7 tips: food refusal child

Food and nutrition are essential parts of children’s development and growth. If the child does not receive proper nutrition, both school and other aspects of life can suffer. What do you do with children who refuse to eat? Studies conducted here in Sweden show that up to 50% of all children will struggle with eating difficulties during their upbringing. This can be due to pickiness, refusal to eat, or a general problem with food. In other words, as a parent, you are not alone in this.

The truth is that a lot of responsibility will be placed on you as a parent to solve this challenge. After speaking with parents in your situation and with dietitians, it has become clear that there is neither time nor resources from healthcare to provide children and parents with the treatment and support that is actually needed. This is of course highly concerning and distressing. Parents in 2022 therefore need to become experts in handling the challenges that may arise when a child has eating difficulties.

Below are some tips that may be important for you as a parent regarding how to handle children who refuse to eat:

Here a 7 tips for food refusing children

1. Don´t force it

Avoid coercion, as this will not increase your child’s appetite. Forcing your child to eat food could in the long run create negative associations with food and make mealtime a stressful and unpleasant experience.

2. No rewards

Rewarding should also be avoided, unless it is the only solution. If food is used as a reward, the child may start to view certain foods as more desirable or “better” than others, leading to an unbalanced diet. The reason is that reward is linked to performance, which can create an unhealthy relationship between the child and food. If you are struggling to find ways to motivate your child, learn more about our application POOW The Food Hero here. We have developed a game which motivates children who are refusing to eat. 

3. Create a peaceful mealtime

Try to create a harmonious and enjoyable mealtime together and only focus on the food when it’s time to eat. Creating a harmonious and enjoyable mealtime can make a big difference in your child’s willingness to try new foods and eat their meals

4. Need for nutritional supplement?

Consider whether your child may need a nutritional supplement or similar. Nutritional supplements can provide your child with the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients they need to support their growth.  There are a variety of options available, including chewable tablets, liquid supplements, and powdered supplements that can be mixed into food or drinks.

5. Appetite affecting medicines

Is your child taking any medicine that affects their appetite? Ask your dietitian or doctor. In some cases, a dietitian may also be able to provide guidance on how to optimize your child’s nutrition despite any medication-related appetite changes. They can work with you to develop a meal plan that provides adequate nutrients and calories for your child’s needs.

6. You are not a bad parent

It’s important to remember that as a parent, you are doing the best you can to provide for your child. Just because you are struggling to get your child to eat doesn’t mean you are a bad parent or that you are failing in any way.

7. Food training for food refusal

If your child only eats 2-3 foods, food training is especially important as the selection becomes even smaller if the child stops eating any of them. It’s important to prioritise food training in order to expand their food choices. When a child has a limited diet, it becomes even more critical to ensure that they are receiving adequate nutrition from the foods they are willing to eat. 

Updated 22-03-2023

By Philip Fransson

7 tips: food refusal child

Food and nutrition are essential parts of children’s development and growth. If the child does not receive proper nutrition, both school and other aspects of life can suffer. What do you do with children who refuse to eat? Studies conducted here in Sweden show that up to 50% of all children will struggle with eating difficulties during their upbringing. This can be due to pickiness, refusal to eat, or a general problem with food. In other words, as a parent, you are not alone in this.

The truth is that a lot of responsibility will be placed on you as a parent to solve this challenge. After speaking with parents in your situation and with dietitians, it has become clear that there is neither time nor resources from healthcare to provide children and parents with the treatment and support that is actually needed. This is of course highly concerning and distressing. Parents in 2022 therefore need to become experts in handling the challenges that may arise when a child has eating difficulties.

Below are some tips that may be important for you as a parent regarding how to handle children who refuse to eat:

Here a 7 tips for food refusing children

1. Don´t force it

Avoid coercion, as this will not increase your child’s appetite. Forcing your child to eat food could in the long run create negative associations with food and make mealtime a stressful and unpleasant experience.

2. No rewards

Rewarding should also be avoided, unless it is the only solution. If food is used as a reward, the child may start to view certain foods as more desirable or “better” than others, leading to an unbalanced diet. The reason is that reward is linked to performance, which can create an unhealthy relationship between the child and food. If you are struggling to find ways to motivate your child, learn more about our application POOW The Food Hero here. We have developed a game which motivates children who are refusing to eat. 

3. Create a peaceful mealtime

Try to create a harmonious and enjoyable mealtime together and only focus on the food when it’s time to eat. Creating a harmonious and enjoyable mealtime can make a big difference in your child’s willingness to try new foods and eat their meals

4. Need for nutritional supplement?

Consider whether your child may need a nutritional supplement or similar. Nutritional supplements can provide your child with the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients they need to support their growth.  There are a variety of options available, including chewable tablets, liquid supplements, and powdered supplements that can be mixed into food or drinks.

5. Appetite affecting medicines

Is your child taking any medicine that affects their appetite? Ask your dietitian or doctor. In some cases, a dietitian may also be able to provide guidance on how to optimize your child’s nutrition despite any medication-related appetite changes. They can work with you to develop a meal plan that provides adequate nutrients and calories for your child’s needs.

6. You are not a bad parent

It’s important to remember that as a parent, you are doing the best you can to provide for your child. Just because you are struggling to get your child to eat doesn’t mean you are a bad parent or that you are failing in any way.

7. Food training

If your child only eats 2-3 foods, food training is especially important as the selection becomes even smaller if the child stops eating any of them. It’s important to prioritise food training in order to expand their food choices. When a child has a limited diet, it becomes even more critical to ensure that they are receiving adequate nutrition from the foods they are willing to eat. 

Updated 22-03-2023

By Philip Fransson