Common issues

My child has a small appetite. Should I force them to eat?

Each child has their own tastes and appetite. Get them interested in food by serving meals which look tempting. You could play around with the presentation and colours. Let your child explore food with their fingers, and above all give them enough time to take pleasure in eating. Don't force them, because this could turn their small appetite into a complete refusal to eat. As long as your child is growing as they should be, there's nothing to worry about. If you are concerned, speak to your paediatrician or family doctor.

My child is constantly asking for food. Should I give in?

Main meals should be balanced and satisfy your child's appetite. If your child is still hungry at the end of the meal, offer them more vegetables or a second portion of fruit. Avoid giving them food between meals and limit how many sweets they eat. Also remember that milk is a food and not a drink. If you are unsure about anything, speak to your paediatrician or family doctor.

My child does not want to eat breakfast

If your child does not want breakfast, you could give them some bread and butter, a dairy product and a piece of fruit or a vegetable to eat, ideally at around 09.00. They shouldn't eat it after 10.00, otherwise, as it will be too close to lunchtime and they may not want to eat their lunch.

Try talking to your child to understand why they don't want breakfast.

• If your child is getting up too late and doesn't have time: try waking them up 15 minutes earlier.

• If they seem too tired and struggle to get up: they need to go to bed earlier the night before, and do enough physical activity during the week so they have good quality sleep.

• If they're "not hungry": have they had enough sleep? have they had time to wake up properly and feel hungry? Do you usually eat a lot in the evening, and after 20.00? If so, you could bring dinner forward so there is a bigger gap between dinner and breakfast, and they have more of an appetite in the morning.

• If they don't like to eat alone: eat breakfast together. Good eating habits are based around family time.

• If they don't like rushing in the morning: try to prepare breakfast in advance, setting the table the night before, for example.

• If they "don't feel like it": offer a greater choice of food, for example different types of cereal or bread. Stimulate your and your child's imagination by creating breakfast recipes together.

• Set a good example: don't skip breakfast yourself. Make sure you have a proper breakfast and spend this time with your child.

• Enjoy the moment: make breakfast a time that you spend as a family around the table, talking to each other.