10 tips to take a Fussy Eater out to Restaurants

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10 tips to take a Fussy Eater out to Restaurants
"No, you cannot have chips again, it is not
healthy. Why don't you choose something else from
the menu? We are at a restaurant, try something
new. All right, enough, we will just order some
chips! Just sit down for a minute!"
Embrace eating out
Going out to a restaurant with children, even if
they are fussy eaters, should not be a chore or a
stressful event. What if you chose to embrace
eating out and reap the benefits, including
educational ones, in the long term? In
restaurants families will
1. Enjoy a moment eating in a different setting
(including unfamiliar surroundings) 2.
Strengthen family bond 3. Engage in conversation
4. Learn to adjust behaviour in public
spaces 5. Be exposed to and eventually taste
different foods 6. Feel special
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assessment
www.fussyeater.com.au
Call 0421 843 038
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If you children are young and not too entrenched
in their eating
1. Choose your restaurant wisely. Kristy of Kids
out for dinner has been listing restaurants that
are children friendly here. 2. Spell your
expectations clearly before going out we will go
to this restaurant...I expect that you will love
it/sit well/behave. It's always easier if your
kids know what is happening next. 3. Be
reassuring to the anxious children "the food is
delicious I hear", "I will order something you
will love". 4. Time the meal so children are
rested and hungry when food arrives, but not
exhausted, famished and hysterical. 5. Bring
pencils and paper for before and after meal, a
patience building exercise.
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If you children are young and not too entrenched
in their eating
6. Select from the menu small children have
simply no knowledge about food. Choose a
combination of liked and less known food. For
example, your child likes rice, choose a risotto.
These days, children's menus are evolving away
from the cheap and nasty, but you may also order
an adult dish to share between children. 7. Give
limited choice to children you can have this
"risotto or this pasta" still enables them to
have a say but you are providing structure. 8.
Organise a monthly visit to a surprise
restaurant, where everyone picks a dish to share
and takes turn to taste. Then rate your dishes
and your restaurants. A family I worked with did
this successfully here.
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If your child is an extreme fussy eater and all
of the above appears impossible.
9. Try a buffet type of restaurant where kids can
assemble foods that they are comfortable with.
Alternatively order something they can work with,
for example, your child only eats white rice
order Cantonese rice and ask your child to do the
sorting out. It challenges and exposes your child
without putting pressure to eat the offending
foods.
10. Choose a restaurant where children can be
exposed to foods, but not have to eat them. Open
kitchens, bar sitting can provide children an
opportunity to watch chefs and cooks put together
beautiful dishes. Interactive type of
restaurants Korean barbecue, Japanese Teppanyaki
or this restaurant where kids can make their own
pizza, somehow involve customers in choosing
their food with their senses.
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About Us
Issues arising around eating are numerous and may
trigger unwarranted stress. Difficulties with
fussy eating, confusion around nutrition,
demonisation of food and goal settings on size
and health, can further impair parents' ability
to know what to do and how to do it. Fussy Eater
Solutions' philosophy is to be inclusive of your
eating culture, personal beliefs, and financial
situation. We work together, either through
workshops or individual appointments, to help
children find pleasure, confidence, and
mindfulness in eating.
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Contact us
6 Riddell Parade, Elsternwick 3185, Victoria,
Australia
0421 843 038
mariefrance_at_fussyeater.com.au
www.fussyeater.com.au