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The evening hours can be a challenging time for many parents, especially when it comes to feeding young children. Between 5pm and 7pm, the day’s activities often come to a head, making this period one of the most stressful parts of the day.
The Evening Rush: A Parent’s Challenge
The evening rush typically includes traffic, getting home from work, managing multiple kids with different schedules, homework, bath time, and eventually bedtime. It’s a whirlwind of activity that can leave parents feeling overwhelmed.
Adding to the challenge is the pressure of preparing a meal that is both tasty and nutritionally balanced. However, many children are not in the mood to eat at all, which can turn dinner time into a battle. If this sounds familiar, there are steps you can take to make the experience more manageable and ensure your family gets the nutrients they need.
Why Is 5pm So Difficult?
One reason so many parents find the evening hours difficult is that children are often tired by late afternoon, especially if they haven’t had a nap or have recently stopped napping. Additionally, today’s children often graze throughout the day, which means they may not feel hungry when dinner time arrives.
For example, children who attend long-day care may have already had a substantial meal and even a snack close to dinner time. As a result, they might reject the food on their plate not because they don’t like it, but simply because they aren’t hungry.
Small Children May Not Need Much Food
As a parent, it’s natural to want to feed your child well. However, once children reach the age of two and above, they often require less food than you might expect. If they’ve had a hot lunch at daycare or have been snacking throughout the day, they may not need much more at dinner.
If your child rejects their meal, don’t worry too much. The key is to avoid replacing dinner with sweet or preferred foods like milk, yogurt, toast, fruit, or ice cream. This can lead to long-term food-related challenges.
What Should They Be Eating?
From a nutritional perspective, small children need a balanced meal that includes a variety of healthy foods. Lean protein sources like iron-rich meat, along with vegetables for fiber, vitamins, and minerals, are essential.
If your child doesn’t seem very hungry, start with small portions of each item on the plate. A simple dinner plate with a lean lamb chop, a few pieces of beef, homemade chicken nuggets, whole grains, and cut-up vegetables or veggie chips can be sufficient.
Include at least one food your child likes on the plate and cut the food into small, easy-to-eat pieces. Familiar foods are more likely to be accepted, so offering staples regularly can help create go-to meals. For particularly fussy eaters, considering a nutritional supplement could be beneficial.
Keep Control of Mealtimes
While it can be tempting to ask your child what they want to eat, remember that children may not always know what their bodies need. They may also recognize that you’re likely to give in and offer more appealing options.
Be confident in leading the way during mealtimes. Ultimately, children will eat what they need from the available options. If their intake is limited, keeping healthy foods on the table is the most important thing.
Having additional nutritional support can also help reduce the pressure, ensuring your child still gets the essentials while you focus on keeping mealtimes calm and connected.
PediaSure: Supporting Your Child’s Nutrition
PediaSure can help fill nutritional gaps for children aged 1 to 10 when fussy eating becomes an issue. It’s an easy way to support your child’s growth while you work on expanding their comfort with different foods.
Visit www.pediasure.com.au to learn more about how PediaSure can help.
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