A dietitian has shared what not to do when your child doesn’t finish their meal, as she explains that parents can often make the problem worse by some habits they have
Countless parents are all too familiar with the battle of coaxing their little ones to finish a proper meal. Even after slaving away in the kitchen to rustle up something tasty, it’s frustratingly typical for youngsters to manage just a couple of mouthfuls before declaring they’ve had enough.
Whilst it might seem logical to dangle the promise of pudding as a carrot or take matters into your own hands by spoon-feeding them, one dietician has issued a stark warning against such tactics in a recent social media revelation. Veronica La Marca, who boasts an impressive 99,000 Instagram followers, regularly dishes out advice on tackling fussy eaters. In her latest upload, she outlined exactly what parents shouldn’t do when their offspring announce ‘I’m done’ after barely touching their meal.
The specialist’s opening piece of guidance cautioned against taking the reins and feeding children yourself simply to “get more bites in”. She explained: “When we take over, kids miss the chance to stay connected to their own body cues.”
Rather than intervening, she recommended parents respond with, “It’s okay to stop when you’re done,” explaining this approach “encourages independence and helps build body trust”.
The expert also advised against using pudding as leverage to encourage eating, arguing this reinforces the notion that “real food” becomes a chore whilst dessert represents the prize.
Her alternative suggestion involved serving dessert alongside the main course as this “reduces the pressure and helps neutralise all foods”.
She further warned against offering alternative meals or snack options, claiming this “reinforces picky eating” by demonstrating they can avoid what’s initially presented. She instead proposed serving the meal with at least one food they typically consume and allowing them to decide how much to eat, as this “keeps structure while making sure there’s always something safe on the plate”.
Veronica also cautioned against permitting screen time during meals. She advocates for a “low-pressure table routine” with relaxed conversation, which fosters a bond between you and encourages mindful eating.
Additionally, Veronica advised respecting when they say, “I’m done” and try not to persistently urge “one more bite”. She added: “Remind them when the next meal/snack will be”, as this cultivates body trust and maintains structure.
In her caption, she followed up by saying: “I get it, you just want them to eat. But here’s the thing: these common reactions create pressure (even if they’re well-intended), and pressure usually leads to… less eating.”
Her followers appreciated the advice, with one person commenting: “I’ve had to start gently reminding my 4 year old that if he’s done, that’s fine but there won’t be more food until the next meal time. Otherwise he eats two bites then is asking for something else an hour later.”
Another chimed in: “Something I’ve done with my grandkids that has helped is to leave their plate at the table, provided there are no food safety issues, and tell them they can always come back to it if they get hungry later- they almost always do and it gets finished. And we start with small servings, reminding them that they can always have more if they want.”