Positive Peer Pressure!

The circumstances do not always allow for your picky or 'problem eater' child to be in a lunch or snack setting where they can observe and interact with children around their own age; however, if you can arrange for this set up it is ideal! Children have a way with each other, even if it is just by being themselves and being silly with their food or talking about their likes/dislikes, examining the food properties, etc. I wanted to share a great site with many links to a son helping his mother in the kitchen. One reason I so love these natural and realistic video posts is because here are Real Life examples of how you can be a role model for your child! Here is a link to Roni's GreenLiteBites in which she and her son are making a healthier version of a chicken nugget. I encourage you to watch some of these videos with your child! I'd consider this a baby step toward having your own child become more comfortable with meal time experiences...food preparation, smelling and touching are all steps toward the bigger picture, which is Eating!

If you are reading this post and thinking "my child would never do this" or "he would never eat this"...remember that you can adapt most anything and create your own recipes! Pairing favorite foods with something like chicken is a great idea as mentioned in a previous post re: coating chicken in a favorite chip or crunchy coating. The exposure of being around or in the kitchen while you are cooking is very therapeutic for a child who has many food aversions. I encourage you to pay attention to his/her cues and if you think he is getting overwhelmed or overstimulated, simply take a step or two back and try again later!