Food aversions in children are common.
At some point in their lives, it’s typical for kids from all different types of backgrounds to form an aversion to a specific type of food, want to eat at odd hours, overeat, under eat, try to avoid eating, hoard food and more.
Sometimes, however, these aversions and behaviors arise from food insecurities — a condition that occurs when an adult or child does not regularly have enough food to eat. As parents and caregivers, we can help our children navigate these negative associations with meals and help them overcome this obstacle.
To do so, we must first get to the root of what is causing your child or adolescent to seem “picky” or “difficult” during mealtimes. Read on to learn how.
Things to Consider with Picky Eaters
If your children lived in another home prior to coming to yours, it’s possible that any one of these situations may have occurred:
- The presence of food was inconsistent in their previous home, so their reaction to eating now may be inconsistent.
- Food was often eaten quickly by another, so they feel the need to “hide food for later” because they are not used to having consistent access to it.
- Food was used as a reward, instead of something that should always be available and unconditional.
- Their physical appearance or weight was criticized by someone, and now they have low self-esteem or body image issues.
On the other hand, if your child has always lived with you (whether he or she is your biological child or was adopted during infancy) and is demonstrating food aversions or similar behaviors, here are a few things to consider:
- A stressful pregnancy or lack of proper healthcare for the birth mother may have caused your child to have developed an insecurity with food/ proper nutrition during in-utero development.
- Your child may have sensory issues, making it hard for him or her to adjust to certain textures or colors of foods, or how meals are displayed (for example, they don’t like different foods touching each other on the same plate).
- Because he or she wants a sense of control, he or she might deny food at certain times or want to have a say in the preparation of meals.
- Your kids, or teens especially, may be living in a constant state of anxiety without realizing it. Upcoming exams, multiple commitments outside of school, expectations a caregiver has of them to perform well, and many other things can all cause them to skip meals or even double up on them.
Have a Conversation About Food
Once you get to the bottom of what might be causing your children to act out in relation to meals, have a conversation with them. Ask them if what you suspect about their association with food is true and actively listen to them. Then, come up with a plan together.
Working with food issues can be a slow process. The Bible says, “Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred” (Proverbs 15:17 NIV). Constant conflicts between you and your child in this area will not help you to move forward. It may take time for you to see growth in this area. Ensure that you have realistic expectations for your child.
Praise them when they take a positive step towards change, no matter how small. Eventually, your open communication and consistency around mealtimes will help them to slowly overcome certain triggers food may bring up for them.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Whether you’re helping your children deal with food aversions or they are healing from a past that included food insecurity, it’s important to remain patient with them. Pray for them and encourage them to understand why they are experiencing certain food aversions. That way, you can walk with them in love on their path to healing.
“Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.” ~Proverbs 15:17 (NIV) APPLICATION
Mealtimes can be stressful for children, and playing a game around the dinner table can help relieve the tension. Play Stuffed! to help your children talk about their feelings when you’re sharing a meal together.
Find it now in the Everyday MomentsTM activities collection!
