Help, my child won't eat! - NDR-UK

HELP
My child won’t eat!
A guide for families

Help, my child won’t eat!
Many children go through phases of refusing
to eat certain foods or at times refusing to
eat anything at all.
This is a normal stage in young children as they
become wary of new foods. They need time to
learn to like them. Food refusal is often a way
of showing independence and is a normal part
of growing up.
Although it is very worrying, children will not
harm themselves if they don’t eat enough for a
short while. They may need less to eat than you
think.
It may help to discuss the problem with
other parents who have already gone
through the same situation with their
child.
If the problem shows no sign of improving, or if
you are worried about your child’s weight and
growth, you can contact your Health Visitor, GP,
or Dietitian for further advice.
1

What can I do?
Offer regular meals and snacks, as this is better than letting your
child ‘pick’ through the whole day. Young children often need 3
meals and 2-3 nutritious snacks.
Always offer 2 courses at a meal, one savoury and one sweet.
Eat at the same time as your child if possible, as he will learn from
you. Try and make meals enjoyable social occasions.
Keep offering your child new foods even if they refuse them at first.
Many children will need to taste a new food well over a dozen
times before they accept it. Eating new foods together with your
child is important.
Sit together at the table. Use brightly coloured plates and cups.
Present food in fun and attractive ways.
Try and eat in a calm, relaxed area, without the television or toys.
Children are easily distracted!
Try not to rush a meal as your child may be slow to eat. However
don’t let meals drag on for too long – half an hour is about right.
2

How can I help?
NEVER FORCE A CHILD TO EAT
Your child is telling you he has had
enough when:
he turns his head away
he pushes the bowl or plate away or
onto the floor!
he screams or shouts
he spits food out repeatedly
he holds his food in his mouth and
refuses to swallow it.
Although it is a very difficult thing to do,
try not to show that you are worried or
annoyed by your child not eating. If he
does eat, show him you are pleased (for
example, smile and say, ‘good boy, well
done!’). If he stops eating at a meal, try
once to encourage him to eat a little
more. If he doesn’t want anymore,
take the food away without any
comment.
It is a good idea for children to use
their fingers to play with food.
Do not worry if they make a
mess!
When your child eats well offer a
reward such as taking him to the
park or spending some
special time playing together.
Do not offer a reward of food.
3

Which foods do I give when?
� Give small portions of food at meal times. If these are
finished, praise your child and offer more. Do not take
food away and offer a completely different
meal if the first one is refused.
� Finger foods are often easier to manage as a
child can feed himself. Try sandwiches, sausages,
cheese slices, cream cheese on crackers
potato wedges, fish fingers, vegetable
slices and pieces of fruit.
� New foods need to be offered
several times before children will even try them. It is a good idea to offer
at least one thing you know your child will eat at each meal.
� Giving children fizzy drinks, squash, milk, crisps, biscuits or cakes can
fill them up. This means they may have a smaller appetite for food at
meal times. Avoid giving snacks too close to meal times.
Milk is a nutritious drink but should
not replace meals. Be careful not to
let your child drink more than
600ml of milk in total during the
day/night.
4

Sensible eating for 1-5 year olds
Suggestions to help you:
BREAKFAST
Small bowl of breakfast cereal and milk
or toast with butter/margarine and
jam/honey. Cup of milk to drink.
LIGHT MEAL
Sandwich in bitesize shapes e.g. ham and
tomato, cheese and cucumber, peanut
butter or baked beans or cheese on toast.
Small pot of yogurt/fromage frais/fruit.
Cup of water or diluted fruit juice.
MAIN MEAL
Pasta dishes e.g. macaroni cheese,
spaghetti Bolognese.
Chapatti/rice and curry.
Fish in white, cheese or parsley sauce.
Roast meat or mince e.g. shepherd’s pie.
Fish fingers/chicken Nuggets.
- Serve with vegetables e.g. broccoli,
fingers of carrot and swede, peas and
a scoop of mashed potato.
Fruit segments/slices/shapes.
Cup of water or diluted fruit juice.
Also offer 2-3 small nutritious snacks
each day.
See back page for ideas
5

Try a variety of foods for a well balanced diet
Milk and Dairy Foods: Aim for 3 servings a day. These can be given as
full-fat milk, cheese, yoghurts, fromage frais, custard and milk puddings.
Meat, Fish, Eggs, Dhals, Pulses and Nuts: Offer 2 servings a day. All
types of meat and fish are suitable. Many children enjoy minced meat, sausages,
chicken, fish fingers and fish in sauces (try to include an oily fish such as salmon,
mackerel or sardines - once or twice a week). Chick peas, kidney beans and lentils
make good casseroles. Hummus, dhal, eggs and baked beans are good too!
Whole nuts, including peanuts, may cause choking in children under the age of five.
Starchy Foods: Give these foods at each meal. Most children enjoy eating
breakfast cereals and porridge. Other starchy foods to encourage include bread, potatoes,
chapatti, yam and green bananas, pasta, tinned spaghetti, rice and couscous.
Fruit and Vegetables: Offer fruit and vegetables with each meal every day.
Try raw and cooked vegetables; raw, cooked, dried or tinned fruits or pure fruit juice.
Encourage 5 small portions each day, but let your child eat as much
as they choose to.
Fats and Oils: Growing children need some butter/margarine and oils. Adding
oils, butter and cream is a good way to increase calorie intake.
Sugar and Salty Foods: Foods containing sugar are useful for adding extra
calories. Offer them as a pudding and try not to give them between meals. Look after
your child’s teeth. Try and avoid giving too many salty snacks and salty processed
foods.
Vitamins: Children under the age of five should have vitamin drops containing
vitamins A and D. This is particularly important for faddy eaters, and all children of
Asian, African or Middle Eastern descent. Vitamin drops should be available at your
NHS health centre and retail pharmacies. For information on NHS Healthy Start vitamins,
see www.healthystart.nhs.uk.
6

Ideas for nutritious
snacks
Offer 2 or 3 each day
� Cup of milk with a biscuit, cake or muffin.
� Small bowl of cereal and milk.
� Cheese and crackers.
� Breadsticks, chapatti, pitta bread and cream cheese, peanut
butter or hummus.
� Small sandwich.
� Small slice of pizza.
� Apple slice with peanut butter or cream cheese.
� Pancake with spreads such as fruit purée, jam or chocolate
spread.
� Milk shake or fruit smoothie made with milk .
� Fruit pieces or vegetable sticks - for extra calories serve with
yoghurt, cream cheese, peanut butter or hummus.
The BDA Paediatric Group is a
Specialist Group of
The British Dietetic
Association
This information has been produced for SNDRí by Registered Dietitians and other relevant health
professionals. At the time of publication the information contained within the leaflet was, to the best
of our knowledge, correct and up-to-date. Always consult a suitably qualified dietitian and/or your
GP on health problems. SNDRí cannot be held responsible for how clients/patients interpret and use
the information within this resource.
The British Dietetic Association
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