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9 year old won't eat healthy foods
In article > ,
(H) wrote:
> Hi,
>
> My 9 year-old niece is visiting us for the summer. She has always been
> an active and skinny kid, but this year I noticed that she gained a
> lot of weight-- not obese, but definately a big belly for her age.
>
> Anyways, we are into cooking and like to make a large variety of
> dishes, as well as go out to eat at interesting restaurants.
>
> The problem is that this girl is literally repulsed by even the most
> innocuous foods-- any amount of spice or even any new flavor will
> cause her to reject the food immediately and refuse loudly and
> stubbornly to eat the food again. Bland foods like steamed carrots are
> eaten in slow and counted nibbles. Ethnic foods are out of the
> question.
>
> On the other hand, she eats adult-size portions of junk food,
> mcdonalds, and heaps of mayonaise.
>
> That side of the family has a lot of obesity and now I am afraid that
> I am going to lose the active little girl I once knew as she enters
> her pre-teen years and becomes obese and unhealthy. We try hard to
> avoid making every meal a confrontation. In order to keep from
> alienating here completely, we do periodically give in to her cravings
> for what she calls "regular food" (chicken nuggets, one salad leaf
> submerged in ranch dressing, etc).
>
> We have her for a few weeks every summer. What strategies can we try
> to at least get her to try some good foods? Recipes, perparation
> ideas, etc..?
>
> I have been thinking about making her go "cold turkey" while she
> visits us by preparing only healthy foods whether she approves or not.
> Eventually, I am thinking that hunger will get the best of her and she
> will simply start eating the healthy foods and perhaps develop a taste
> for them.
Some girls gain weight just before the onset of the puberty growth
spurt. That may be what's going on; then again, she may be getting into
the bad habits of her family. Is her activity level similar to previous
years?
You probably can't do much to change her habits once she leaves, but
while she's under your roof you can handle meals your way. Say things
like, "We do things differently here than at your home. This is OUR
regular food." Have her help prepare meals. Work from basic cookbooks
like Betty Crocker, Joy of Cooking, or Better Homes & Gardens. Any one
of these cookbooks will have recipes that won't be too weird for a
9-year-old. Take her along when you go to the grocery store or farmers'
markets. Encourage her to try the samples that are offered--provided
they're not chicken nuggets. Go berry-picking and make a fruit salad or
cobbler.
Good luck.
Cindy
--
C.J. Fuller
Delete the obvious to email me
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