TOP TIPS FOR FUSSY EATERS
By Gina Ford
Publisher: Vermillion

British author Gina Ford, who has written books on parenting methods as well as the world-famous The Contented Little Baby Book, provides many constructive ideas and tips to handle fussy eating in children in this book.

Some critics have likened her methods to training animals because of her “no-nonsense” attitude which apparently lacks emotion.

This pocket-sized book is small enough to be carried around in your handbag and can be read on the go. Although not a parent myself, I found the book easy to understand and interesting because of the case studies.

These case studies appeal to me simply because I have seen some of the behaviours described by Ford, in my nephew. I now understand that this is due to many reasons, such as mealtimes that are too far apart or too close together, taking too much of a certain food group, parents who exacerbate the problem when they find that their children are not eating right and give in by only serving them food they want to eat.

As all toddlers go through this difficult stage of life, this book could be the life-saver to some parents, especially first-timers. Most parents do not know that this stage is actually normal and it will pass eventually.

Just as the cover says, this book is packed with great tips on how to “transform” your fussy child into a healthy, disciplined eater. Tips, such as allowing your children to take part in the food preparation process is an effective method to encourage children to try new food such as vegetables and fruits. While this is a great idea, it is not necessarily practical for working parents who may not have the time to do it regularly.

In chapter one, What are Healthy Eating Habits?, the writer lists the four main food groups - protein, dairy, carbohydrate, fruit and vegetables; vitamins and minerals, fat, essential-fatty acids and salt and sugar.

She then goes on to elaborate on the amount needed per day, their functions in our body and the effects of overfeeding and underfeeding children with these food groups. This information helps make it easier for parents to plan the menu for their toddlers.

Ford also explains in detail how much of each nutrient is needed daily with the exact measurement such as 100g (3.5oz) boiled rice or 25g (0.9oz) of breakfast cereal. This is sometimes hard to follow. It would have been more helpful if she could have given real-life estimations, for example, a slice of bread, a cup of rice or a teaspoon of sugar as opposed to measurements.

The former maternity nurse, who claims to have nursed 300 babies in her 12 years of service, is an advocate of keeping a diary on everything your child eats and drinks throughout the day. This is her signature method to identify the cause of the problem and then come up with a solution.

This little book not only offers tips to help parents deal with fussy eaters; it also contains several easy-to-make yet yummy recipes to entice these little fusspots to try new foods. The mouth-watering recipes featured in this book include Chicken and Parmesan Fingers, Fruity Lamb Tangine and Chicken-peach Casserole. Her recipes usually consist of foods that have hidden vegetables and/or fruits to encourage toddlers to unknowingly consume this important food group - fruits and vegetables.

The last chapter - Frequently Asked Questions - allows parents to read about real-life fussy eaters. In this helpful chapter, Ford answers questions such as when should I switch from formula to cow’s milk; is squash the reason my child has loose stools; what are other toddlers eating and drinking; and is my child of normal weight and height at this age.

Do I recommend this book? Yes.

A developing child’s eating habits affects his/her growth, wellbeing and learning ability. So, it is important for parents to monitor their food intake to ensure children grow up healthy and strong with a well-balanced diet.