3 TIPS TO PREVENT
Raising a Picky Eater
When you’re trying to feed your child, keep them healthy, and prevent them from becoming one of those weird adults with the stunted palate of a 2-year-old, it may feel like you’re faced with an uphill climb. Research shows that fussy eating may be as linked to genetics as it is to upbringing, not to mention the tangle of other psychosocial factors that can fuel a child’s inscrutable food preferences. That said, there are ways to help your child foster a healthy relationship with food and encourage them to be adventurous eaters. 1. KEEP YOUR EXPECTATIONS IN CHECK. When a child first encounters a new food, they’re going to give it the side-eye.That’s natural. In fact, according to a 2003 study, it may take as many as 12 “exposures” to a new food for it to become familiar, much less something they want to eat. If you put too much pressure on them to eat every last bit of the new food, that particular food won’t fare well in their memories and you’ll have to fight those negative associations from then on. Instead, talk about the new food as you’re preparing it, involve your child in the preparation, and have them check it out on their own terms. Normalizing those Brussels sprouts is half the battle.
2. AVOIDTURNING VEGETABLES INTO CHORES. You might think that offering your child a reward in return for finishing their green beans is a good way to make sure your child gets their nutrients, but it causes more problems than it’s worth. It just reinforces your child’s perception that the green beans are the “bad” food they have to choke down before getting to the good stuff. 3. MAKE A VARIETY OF DISHES. The more monotonous your nightly menu is, the fewer new foods your child will be exposed to, and the harder it will become to introduce healthy newcomers to the table. If your kids like green beans, great, but don’t start serving green beans with every meal just because you know those are the only veggies they’ll eat. Keep it varied and fun, and your kid’s palate will follow. You shouldn’t force your kid to eat food they don’t want to eat, but you shouldn’t cater too closely to their fussy habits either. Present them with a wide variety of the healthy options you want them to eat, and let them discover the joys of taste and texture as they grow. START SMALL: CHOOSE SUGAR-FREE GUM. Reducing your sugar intake is part of a healthy diet. Find sugar-free gum, and if you are a fan of sugary candy, choose ones you aren’t sucking on throughout the day so you avoid constantly coating your smile in sugar. Drinking plenty of water is also helpful to maintain a healthy smile. START SMALL: VISIT YOUR DENTISTTWICE A YEAR. See your dentist every six months and as needed. Set up your reservations in advance and stick to them! Don’t postpone visits. GO BIGGER: QUIT SMOKING. Giving up a smoking habit is a great step toward better oral health.This is different for everyone. For some, quitting cold turkey works.; for others, they might need the support of friends and family. Talk to us and talk to your doctor — we’ll remind you that this is a goal you want to stick to! Of course, it’s easy for us to tell you these things are important. Sometimes we don’t know how important something is until we learn about it. For us, we learned in hygiene school why caring for your smile daily with these practices is so important. For you, it might be doing some research at home to learn more about it — and asking us, of course. Taking control of your health is going to change your life, and it all starts with your smile. Kalie and Caryn
A Word From
This time of year, many of us are beginning to work on our New Year’s resolutions.
Working out, losing weight, and getting healthier can be a lot to tackle all at once, right?
Something we like to do to make these goals more manageable is to start small. Small changes add up to make a big difference. Here are some of our ideas for starting small, beginning with your smile. START SMALL: FLOSS ONCE A DAY. Start small with the goal to floss daily. It’s two extra minutes in the morning or night. It can be before or after you brush, as long as you floss once a day. Once a day is the key. START SMALL: BRUSHTWICE A DAY FOR 2 MINUTES. Once you’ve hit that goal, make sure you’re brushing two times a day for two minutes. It keeps your mouth clean and healthy and keeps bacteria at bay.
-Kalie and Caryn
2 | Elkins Dental
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