Help, My Child

Won’t Eat!

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Dietary advice for children who aren’t eating well

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Dietary Advice For Children Who Aren’t Eating Well

Help, my child
won’t eat!
Many children go through phases of refusing to eat It may help to discuss the problem with other parents who

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certain foods or at times refusing to eat anything at all. have already gone through the same situation with their child.

This is a normal stage in young children as they become If the problem shows no sign of improving, or if you are worried
wary of new foods. They need time to learn to like them. about your child’s weight and growth, you can contact your
Food refusal is often a way of showing independence health professional (Health Visitor, School Nurse, GP or Dietitian)

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and is a normal part of growing up. for further advice.
Although it is very worrying, children will not harm

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themselves if they don’t eat enough for a short
while. They may need less to eat than you think.

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Dietary Advice For Children Who Aren’t Eating Well

Make meals enjoyable, Managing meal

social occasions times and new foods
Offer regular meals and snacks, as this is better than letting

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your child ‘pick’ through the whole day. Young children need
3 meals and 2-3 nutritious snacks. Always offer 2 courses at
lunchtime and evening meal – one savoury and one dessert.

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It is a good idea to
Allow enough time for offer at least one thing
your child to eat, but do

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not let meals drag on for Try and eat in a calm, you know your child
too long (20-30 minutes relaxed area, without will eat at each meal
is about right) the television or toys
as children are

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easily distracted
Do not take food away
Sit together at the table and offer a completely
Present food in fun and
appealing ways to your
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Use brightly coloured
plates and cups
different meal if the first
one is refused

Keep offering your child

new foods, even if they
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Offer small portions refuse them at first.
Eat with your child of food at mealtimes –
whenever possible, if these are finished, It can take as many as 10 -15
as they will learn
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praise your child attempts before they will

from you and offer more accept a new food. It is
important not to leave more
than a couple of days
between each try, so you
Remember, new may need to offer a new food
foods may need to several times over a short
be offered several
times before children period before they will eat it.
will try them
Eating new foods together
with your child will encourage
them to try new foods.
Dietary Advice For Children Who Aren’t Eating Well

How can I help?

Try to set boundaries around meal times and be clear with your It is a good idea for children to use their fingers to play with food.
child about what behaviour is acceptable. Praise them when they Encourage messy food play. This doesn’t have to be at mealtimes.

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do this. Aim to encourage your child to at least have a small amount In fact it can sometimes be more relaxed and fun if the food play
on their lips and tongue or a bite-sized mouthful. It is important is not during mealtimes. Do not worry if they make a mess!
that you don’t constantly give in to your child’s food avoidance,
otherwise they may never try new foods. Cooking with your child helps them to learn about food. They are
also more likely to eat foods they have helped to prepare. Simple
However never force a child to eat. food preparation could involve making a sandwich, spreading,

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measuring out ingredients and chopping up fruits.
Your child is telling you they have had enough when they: When your child eats well, offer a reward such as stickers,

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magazines, taking them to the park or spending some special
• turn their head away time playing together.
• push the bowl or plate away or onto the floor
• scream or shout

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• spit food out repeatedly

show them you are pleased, for example smile and say
“good boy/girl, well done”. PL
Although it is a very difficult thing to do, try not to show that you
are worried or annoyed by your child not eating. If they do eat,

If they stop eating at a meal, try once to encourage them to eat

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a little more. If they don’t want anymore, take the food away
without any comment.
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Dietary Advice For Children Who Aren’t Eating Well

Try a variety of foods

for a well balanced diet

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Milk and Meat, fish, eggs, Bread, rice, Fruit and
beans and other potatoes, pasta and vegetables
dairy foods non-dairy protein other starchy foods

Aim for 3 servings a day. Offer 2-3 servings a day. Offer these foods at Offer fruit and vegetables

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These can be milk, cheese, each meal. with each meal every day.
yoghurts, fromage frais, Foods in this group include all
custard and other milk types of meat and fish, chick Foods from this group Encourage 5 portions
peas, kidney beans, lentils, include breakfast cereal, each day. Try raw and

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puddings. hummus, dhal, eggs, nuts bread, potato, chapatti, cooked vegetables, and
Children under two years and baked beans. yam and green bananas, fruit which can be raw,
should only be offered Many children enjoy minced pasta, rice and couscous. cooked, dried or canned
full-fat dairy products. meat, sausages, chicken, fish in juice.

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Low-fat versions such as fingers and fish in sauces. For example add fruit
semi-skimmed milk can be Try to include oily fish such as to natural yoghurt, offer
introduced to children over salmon, mackerel or sardines, diluted pure fruit juice
the age of two, when they
are eating well.
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once or twice a week.
Avoid whole nuts, including
peanuts, in children under
the age of five as they may
cause choking.
with meals and try a
snack of vegetable
sticks with hummus.
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Growing children need

Fats and oils some butter or margarine
and oil. Adding oils, butter
and cream is a good way
to increase energy intake
if required.
When using fats and oils,
choose ones with a high
content of omega-3 fats,
for example olive oil,
walnut oil and rapeseed oil.
Dietary Advice For Children Who Aren’t Eating Well

