Many families struggle with a fussy eater at dinner time. It can be oh so stressful and quite overwhelming for you, as the mum, who is usually left feeling guilt, shame and frustration at not being able to help your child to thrive. It is no wonder.
Unfortunately, there is NO ‘one size fits all’ approach to guiding your fussy child to eat the exact right foods for their body. For this reason, I spend 6 whole months coaching mums in my one-on-one Healthy Adventurous Eaters Program. Fortnightly sessions where we troubleshoot and devise achievable steps that will actually bring SUCCESS!
So when I am asked for some fussy eating tips out of the blue, I may appear at a loss or with a blank look on my face whilst the questions start popping, like popcorn, in my mind!
Below is a ‘short’ list of family factors that I consider when I coach mums like you. I wrote these to show you why generic fussy eater tips may not be matching up with all of your family factors and why the more individualised help you get, the more easily you will help your little one.
And also to show you why just so many families are confused and overwhelmed at where to start with their fussy eater. I want to say ‘you CAN do it, you just need to take it slow and steady with considerations for all of your ‘family factors’’. And of course a bit of know how J
Meals
- Types of meals family enjoys
- Family’s take on ‘healthy’ and ‘clean eating’
- If families eat together
- Dynamics of those at the meal table
- Particular food sensitivities for family members
Budget
- Budget for clean food, ‘super foods’ and supplements
- Budget for alternative health practitioners
Time
- To plan out food options for fussy one
- To cook/prepare particular food options and tie this in with family meal
- To troubleshoot and learn more about fussy eating to gain more success
- To spend at meal table, working on desensitisation
- Spent on self and family, to ensure ‘balance’ in it all
Child
- Their age and cognitive abilities
- Child’s health and development ‘opportunities’
- Any past ‘food trauma’
- Their take on their fussy eating
- Their personality and ‘overexcitabilities’
- Food and/or chemical sensitivities
- Their relationship with family members
Siblings
- How many
- Their age
- Their own health and development ‘opportunities’
- Their take on focus around fussy eating for child
- Their personality and ‘overexcitabilities’
- Food and/or chemical sensitivities
Mum
- Motivation to take a stand for her child’s health
- Cooking skills and interest in being in the kitchen
- Her health and inclination to support her own wellbeing
- Her food preferences
- Her personality and ‘overexcitabilities’
- Her conviction in bringing in more nutrients and possibly eliminating culprit foods
- Her voice in standing up for her children against the doubters and sceptics and ‘old school traditionalists’
- Her openness to seeking help for her child
Dad
- Involvement in family life
- His take on fussy eating and healthy eating
- His personality and ‘overexcitabilities’
- His food preferences
Now that sounds very INVOLVED doesn’t it! But actually this is just the picture I paint as I get to know your family, which helps me to coach you. And hence I can work online with you and never actually meet your child. Although I do love photos and little waves on Skype!
Would you like your child eating the nutritious foods you know they need? Would you like mealtimes to be peaceful and successful at your place?
Then click on the link for more information and book in for your session to discuss if it is the right program for you and your family.
In empowered mums and vibrant children
Heidi
