Diet and nutrition are always on the minds of a child’s parents and other people in charge of taking care of them. You want them to be healthy and strong and have enough energy to learn new things and have fun with their friends. The people who work at Nurseries in Peckham take great care to make sure that the food they serve is always healthy, well-balanced, and full of important nutrients. But at home, mealtime stress can be hard for parents so here are a few tips to help…

1. REMIND YOURSELF IT IS ONLY ONE MEAL
Don’t worry about your child going hungry because they will eat multiple times every day, usually between 5 and 6. (that includes meals and snacks). In a situation like this, dinner is only one of many possible things to do. There are many others. Some kids won’t be as hungry for dinner because they’ve already eaten so much during the day. This is because kids can’t pay attention as long as adults can.

2. TRUST THAT YOUR CHILD CAN REGULATE THEIR INTAKE
Your child is good at finding a good balance between what they want and what they need. You can count on the fact that they know when they are hungry and when they are full. You can be sure they won’t try to trick you. Some nights, a child might only eat one bite of dinner, and other times, they might not eat anything at all.

3. DON’T FOCUS ON YOUR CHILD’S EATING AT THE TABLE
What kinds of things can you focus on while you’re seated at the eating table? No, I don’t mean a traditional board game when I say you should play a game with your kid. You may keep your child interested and involved in the activity by playing I Spy, 20 Questions, or any other game (or having a discussion) like that.
Talk to your child about whatever is on your mind. Do not focus your attention on the food; the less concerned out you are about how much they are eating, the less stressed out they will be as well. Avoid making the food the focal point of your attention.

4. THINK ABOUT AFTERNOON OR BEDTIME SNACKS
Let’s talk about some mouthwatering morsels that are available to eat. Even if it is possible for us to experience feelings of hunger in the evening, this does not always indicate that our children do. After school, they can come home and find themselves in a state of severe hunger. Why not eat something that is more comparable to dinner in the afternoon instead of a snack? If you find that they have a particularly difficult time calming down after supper, you could offer them a snack before they go to bed.

Our team understand how mealtim stress can affect parents. Contact us today to find out more about the commitment to diet and nutrition we have made here at Smart Kids Day Nursery.