Battling our children over meal times can seem like a never ending battle. But the dinner time battle goes beyond just getting them to eat a fruit or vegetable. Here are a few other things to keep in mind around meal time.
1. Don’t make them clean their plate. Kids typically eat when hungry and stop when full. Let them learn how to be in tune with their bodies and truly understand the feeling of hunger and fullness.
2. Sugary Rewards: If you eat your veggies, you get a cupcake! This approach implies that the veggie is not appealing, but the dessert is the best thing ever. Make dessert a separate dish.
3. No Sweets, EVER! Limit sweets but don’t forbid them, be reasonable and try to teach them moderation.
4. Snacking too much- Kids don’t need to snack every hour. That’s called grazing and is a bad habit to fall into. Don’t give snacks for boredom, and make the 2 hours before dinner snack-free.
5. Sodas and liquid calories- fruit juices, sports drinks, sodas and more should not make up a large portion of their calories. Limit them to water or milk, and on occasion a very diluted fruit juice.
What are some of your dinner time rules?
