By Carol Ann Brannon, MS, RD, LD
Everything at camp is an adventure. Even the food! Many children try foods at camp that they wouldn’t dare touch at home. The following tips will help your picky eaters get the most out of their camp culinary adventures.
- Obtain the camp menu prior to your child’s arrival to know all the food options. If your child likes cereal with milk, and it is available at each meal, then you can be assured he will not go hungry.
- Know what the camp’s policy is for picky eaters.
- Explain to your child that part of the camp adventure is trying new things, as well as new foods. Ask your child to make a list of foods he would be willing to try at camp.
- Increase the range of foods your child is exposed to at home including some of the same foods that will be offered at camp. It can take up to 25 exposures to a new food before a child will accept/eat it. So, keep trying.
- Get your child involved in food preparation. A young cook is more likely to try a new food if they helped prepare it!
- Role play different food scenarios and let your child come up with solutions. For example, if there is a cookout with hot dogs and your child does not like them, what could he do?
- Keep discussions about camp food positive, pressure-free and pleasant. Be optimistic; your child may become a summer camp food connoisseur!
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I have a daughter just turned 12.The only thing she eats is Burger King and Pepperoni pizza only with the “round kind”(not grocery store kind). We have gone to doctors and therapy. I am totally frustrated. We have force fed, held her down when she was younger to make her try new foods. She eats chips, popcorn and candy. She complains of texture with real food. HELP!
Comment by Julie Dunbar — April 14, 2010 #
Diagnosing and treating a pediatric feeding disorder is challenging.Parenting a child with a pediatric feeding disorder is beyond frustrating. There are many myths about eating – one of the biggest myths is that eating is instinctive. Eating, like learning to read, is a skill to be learned. For some children, especially those with hypersensitivity to smells, textures, and tastes, feeding therapy is recommended. Your daughter may have sensory integration disorder. Her sensory system is over-reactive. Parents should carefully seek out a feeding therapist or program. Finding the right therapist or program can be overwhelming, but be persistent and make phone calls, search the internet, be proactive in seeking help. For more specific information about pediatric feeding disorders please feel free to email me at cabnutrition@bellsouth.net
Comment by Carol Ann Brannon MS RD LD — May 6, 2010 #