Food-fussy children store health problems for later

Food-fussy children store health problems for later – Beatrice Siu (The Standard - 19/9/08)

Children who are picky eaters – more than half the preschoolers in Hong Kong – are at risk from mental and physical problems in later life and even weakened immune system, experts warn.

More than 50 percent of current preschoolers have picky eating habits, estimates privately owned publisher Health Link Promotions. That is similar to numbers in other developed countries and slightly lower than the 60 percent figure from a 2005 survey.

Pediatrics specialist Jacky Chang Kit said picky eating habits keep children from proper nutrition, which slows their mental and physical development and weakens immune systems.

Chang said such habits were not innate and that children could be weaned out of them.

“Parents should encourage balanced eating habits and avoid watching television during mealtime,” Chang said. “Children may also become picky eaters if they are served small portions or made to eat liquefied food.”

Of 536 percents will children aged between one and seven interviewed in the latest survey, all said their children were picky eaters. Between 30 and 50 percent said their children either avoided eating vegetables, preferred snacks or both.

About 70 percent of parents also said their children were easily distracted during meals. And more than half said children had to be focused to eat, though many fled the table during meals.

Such situations left more than 20 percent of parents frustrated.

Still, parents can make things easier, Chang said. Children should be encouraged to eat by themselves at two years of age, and they should also be given clear instructions on the right food. They should not be bribed to eat.

Fewer snacks, fixed seats at the table and their own cutlery help children concentrate on meals. “If the children still dislike a certain type of food, take it away after a few attempts,” Chang said. “The children will usually accept it after trying 10-20 times,” so patience is required.

Parents agreed that picky eaters were relatively unhealthy. Ninety percent said such children were sick at least twice a year, while nearly 40 percent said their children got sick at least five times a year.

A housewife named Lau said her 4.5-year-old son did not like vegetables, was underweight and often sick. “He keeps crying if I force him to eat. I can only bribe him by buying him toys.”



2. Summary

Nowadays most children are fussy eaters who have picky eating habits that would give rise to their mental and physical problems in later life. What is more, it even weakens their immune system and affects their health seriously at the same time. In addition, picky eating habit leads the children who cannot obtain proper nutrition which would slows their mental and physical development. Expects deemed that parents should be provided balanced diet to their children, even though lots of them avoid eating vegetable, prefer snacks or other junk food. Besides, parents can also give clear instructions on the right food to their children and the children will accept it after trying 10-20 times.

3. Feedback

Actually, I am also a fussy eater. Therefore, when I read the title of this article, I was interested in this topic. I know a host of children do not like eating nutritional food as which is not like snakes yummy or tasty. And I also know that why children are easily distracted during meals because I am the one of examples. I did not like eating vegetable when I was a child. My mother always encouraged me to eat more healthy food, not just only have junk food all the time. Nevertheless, I did not obey her and my health was worse day after day. My family doctor said with me that my body was weak and he recommended me a balanced diet that I need to obey. I am intensely delighted to listen to his encouragement now because I do not get ill often. Although balanced diet tastes not delicious, perseverance is the key to success.