As part of our Healthy Little Foodies project, we offer Fussy Eaters' Workshops online via Zoom, supporting parents and carers with practical tips on managing fussy eating behaviours. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my child a fussy eater?

Fussy eating behaviours are likely to surface in every child to some extent and this is developmentally very normal, so we don’t like to label a child as a fussy eater (sneak preview into the workshop – these labels can actually reinforce the behaviours).

That said, if one or more of these applies, then this workshop is for you:

• You often find mealtimes stressful/challenging/emotional for you and/or your child
• You are noticing your child’s diet becoming very restricted and you would like to increase the variety of foods they eat
• You think your child has an issue with certain textures or types of food
• Your child had a bad experience with food and since then they’ve had problems at mealtimes
• Mealtimes are often either very long or very short
• You are concerned about your child’s long term health or relationship with food
• You would like to know how to prevent fussy eating behaviours starting

 

Does this apply to my child’s age group?

Picky eating behaviours typically start to show in children around 1 year-18 months and can last for several years, usually starting to tail off around age 6 years.  If your child is around 1-6 years old then its for you.  If your child is a bit older, you are still welcome to join and we hope you still find lots of helpful tips for managing mealtimes.

What is covered in the workshop?

The session is about 1 hour long and covers the following:

• Why do children develop fussy eating behaviours?
• Planning for a positive mealtime – what can I do in advance?
• Control and choice – getting the balance right.
• At the table – techniques to use during mealtimes.
• Appetite and portion sizes
• Talking about food – how our language plays a part.
• Early years nutrition

There are also lots of healthy family-friendly recipes available to try after the session.

It can also be really helpful to hear the experiences of other parents/carers struggling with similar issues, so we welcome everyone to tell their story and contribute what has and hasn’t worked for them so far.

 

Who is delivering the workshop?

Sema Jamali is our in-house Early Years Nutrition specialist and delivers this workshop.  She is a Registered Associate Nutritionist and a member of the Association for Nutrition.

 

My child has been diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum disorder, will the content be relevant to me and my child?

Fussy eating behaviours can be related to ASD (Autistic spectrum disorder) and are also very common in neurotypical children.  Every child is different and you will know your child better than anyone else.  So we aim to offer a range of techniques and advice and its your job to decide what will be a good fit for your family.  We welcome you to come along and discuss it in depth and since the workshops are run monthly, you can always come back and let us know how its going and receive more advice and support.

If you have more questions you can contact Sema via email:

[email protected]