 6, good and bad because of emotional factors Children may also be because of some bad emotions and resent certain foods. If at the dinner table, children are reprimanded for not eating a certain food, it is likely to make them resent this food; and if parents use a certain food as a reward, it is likely to make them love this food more. Characters on TV and in movies eating certain foods may also excite children’s interest in such foods, such as cartoons with Popeye eating spinach episodes, so that millions of children also gladly accept spinach. Therefore, try not to associate food with a certain negative emotion, but to praise the advantages of the baby’s love of a variety of foods, so that the baby can experience the positive energy brought by food. 7, due to eating discomfort and revulsion In a few cases, the baby does feel oral or gastrointestinal discomfort after eating a certain food, he or she instinctively expresses revulsion. Therefore, parents do not have to force their children to eat certain things, but to closely observe the child’s reaction. In particular, foods that may cause allergies or mucosal damage should be observed with extra care. When the child is stronger and older, there will be many opportunities to accept foods that are not acceptable. Parents are the first teachers of their children, and many of their children’s behaviors can be explained by their parents. Everyone’s eating problems are strongly influenced by the family environment. Therefore, before accusing your baby of being a partial eater, you and your mother should first ask yourself these questions: 1. 2. Why did I not like certain foods when I was a child? Has it changed now? 3.Have you ever given your baby something sweet, salty or fresh when you first added complementary foods? 4.Have you ever allowed your baby to eat all kinds of commercially available processed foods with attractive flavors? 5.Have you ever let your baby be exposed to various food advertisements on TV? 6.Have you ever revealed your baby’s special preference for certain foods in front of him/her? 7.Have you ever evaluated the taste of food in front of your baby? 8.Baby has the tendency of partial eating, do you let him choose freely or reprimand him severely? 9.Do you pretend that your baby does not want to eat certain foods, or do you often mention it? 10.What kind of food does your baby like to eat, do you often mention it, and will use it to win his heart? 11.Have you tried to let your baby get close to and familiar with various natural foods? 12.Have you tried to improve your cooking skills to make the natural food more delicious? 13.Have you always told your baby about the benefits of eating natural foods for physical development? Tips to improve your baby’s partial eating The most important thing to do to keep your child from being partial or picky is to form a good eating atmosphere at home. To do this, parents themselves need to have a good eating habit and correct eating concept, and be good at creating a relaxed eating environment. 1, give food a fair position Parents should be rational and fair attitude towards food, not picky, not partial food. Never say what food is high class and what food is low class; nor what food is delicious and what food is difficult to eat. If a dish is really difficult to eat, it can only be said to be improperly cooked, but not derogatory to the food itself. 2, often explain the relationship between food and health Educate your child from an early age to understand one thing: a healthy diet can produce healthy people, eating without attention, it is difficult to grow into a beautiful body, smart mind. Combine not being a picky eater with the goals that your baby focuses on, such as growing taller, having strength, becoming beautiful, etc., and give suitable examples to demonstrate the harmful effects of not eating properly, and he will be more receptive to these truths. 3. Involve children in the preparation of food If children are allowed to learn more about food, they will have a psychological identification with it and can reduce their prejudice against many foods. For example, you can let children and adults go to the suburbs to see how vegetables grow in the vegetable fields, go to the supermarket with mom and dad, help adults choose and wash vegetables, older children can also make their own coleslaw, or even let them grow their own seedlings and sprout beans at home …… these will become very good food education. Children will also love their own participation in the production of these foods. 4, avoid the interference of other people’s picky eating If there are many children or adults around picky eating, parents can talk about these things with an attitude of disapproval, while affirming that their own baby will not do so. If other people’s children crave junk food, point out in a critical manner that these foods are of low value and that allowing children to eat them is a sign of poor quality family diet. At the same time, praise your own family’s quality ingredients, original dishes, and homemade healthy snacks in front of your children, so that they can be proud of the family food made by their parents. You can also cite children who have better eating habits as examples and praise them for their good habits. 5, calmly treat your child’s picky eating behavior If your child does not eat certain foods, neither make a fuss, criticize excessively and make your child resist, nor condone affirmation and reinforce picky eating behavior. Such foods should continue to be part of the dinner table, except that parents can ask: What do you think is wrong with this dish? Then promise the child that next time it will be cooked better. Don’t remind others that children don’t eat certain foods or love certain foods in particular. If parents and the elderly are hanging on the mouth every day to say “baby does not like to eat this,” the result will not expect the baby will actively eat it. 6, improve home cooking methods Many foods are rejected because of improper home cooking methods. Parents may want to learn cooking skills, cut the food smaller, suitable for children to eat; make the food more delicious, with more beautiful food utensils to serve. As long as the food tastes soft and looks lovely, children will usually be happy to accept it. 7, to help children analyze food advertising Children are strong herd mentality, curiosity is also strong, the most vulnerable to the influence of advertising. Parents need to try to keep their children away from junk food advertisements. If they can’t avoid it, they need to be guided frequently. Let them know that food with lots of advertisements is not the same as good and healthy food, and that the attractive taste may contain things that are not healthy. 8. Encourage your child’s every progress If your child accepts something he did not eat before, or gives up a particular favorite snack, or becomes more reasonable in his diet, parents can give appropriate mental rewards, or other non-food forms of encouragement to motivate him to form good eating habits. Make him feel that this good behavior is associated with good personal evaluations such as being grown up, knowledgeable, wise, and nurturing. What if your child really doesn’t eat certain things? Try these tips: 1. Make a filling of this food and wrap it in other foods to eat. 2. Combine this food with other foods and eat it unobtrusively as an ingredient. 3, find a substitute for this food that can provide the same nutritional value. 4.Find other children who love these foods to help the child accept this food psychologically. 5.Let the person the child admires most share a meal with him and see what others eat smells good. 6, find the child’s favorite restaurant in the taste, order dishes containing such foods. In fact, the baby’s behavior is, to a large extent, indeterminate and changeable. What they hate today, they may be able to accept tomorrow. If parents are properly guided, a single experience of refusing a particular food does not fix an aversion to it. As children get older, they will accept more and more natural ingredients and enjoy their deliciousness.