Nutrition & Recipes

How Do You Deal With A Fussy Eater?

Do you have a fussy eater in your house? A little someone who only seems to like eating 3 things, not including chocolate and icecream?

Well you’re not alone, and to discuss this issue, we caught up with Mandy Sacher, a paediatric nutritionist who also helps Journey with our fresh, seasonal and delicious menus.

Mandy is the author of Wholesome Child Nutrition Guide and Cookbook and a busy mum of two! Here’s Mandy’s advice about fussy eaters. >>>Also, check out the Wholesome Child recipes for oral health


Hi there. I’m going to be walking you through all stages of a child’s food journey, offering tips and tasty recipes to help you during this time. Ready? Let’s get into it.

Did you know that in the first few weeks and months, the flavours your infant is exposed to will shape their taste buds for the rest of their life? While this may sound daunting, it’s also a great opportunity to expose your little one to healthy foods right from the get-go.

Feeding your young ones a variety of healthy foods will not only help them develop healthy eating habits, but it can also instil a love for food and eating. Here are some ways to begin to shape those taste buds right from the beginning…

Fussy eaters are enjoying their meal.

1. Avoid commercial products and sugars.

From the very first time they taste something, your baby’s food preferences are being influenced, so watch out for overly sweet or artificially sweetened products because this will become the standard all foods are compared to! Many store-bought baby food products can be overly sweet in comparison to a similar meal you make yourself, so I’d encourage you to get in the kitchen and whip up your own food for your baby.

My Apple and Cinnamon Compote is naturally sweet and easy to cook. Or try my Eggy Sweet Potato and Coconut Custard which is full of protein and veggies to create a balanced meal that’s easy on the sweetness.

2. Try not to hide those veggies!

Even if your kids like to dress up at the dinner table, try keeping those veggies o’natural! Dressing up and disguising foods won’t allow your child to experience their true flavours and will also create a false sense of what veggies taste like.

Don’t be discouraged if foods aren’t accepted initially. Babies’ taste buds are ever changing, so what they don’t like today they could accept tomorrow and end up loving in the future. So don’t rush into disguising flavours. Instead, allow them to taste the undoctored flavour and texture of what you’re offering.

3. Let your child be the leader.

Allow your baby to feel that he or she is leading the way and making their own foodie choices. Force feeding little ones when they don’t like a flavour or aren’t hungry can become overwhelming and even instil fussy eating behaviours in the future. Instead, allow them to regulate their own appetite and portion sizes by offering nourishing foods.

On the other hand, if your little one is showing no real interest in food, then the first thing to look at is their milk intake… are they drinking too much? If milk is not the problem and you are still concerned about undereating, then I’d recommend you consult an expert.

If you would like more tips on feeding your little one, or looking for healthy, family-friendly recipes, please visit my website at www.wholesomechild.com.

Mandy xx

You can find out more information about Journey’s partnership with Wholesome Child by
going to ‘A wholesome child is a happy child’.
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