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. 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. That said, there are ways to help your child foster a healthy relationship with food and encourage them to be adventurous eaters.
2. AVOID TURNING 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.
BRINGING SMILES TO SOUTHINGTON
... ONE PATIENT AT A TIME
We LOVE hearing from happy patients. We could tell you some of their stories, but we think our patients say it best. Here are a few of the things they’ve said about their time at Team Demas. “Dr. Demas took over my case from another orthodontist, and I could not be happier with my new smile. He was able to fix mistakes that had been made by the previous orthodontist, and I truly feel that my teeth are better than they were originally. Everyone in the office is wonderful and makes you feel welcome and comfortable. I highly recommend Team Demas!” —Heather “My son had an accident in February. He broke the alveolar ridge (his skull) that holds his front teeth in place. This all happened right after he had his braces removed. Unfortunately, his bone had to be set at Yale on an emergency basis, and all his teeth shifted. Today, he had braces put back on to move his teeth back. I just wanted to thank Team Demas Orthodontics for doing such a great job! They have a beautiful office in Southington, and they were so professional and welcoming. They made a horrible situation a great experience for us. If anyone is looking for an orthodontist, this is the place to go!” —Melissa
"Team Demas! We absolutely love coming to this office in Southington. The girls are amazing, and it’s all laughs and always super friendly. It’s more like a visit than a doctor’s appointment. We couldn’t be any happier choosing Team Demas for an orthodontist office and would highly recommend Team Demas to anyone looking for the perfect smile!" —Lisa Heather, Melissa, and Lisa, we can’t thank YOU enough for sharing these kind words about us. Thank you for taking the time to leave reviews. We’re so happy we helped bring more smiles to Southington!
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