Is your child demanding nuggets for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Does he or she refuse anything besides eggs? Don’t worry, picky eating in children is common.
But your child may or may not grow out of it – however, that’s not something you should wait around for. Studies have revealed that children become established picky eaters when their diets become very controlled1.
But controlling your child’s nutrition is nothing to be ashamed of because as parents, we just want the best for them. Plus, if we didn’t have a bit of control, they would probably end up eating everything they could get their hands on!
However, picky eating can have major consequences when it comes to your child’s growth and development, so it can be a cause for concern.
So, what are the root causes of picky eating?
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There are various causes of picky eating such as early feeding difficulties, pressure to eat and food choosiness2.
Additionally, studies on children between the ages of one and five revealed that unrealistic expectations from parents cause unnecessary concern, while threats or punishments may cause a child’s refusal to eat3. What this means is that setting overly high standards on your child’s diet might fuel their dislike towards a certain food or limit them from experiencing other cuisines.
Also, many parents give in to their child’s food desires or stick with what they are used to eating – this may be an easier way to get your child to eat, but it can leave their taste buds stuck to the same flavours, leading them to refuse trying anything new.
In addition to that, your child may not get adequate nutrition especially if they only consume from specific food groups. In fact, they may suffer from short-term or long-term nutrient deficiencies in cases where the child is extremely selective4.
So, how does picky eating affect your child’s growth?
When your child pushes away their veggies or turns away new foods, giving in to what they want to eat is a simpler option.
However, studies have shown that picky eating leads to a higher risk of being underweight, poor growth or even, lead them to becoming overweight – this could be driven by poor diet variety, especially the rejection of vegetables, which are crucial as a nutritional source for vitamins and minerals5.
For example, a child who does not eat enough vegetables may result in lack of dietary fibre which is linked to constipation in picky eaters6 – a much more serious consequence of poor vegetable intake puts them at greater risk of developing heart disease or even, bowel cancer in their later stages of life7.
Moreover, lack of such food groups or an overall, balanced diet could result in nutrient deficiency which means your child may not be getting enough vitamins, minerals or fibre. Fruits and vegetables are also a good source of Vitamin C, which the body needs to fight infection, heal wounds and absorb iron8.
In addition to that, it was found that other issues such as fear of unfamiliar places, poor physical activity, constipation and medical illnesses were more prevalent in picky eating children, according to data provided on children aged between two and four in Taiwan9.
This could be attributed to the fact that they lack exposure to diet varieties where they may not be open to new experiences, while medical issues can stem from them not getting enough nutritional content because they are so adamant on specific foods.
In brief, picky eating hampers their bodies from getting balanced nutrition that is crucial to their overall growth and development.
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Nevertheless, it has been stated that with early identification and intervention of picky eating in children, as well growth surveillance is a way that you can possibly curb these issues10.
But if you have already discovered your child is a picky eater, it’s best to change their eating habits within their early years. As we mentioned, lack of variety in your child’s diet can lead to a distortion of nutrient intakes.
In fact, studies have found that there is a link between picky eating and growth as there was a prevalence of thinness in picky eaters11. So, it’s best to act and intervene early when you notice your child’s picky eating habits!
So, here are some three quick tips on how you can curb picky eating for your child to get those nutrients in
- Involve your child in grocery shopping & meal planning: Getting your child to the grocery shop with you allows them to engage with the food products and gets them excited to eat. You can explain items on the list as a fun, delicious food and narrate them in a desirable way. Following that, allowing them to plan their own meals is also a great way to curb a picky eater – however, make sure you tell them they can only pick a meal from the food items you put in front of them. This also allows them to be creative!
- Keep mealtimes intimate: As tempting as it may be to put a screen in front of them during mealtimes, try taking away the distractions. Turn off the television, put away your phone and engage with your child during meal times. Have a conversation or eat the same meal with him or her – they are more likely to focus on their food.
- Get creative: Children love fun and colourful things – that’s why toys are so popular! So, why not try modelling their food creatively? You can shape the rice into cute, fun animals and plate their fruits or vegetables as a forest area, or into other creative shapes. If you get them to join in, they might be more willing to eat it later too!
Balance, variety and moderation in terms of nutrition are the keys for your child to reach their full growth and development potential, which is why picky eating is met with many issues – they’re just not getting enough nutrients.
