Many parents are often worried when their children eat less, refuse vegetables or do not gain weight as desired. Therefore, many parents choose to force their children to finish their portions, coax them or create pressure in each meal. However, forcing children to eat can negatively affect their eating habits and psychology.
Dr. Shelly Gupta - neonatal and pediatric doctor at Motherhood Hospital (Gurgaon, India) - said that each child has different tastes and eating preferences. Forcing children to eat often causes children to develop a feeling of discomfort with food, even fear of meals or eating less in the long run.
Forced eating can take place in many forms such as forcing children to eat all the food even when they are full, forcing them to eat dishes they don't like, comparing children with other children or not giving children the right to decide how much to eat and when to eat. Some parents also put pressure by threatening or prolonging the time spent eating.
Young children often know when they are hungry and when they are full. If they are often forced to eat, children may gradually lose this feeling, easily leading to eating too much or too little later.
According to Dr. Gupta, forcing children to eat can make children lose appetite, lose appetite and gradually develop a fear or aversion to meals. This prolonged situation can also lead to unhealthy eating habits as children grow up.
Doctors recommend that parents be patient when children refuse new foods instead of forcing or creating pressure. Young children often need time to get used to the taste and processing of new foods, so refusing a few times is quite normal.
Parents should also pay attention to whether the child is really hungry before meals. If the child has just had milk, a light snack, or is too tired, eating less is understandable. Monitoring meal times, snacks, and sleep can help parents better understand their child's eating habits.
Another common mistake is giving children too many servings. Because children's stomachs are smaller than adults', the appropriate amount of food is also less. Doctors believe that each serving should only have a moderate amount equal to the child's palm.
Parents are also encouraged to eat with their children, create a cheerful atmosphere during meals and let children participate in choosing food when going to the supermarket. This helps children be more interested in eating and easily accept healthy foods.
Instead of focusing too much on how much children eat, parents should prioritize building positive eating habits and balanced nutrition in the long term.
