How To Handle Picky Eaters: Q And A With Dr. Suneel Rajput

Picky eating is often the norm for toddlers. After the rapid growth of infancy, when babies usually triple in weight, a toddler’s growth rate – and appetite – tends to slow down. Learn how to handle picky eaters with oladoc!

Try not to get frustrated by this typical toddler behaviour. Watch Dr. Suneel Rajput, one of the best pediatricians in Lahore, provide a solution to this problem. Dr. Rajput is a foreign qualified pediatrician specialising in general pediatrics and has 12 years of experience in his field.

Q1. What is a picky eater and how can we handle picky eaters?

Picky eating is a pretty broad term and includes those kids who are unwilling to accept “family food” and are quite choosy. It is characterised by an unwillingness to eat familiar foods or to try new foods, as well as strong food preferences. The consequences may include poor dietary variety during early childhood. 

Two consequences of such a poor diet include malnutrition and obesity. Both problems can be a big burden for the parents.

Q.2. What should a healthy food plate consist of?

Well, we basically need 3 main components for a balanced diet; carbohydrates, fats and proteins. We mainly get our carbohydrates from grains, fruits and vegetables, protein from lean meat, lentils and milk, and fats from oil or ghee.

So, if the balance of any of these components gets disturbed, the child can become either malnutritioned or obese. So, I believe that a healthy, balanced plate should consist of all three components, such as roti, salads, fruits and milk. These foods should be divided according to the child’s development.

Q.3 What to do when a child refuses to eat?

Yes, I believe that it can be quite difficult to deal with a child. But to get a child to respond to you, you need to learn their psychology. A parent or an adult should never force a child to eat something. Try to give the child a healthy environment. 

Set up an appropriate plate size for them. Also, give them suitable portion quantities. Lastly, keep encouraging your child. Give them positive and supportive comments. 

So, to sum it up; 1. Environment, 2. plate size, 3. portion size, 4. variety and 5. encouragement.

Q.4. How can we tackle nutritional deficiencies in a child?

Well, being a picky eater can make a child quite prone to nutritional deficiencies. So, if at any stage, you feel that your child is suffering from nutritional concerns, take them to a pediatrician immediately. A pediatrician will treat or rule out any major deficiencies.

Q.5. Would you like to any general advice to the viewers?

Well, ofcourse I would. I want to tell my viewers to stop any form of self-treatment if a health concern arises. Always take your child to a pediatrician since they are trained professionals. Please don’t replace “google” as a form of treatment. Discuss your problems openly with your healthcare provider.

You can learn more about how to deal with picky eaters by watching the full interview. If your child is a picky eater or has any other behavioural issues, take them to a pediatrician immediately.

You can book an appointment with a top Pediatrician through oladoc.com, or call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT professional for your concerns.