However, at times, all efforts to turn your child’s habits in order for them to get the right nutrients in their vulnerable bodies might fail, which is why turning to a nutritional source such as Milnutri Sure might be the right way.
Introducing MILNUTRI SURE, the new catch-up growth formula for your child
Milnutri Sure is especially formulated to support your child’s ‘catch-up growth’ – it is a formula dietary food that helps provide complete and balanced nutrition for your child.
It is specially formulated with 100% of the Recommended Nutrient Intake for Malaysia (2017) with selected nutrients*** that contribute to a child’s growth and development. It also contains IcFOS and inulin, which are prebiotics that support a good intestinal environment for your child.
This is crucial for your child’s body to be able to absorb nutrients properly and support crucial bodily functions – the bodily functions include warding off infectious bacteria, viruses and fungi, as well as supporting brain health.
Meanwhile, Milnutri Sure also contains these key nutritional components:
- Lysine: This is an essential amino acid that needs to be provided in daily diets of children.
- Calcium and Vitamin D, Arginine: Calcium supports strong bones and teeth, while Vitamin D is important for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. Meanwhile, Arginine is an amino acid required by synthesis of protein.
- Highest DHA 88mg/100g** & OMEGA 3,6,9: These are found abundantly in the brain
To top it off, Milnutri Sure tastes great and has zero sucrose* to encourage healthy eating. With a balanced diet and Milnutri Sure (an energy-dense formula at 1kcal/ml) as a supplement, you can notice visible growth in 4 weeks^#!
So, are you ready to give Milnutri Sure a try? Request for a free sample now!
And for more information, check out Milnutri Sure’s website or Facebook page.
*** Selected nutrients according to age group, based on Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) for Malaysia 2017:
1 – 3 years: ≥ 100% RNI for vitamin E, K, B2, C and iodine;
4 – 6 years: ≥ 100% RNI for protein, Vitamin E, K, B2, C and iodine; and
7 – 9 years: ≥ 100% RNI for vitamin E, K, B2, C and iodine.
** Milnutri Sure DHA (88mg/100gm) content is based on other Formula Dietary Food for children aged 1-10 in similar Recommended Consumer Price within range of RM90-110/kg basis as of May 2020.100g.
* No sucrose were added during production nor detected in final product.
^ Body weight improvement of 0.5kg in children aged 3 to 6 years with weight for height z- score between -1 to -3 in 28 days. Reference: Devaera, Yoga, et al. “Comparing Compliance and Efficacy of Isocaloric Oral Nutritional Supplementation Using 1.5 kcal/mL or 1 kcal/mL Sip Feeds in Mildly to Moderately Malnourished Indonesian Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition 21.4 (2018): 315-320.
#Follow recommended intake per day (2 glasses for 1-3 years old, 3 glasses for 4- 6 years old, 4 glasses for ≥ 7 years old) and used as supplement on top of a normal dietary intake of children.
Reference
- (2020, May 26). Study: Children May Not Always Grow Out of Being Picky Eaters. Retrieved April 2, 2021, from https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/rounds/study-children-may-not-always-grow-out-of-being-picky-eaters
- (n.d.). Picky eating in children: causes and consequences – PubMed. Retrieved April 2, 2021, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30392488/
- (n.d.). The ‘picky eater’: The toddler or preschooler who does not eat. Retrieved April 2, 2021, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3474391/
- (2018, February 10). What makes kids picky eaters — and what may help them get over it. Retrieved April 26, 2021, from https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/what-makes-kids-picky-eaters-what-helps-them-get-over-ncna846386
- (2018, July 11). Growth and body composition in children who are picky … – Nature. Retrieved April 2, 2021, from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41430-018-0250-7
- (n.d.). Picky eating in children: causes and consequences – PubMed. Retrieved April 26, 2021, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30392488/
- (n.d.). Kids Health Information : Nutrition – school-age to adolescence. Retrieved April 26, 2021, from https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Nutrition_older_children/
- (n.d.). Kids Health Information : Nutrition – school-age to adolescence. Retrieved April 26, 2021, from https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Nutrition_older_children/
- (2018, February 12). Association of Picky Eating with Growth, Nutritional Status …. Retrieved April 2, 2021, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5816267/
- (2018, July 11). Growth and body composition in children who are picky … – Nature. Retrieved April 2, 2021, from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41430-018-0250-7
- (n.d.). Growth and body composition in children who are picky eaters: a …. Retrieved April 15, 2021, from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41430-018-0250-7
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