This is how you can prevent your child from being a picky eater

Is mealtime turning into a battlefield at your house? Watch out! What might seem like a simple tantrum can turn into a bad habit. A child is considered a “picky eater” when they refuse to try new foods, do not eat the amount they should, reject healthy food, or simply do not want to sit down to eat. While for many children it is just a phase, the age at which they stop being picky about food can vary.Why do children become picky eaters?This type of behavior is usually associated with the stage when the child tries to assert their authority, around the age of 2; however, it can also be due to rejection of certain situations (lack of a routine for eating, fights at the table, poor family environment), a health problem that prevents them from eating properly, like reflux, or simply being accustomed to certain foods or flavors from an early age.Tips to make your child eat healthily:Make mealtime a whole experience: create an inviting atmosphere with things that interest them, like talking about their favorite cartoon or activity. Try to maintain a relaxed environment, without fights or distractions like television.Introduce new foods gradually: try to give them foods they like along with new foods, with flavors that combine, that are not too strong for their palate and in small portions. For example, you can prepare some macaroni with cheese with some pieces of mushrooms.Serve their plate in fun ways: whether in the shape of faces, on attractive plates, or in novel presentations. Click HERE to discover delicious recipes designed especially for the little ones at home. You must lead by example: not only ask them to eat healthily, you should do it too. Eat together any main dish or snack during lunch or offer them your fruit snack in the afternoon. Share the habit of eating healthy things.Change the menus: you can include one day with their favorite food, while on the remaining days you can change the menu each week, so they are always looking forward to the surprise of what they will eat that day.Having a picky eater at home complicates planning weekly menus, but with a little imagination, you and your little one will discover that mealtime is one of the best moments to share as a family.If you are out of ideas for the weekly menu, these recipes will help you out:Fruit hot cake tacosQuinoa chicken nuggetsSnail egg sandwich