Nursery World - Strategies to encourage eating

* Avoid distractions that prevent the child from concentrating on their food - for example, turn the TV off, don't try to play with the child at mealtimes, and don't leave food around while the child is playing. * Don't give the child attention for not eating.

* Don't give the child attention for not eating.

* Praise the child when they do eat.

* Eat at the same time as the child - it helps if the family sit down and eat together.

* Keep mealtimes regular, and cut down on snacks between meals.

* Give high calorie foods if the child eats small quantities.

* Give small portions and then offer more, rather than alarming the child with a huge plateful of food.

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