Satisfying Fussy Eaters as Easy as 1, 2 and Omega-3

Satisfying Fussy Eaters as Easy as 1, 2 and Omega-3

Mealtimes can be a source of frustration for many Australian parents with recent research showing 80% are concerned about their child's eating habits and one third worry that their child isn't eating enough.

Fox FM's Jo Stanley is one mother who knows about feeding a fussy toddler. Talking about her daughter Willow, she says mealtimes can be unpredictable.
"There's the issues of trying to get her to sit still long enough to eat, the fact that one day she'll eat all day and then the next three days I can barely get her to eat half a sandwich the entire day, and the mysterious case of the spitting out of food mid-chew for no apparent reason other than she likes the mess," said Stanley.

But according to the experts, mealtimes don't have to be madness, if parents take a practical approach to nutrition requirements and establish healthy eating habits early.

"Feeding fussy toddlers healthy food needn't be an uphill battle," says Sharon Natoli - Accredited Practising Dietitian and Director of Food & Nutrition Australia.
"Often parents worry about their toddler's nutritional requirements and can be tempted to offer less nutritious foods as convenient tummy fillers. But it's worth putting the effort into establishing healthy eating habits early in life as this can help prevent nutrition and food related issues later, such as fussy eating, obesity and poor nutrient intakes," warns Natoli.

According to Natoli, success at mealtimes is about being realistic.
"A toddler's appetite can vary from day to day so don't worry about meeting the exact recommended daily intake of nutrients every day - instead, try to provide a balanced diet over the course of the week. Fortified foods that are boosted with important nutrients can also help toddlers meet key nutritional requirements.

"For example, getting a fussy toddler to eat a salmon steak can be challenging, but it isn't the only way for them to get their Omega-3 DHA.
"Foods with added Omega-3 DHA - sourced from marine algae - such as eggs, milk and yoghurt are excellent sources of a variety of nutrients for fussy eaters and they tend to be foods most kids like! They are also versatile as they can be used in a range of recipes," said Natoli.

Omega-3 DHA is a 'super nutrient' found in marine algae as well as oily fish. It is crucial for the healthy development of the brain, eyes and heart. It's important for adults but particularly important for infants and toddlers because that's when the brain and eyes are still growing and developing.

"Between birth and five years of age, the human brain grows to 90% of its adult size. So having DHA in the diet in the early years is important to help support brain development," said Natoli.

Studies have shown that one year olds who had DHA-supplemented baby food since weaning had better eye-sight - equivalent to one line on the eye chart better vision - than those who received baby food that did not contain DHA.

The Australian Nutrient Reference Values recommend that children (between the ages of 1-13 years) consume 40-70mg per day of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. However, currently, Australian research shows 9 out of-10 Australian kids don't get enough omega-3 in their diets.

10 Tips to Avoid Meal-Time Madness:
1. Involve your toddler in meal preparation - ask them to peel a banana for you, grate a carrot together, help you whisk some eggs or pour their own milk on cereal
2. Have fun with food presentation - toddlers like colourful food in bite-sized pieces, try making mini fruit skewers or serving bite sized cheese slices on top of halved cherry tomatoes.
3. Relax and eat together - Keep calm and don't make a fuss of whether your child is eating or not. Don't nag or bribe kids to eat. Instead, be a good role model - if your child sees you eating they will be more likely to join in.
4. Encourage your child to feed themselves - Expect a mess and use surfaces that are easily cleaned. Make sure you have plenty of healthy snacks available and always supervise their eating, to avoid any risk of choking.
5. Choose fortified foods - if oily salmon isn't a favourite, offer alternative sources of Omega-3 DHA. Special brands of yoghurt, eggs and milk are enriched with a vegetarian, algal source of Omega-3 DHA which is crucial to healthy brain, heart and eye development.
6. Offer two or three different foods at a mealtime and offer new foods more than once - For example, offer bread, meat, and different vegetables - fussy toddlers may not be inclined to venture into new food territory but don't be put off, keep offering new foods, but don't force them to eat.
7. Be realistic about the amount a toddler can eat and the effort you put into making your child's meals. Don't feel resentful when they refuse to eat.
8. Limit snacks throughout the day - Appreciate that your child's stomach is small. Limit snacks to just one piece of fruit, a small tub of yoghurt, or a slice of raisin toast.
9. Offer food before milk or juice at meal-times - Too many drinks of milk or fruit juice may fill them up.
10. Assess your child's food intake over the week, rather than daily. A toddler's appetite can vary from day to day so don't worry about meeting the exact recommended daily intake of nutrients every day - instead, try to provide a balanced diet over the course of the week.

Life'sDHA is a vegetarian, sustainable source of Omega-3 DHA derived from marine algae. Produced by U.S. based Martek Biosciences Corporation, it is available in a range of foods in Australia including Vaalia- my first yogurt, S-26 Gold Formula and Rafferty's baby food. Life'sDHA has no ocean-borne contaminants potentially found in fish oils and fish (including methyl mercury), and is free of the allergens associated with fish proteins. For more information about life'sDHA and Martek go to: www.lifesdha.com.au or www.facebook.com/FeedingFussyToddlers