This is also the age where parents make the common mistake of saying
something to the effect of "clean your plate, there are starving kids
in Africa." The fact is, your child knows his own body, and knows when
he is full. The amount of food you put on her plate isn't necessarily
the amount that she needs to eat. In fact, when a child sees a portion
of food that is exceptionally large, it tends to be a discouraging
experience from the start.
Start out with small servings, they can
always get more if they're still hungry. Children at this age probably
need fewer calories than most adults believe, which sets up a situation
where parents attempt to force children to eat more than their bodies
really need. The result is either a fat child, or one who resents
mealtime completely. Instead of promoting "more, more, more," try
instead to just provide a good variety of healthy foods.
Of course, during this time you will notice that your child is probably
a "picky" eater. Children at this age may have unusual eating habits,
and for the most part they are harmless. They do tend to like simpler
dishes and do not like foods with strong flavors. They don't like foods
to be mixed. Avoid criticizing these behaviors and preferences, while
still setting limits and expressing your expectations. Besides the
three basic meals a day, an after school snack is also appropriate.
Using food as a reward is very common, but unhealthy. A nutritious and
tasty dessert is just part of the meal, not a reward; using dessert as
a reward may encourage a child to eat more than they need to just to
get the reward.
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