3. Pay attention to eating habits
You can learn a lot from a child’s eating habits. Pay attention to patterns and if you notice something changing let your host parents know. For example, a child saying “my tummy hurts” after eating can be a sign of food intolerance.
4. Know how to handle picky eaters
Young children often dislike certain foods, especially foods with a bitter or spicy taste they aren’t used to. It is also normal for a child to change their mind about what they want to eat. But if this becomes something bigger and you are concerned about a child’s nutrition, tell your host parents.
Here are some ideas of how to help a child who is a picky eater:
Always offer new foods. Kids need to be exposed up to 10 times before deciding they like a food.
Pair new foods with favorites and give kids the chance to touch, smell, lick and taste before eating.
Remember that you are a role model. Tasting foods together shows a child that the food item is okay to eat and that you enjoy it.
Keep meal times short so kids don’t have to sit too long. A child who needs to move around won’t sit at the table to finish food.
Think about fun ways to prepare and present healthy food. If the kids find it appealing, they are more likely to eat it.
As an au pair you play a big role in your host children’s eating behavior. What you say has an impact on developing healthy eating habits. And you can easily change negative phrases into positive, helpful ones. Check out these recommendations below.