By Dr. April Ulmer
As a physician who focuses on the health of children’s gastrointestinal tracts, I often am asked, “How do I get my child to eat?” Over my many years of practicing medicine, I’ve come to learn that what parents really want to know is, “Am I doing this right?” or “Am I doing enough to ensure my child is healthy?”
I’d love to be able to say, “As a tummy doctor and parent myself, I have the key to getting any child to eat anything.” In reality, even I have been guilty of acting as a short-order cook at times to ensure that my girls would eat something (one daughter went years refusing any cheese-containing food; the other decided at age 9 to become vegetarian). The stress of it all, and the inherent self-doubt we all feel at some point as parents, can make it feel like it’s just all too much. That’s why I’m offering tummy-doctor approved tips to help improve your child’s eating habits and overall attitude toward food.
1. RECOGNIZE WHERE YOUR CHILD IS DEVELOPMENTALLY WHEN IT COMES TO EATING BEHAVIOR
“Picky” eating can be very normal behavior at certain ages. Toddlers are notorious for loving a certain food so much that they refuse to eat much else — sometimes for weeks. As soon as parents relent and stock up on enough of their favorite eats to feed a toddler army, the child suddenly decides that he or she hates said food and refuses to eat one more bite of it.
Though disconcerting for parents, this behavior is usually developmentally normal in toddlers and preschoolers. Because their eating behavior tends to be so wonky, the use of objective markers like growth charts is super important. In plain English, if your child is growing well, he or she likely is healthy
2. MAKE MEALTIME FUN
If you allow yourself to become overly stressed during mealtime, your child may begin to negatively associate food and eating with stress. Do your best to remain good natured and relaxed. Make it fun by getting your child involved in meal planning and preparation in an age-appropriate way. What child can resist trying a bit of his or her own culinary creation?
3. BALANCE IS IMPORTANT
Being excessively restrictive with your child’s diet will prevent him or her from learning dietary balance. Incorporate “fun” foods into the meal plan (eg., Taco Tuesdays). Set limits on foods with high sugar content by setting a weekly “sugar budget” for your child. This allows your child to have some autonomy regarding what he or she eats while allowing you to control sugar intake.
4. KNOW WHEN TO SEEK HELP
If your child is an excruciatingly “funny” eater, it is never a bad idea to seek the help of a professional such as a “tummy doctor.” It is important to trust your instincts with regards to your child. For many of the children who come through my door, abnormal eating behavior is being fueled by a physical condition. As a result, they may require evaluations such as laboratory testing, imaging or endoscopy to uncover the cause of their difficulties.
Helping a child become a good eater is a marathon, not a sprint. Remain consistent. Be patient, and remember that every child is different. Do the best you can every day, and in most cases that will be enough. If not, don’t hesitate to seek a professional who can confirm or deny your suspicions, and help guide your child toward a healthy, lifelong relationship with food.
Dr. April Ulmer, a.k.a. “The Tummy Dr.,” is a board-certified pediatric gastroenterologist who practices at Kids and Tummies in Gulfport. Reach her at thetummydr@gmail.com.