Also, the eating habits of children can affect their mental and physical development.
What are the causes of an appetite slump in toddlers?
Illnesses are a common reason why children refuse to eat. If this is the case with your toddler, check for signs of a possible illness such as a sore throat, fever, rash, or other symptoms.
If your children display any of these signs, they are probably sick. Contact your doctor immediately for treatment.
Illness aside, some kids show a disinterest during meal times because of the following reasons:
• They eat between meals.
• They drink juices or other kinds of fluids between meals.
• They use less energy than normal.
Tips to improve your child’s appetite
Depending on the child’s personality, age, energy levels, and growth periods, some of the tips below can be useful in addressing her lack of appetite:
1. Make mealtimes fun. You should make eating more enjoyable for your children. Give them a selection of foods and let them choose what they want to eat. Do not force them to eat foods they don’t want to.
2. Put your children in charge of how much they eat. The most common reason why children rarely feel hungry is that they eat too many snacks and meals in a day. Instead, you should put them in charge of the amount of food they eat.
3. Vary your children’s menu. Kids are attracted to colourful and interesting objects. So, why not make mealtimes an interesting event? Cut their foods into shapes like a rabbit, the sun, a cloud, a dog, or any object you know your kids like.
But make sure you include foods from the four groups below:
• Whole grain products like rice, pasta, cereals, bread, and other grain products enriched with folic acid, iron, or other B vitamins
• Vegetables and fruits in bite–sized portions
• Dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheese
• Lean meats, poultry, and fish
4. Avoid distractions. Put away the toys and switch off the TV during mealtimes so they give their food their undivided attention.
5. Serve small portions of food. Your kid’s stomach is small. If they are served more food than they can actually eat, it may look to you as if they’ve lost their appetite, when this is not the case. Remember to feed them smaller amounts and if they want more, wait for them to ask for it.
This article first appeared in hellodoktor.com. It was reviewed by Dr Duyen Le. The Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.