Cristina, a mother of a 4-year-old child tells the nurse that her child is a very poor eater. What is the nurse’s best recommendation for helping the mother increase her child’s nutritional intake?
A. Use specially designed dishes for children – for example, a plate with the child’s favorite cartoon character
B. Allow the child to feed herself
C. Only serve the child’s favorite foods
D. Allow the child to eat at a small table and chair by herself
Correct Answer: B. Allow the child to feed herself
The best recommendation is to allow the child to feed herself because the child’s stage of development is the preschool period of initiative. Developmental milestones play a role in a less-than-ravenous appetite. When babies begin walking or running, for example, they often prefer playing and moving around to sitting down and eating. Kids around 2 or 3 years of age also eschew mealtime as a way to assert their independence.
Option A: Special dishes would enhance the primary recommendation. Get creative with the presentation. Make food fun with creative shapes and colors or even fancy little plates and cutlery.
Option C: The child should be offered new foods and choices, not just served her favorite foods. Keep offering foods they don’t “like.” Kids are often reticent to eat new foods, so offering it regularly helps it become more familiar.
Option D: Using a small table and chair would also enhance the primary recommendation. If the child knows how to eat with a spoon, don’t get tempted to feed him if he isn’t eating. It may come across as force-feeding and will further lead to a slump in his appetite.