Grow and Go experts discuss: Fussy eating in ECEC

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Jul 30, 2024

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Ensuring that children attending early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are eating well is a priority for both parents and educators alike.

Many ECEC professionals feel a high degree of stress and pressure when parent expectations don't align with the reality of the mealtime experience in early learning settings. They can feel frustrated or even anxious when dealing with children who refuse the meals on offer, are reluctant to try new foods, or refuse to eat while attending care.

Responding to these concerns in a sensitive and professional manner is important, as the early years of a child’s life can set a foundation for the eating habits they have in the long term.

We spoke with Dr Clare Dix and Stella Boyd-Ford from The University of Queensland’s School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences who are part of the UQ research team who developed the Grow&Go Toolbox. The dietitian duo recently released a new podcast offering expert information on early childhood nutrition. The podcast covers topics like how to introduce solids, managing fussy eating behaviours, food allergies and intolerances.

Each episode focuses on a different nutrition topic and provides practical tips and advice.

In addition to the podcast, the Grow&Go Toolbox team has co-created a range of resources with families and health and education professionals, including digital and paper-based resources that educators can use, to assist with common queries and issues encountered when it comes to mealtimes in ECEC.

Keep calm

Consider that some pickiness is normal for children aged 2-5. Children are going through a developmental phase at this age where their growth slows down, and they become more independent.

They are learning to assert themselves and can be stubborn! They may refuse foods they used to like or only want to eat the same foods repeatedly. They may also be more sensitive to certain food’s taste, texture, smell, or appearance.

You choose what, they choose how much

Research shows that the ‘division of responsibility’ is the most effective approach for positive mealtimes. Your role is divided into when, where, and what. Children will decide if they’ll eat what’s offered and how much.

Trust the children’s ability to regulate their intake and appetite. If they don’t eat much in one meal, don’t panic. Over a day, they usually balance things out.

What does this mean in practice?

When: offer food on a predictable schedule. This will likely be in place at your centre, where children are provided with regular meals and snacks throughout the day. This structure will help children develop a healthy appetite and identify hunger cues.
What: decide what food to offer. State-based guidelines on food provision will help guide menu planning that includes a variety of nutritious foods from different food groups. Introduce new foods gradually and repeatedly, without pressure or expectation.
Where: create an environment that signals mealtime is here. It would be best if you had a designated place for eating. Minimise distractions. Ensure children sit comfortably and safely in a highchair, booster seat or other child-appropriate seating, ideally with a foot support.

Model healthy attitudes to food

Where possible, involve children in preparing or choosing new foods. Allow them to help you wash, peel, or chop fruits or vegetables or let them pick something from the garden.

Keep it positive

As an early childhood educator, you have most likely seen a child throw food, scream, hit, or refuse to eat. This can be very frustrating and stressful for you and disruptive to the other children.

Here are some tips to handle challenging behaviours calmly and effectively:

React calmly and clearly say what you expect the child to do. For example, if the child throws food, you can say, "Food stays on the plate or in your mouth." "Chairs are for sitting on, not standing on." "That is Sam's food. You can eat the food on your plate."
Praise the child when they behave well and follow your instructions. For example, if the child stops throwing food and eats nicely, you can say, "Thank you for eating so well!"
Check if they are tired. If you can adjust mealtimes, consider when the child is more alert and interested in eating. Consider if they are hungry. Think about any snacks or drinks they had before the meal and how big these were, especially milk or juice drinks. Toddlers should be offered food every 2-3 hours and have only water to drink between meals.

Explore and engage - it’s not just about eating

There are many ways to enhance your education program, many of which you may already be doing. It's about using various tools and working with your children's interests and your community of families and educators.

You could engage children by reading books about different foods and vegetables, playing shopping, and encouraging families to share their children's favourite veggies, or drying and planting seeds in recycled containers to watch them grow. This enriches the learning experience and can foster a stronger bond between home and childcare.

These tips, and many more, are shared in the Grow&Go Toolbox Podcast episode titled Fussy Eating. Access it on YouTube here or via Spotify here.

Resources that support this episode include:

When to seek help

If you are concerned about a child's fussy eating, ask if this happens at home. Finding out about their regular mealtimes and foods can help identify familiar behaviours and foods you can try at your centre. If appropriate, suggest that the family speak to a local maternal, child, and family health nurse for advice using the Grow&Go Toolbox’s Find a Health Professional Tool.

For more advice or support visit Grow&Go Toolbox at www.growandgotoolbox.com or find us on social media.

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