Meal suggestions

Breakfast Light meal Main meal Ideas for snacks

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• Small bowl of breakfast • Bite-sized sandwich • Pasta dishes, eg Offer 2-3 small nutritious
cereal with milk cut into shapes with macaroni cheese, snacks each day. Avoid
giving snacks too close to

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different fillings, for spaghetti Bolognese
• Toast, pancakes or example ham and mealtimes as this means
crumpets with butter tomato, cheese • Curry with rice your child may have a
or margarine and jam, and cucumber or chapatti smaller appetite for meals

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honey or peanut butter
• Toast with peanut • Fish in white, cheese • Small bowl of cereal
• Beans on toast butter, eggs, baked or parsley sauce and milk
beans or cheese

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• Eggs – boiled, poached • Roast meat or mince, • Cheese and crackers
or scrambled • Small jacket potato eg shepherd’s pie
and filling • Breadsticks, chapatti,

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• Toasted sandwiches
• Crackers and cheese
or ham
• Fish fingers or
chicken nuggets
Serve with vegetables,
for example broccoli, peas
or fingers of carrot and
pancake or pitta bread
with cream cheese,
peanut butter or hummus
• Small sandwich
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swede. Add potatoes if • Small slice of pizza
the meal does not contain
other starchy foods like • A slice of apple with
rice or pasta. peanut butter or
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cream cheese
Follow by a dessert,
such as fruit segments, • Fruit pieces or vegetable
slices or shapes. sticks – for extra energy
serve with yoghurt,
cream cheese, peanut
butter or hummus
Dietary Advice For Children Who Aren’t Eating Well

Sugar and salty foods Vitamins

Foods containing sugar are All children under five should have vitamin drops containing
useful for adding extra energy. vitamins A and D.

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Offer alternatives to
Look after your child’s teeth by salty snacks such as For information on NHS Healthy Start vitamins see:
only offering sugary or sweet crisps – see the list of
foods as a pudding after other ideas for nutritious www.healthystart.nhs.uk
foods as part of a meal, rather snacks
Vitamin drops should be available at your NHS Health Centre.

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than between meals. Brush your Retail pharmacies also sell a range of them.
child’s teeth twice each day and
visit the dentist frequently. Do not add salt in If your child is taking vitamin and mineral supplements, make
sure you give the correct dose for their age, according to the

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cooking (use herbs recommendations on the label.
Too much salt can give children or spices to flavour
a taste for salty foods and lead dishes instead)
to health problems later in life. Be careful about using more than one preparation as it may cause
Therefore limit the amount of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) may be exceeded.

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salt you give your child.
Avoid the use of processed
foods such as ready-made

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sauces or gravy granules
(as an alternative use tinned
tomatoes as a base for
sauces and add flavourings
such as garlic or herbs)
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Sugar
and Salt
Tips
Dietary Advice For Children Who Aren’t Eating Well

Drinks Moving on from bottles

to beakers and cups
It is important that your child has the right amount of drinks If your child is over 1 year old and still drinking from a bottle,
over the day. Children who don’t drink enough can develop it is important to wean them off this and encourage drinks

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constipation which can reduce their appetite. However, too many from a free-flowing lidded or open beaker.
drinks can fill your child up, which can also reduce their appetite
at mealtimes. Young children can sometimes seem to want drinks This will avoid your child using the bottle as a comfort and
when they are hungry, so watch out for this. having excess fluids. Excess fluids will interfere with their
appetite for food.

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• Frequently offer drinks from a cup, after food,
instead of immediately before or with meals

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• Aim for around 600mls (1 pint) of milk per day as it is
nutritious and full-fat milk is high in energy

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• Milk is a nutritious drink but should not replace meals –
be careful not to let your child drink more than 600mls
(1 pint) of milk in total per day

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• A small drink (125mls) of pure unsweetened fruit juice with
meals, is a useful source of vitamin C – children under 5
should have this diluted one part water to one part juice
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• Water is the best drink to quench thirst
• Fruit juice drinks, squash and fizzy
drinks, including low-sugar varieties,
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have limited nutritional value,

can damage tooth enamel and
contribute to tooth decay
Main points for
happy, healthy mealtimes
• Plan meal and snacks so your child eats regularly - this will allow them
time to build up appetite and they won’t be too hungry or too tired to eat

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• Offer a variety of foods from each of the food groups each day
as this will provide them with the range of nutrients they need
• Offer two courses at lunch and the evening meal
• Make meals colourful and interesting so they are fun and appealing

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• Allow enough time for meals, however do not let meals drag on too long
• Whenever possible eat together as a family so everyone can enjoy
the meal and make it a social occasion
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The space you have to eat should be clean, warm and bright and
free from distractions such as television, computer games and toys
Offer small portions of food on a small plate as many children are
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put off by large portions
• Use appropriate sized cutlery, plates and cups – this will help your child
eat independently
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• Try not to use favourite foods as a reward to encourage children

to eat foods they do not like as favourite foods used in this way simply
become more valued – instead reward your child for trying a new food
with non-food items such as stickers
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• Do not make a fuss if your child refuses to eat, this is a normal part of
growing up - if you are concerned, talk to your Health Visitor, School
Nurse or GP
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c BDA Paediatric Group 2014, Illustrations Jan Smith