Holidays are a time for joy, relaxation and spending time together with family or friends. However, for those going on holidays with an underachieverplanning a trip may require additional commitment. Remember, holidays are for everyone to enjoy! As we know, you have to eat. However, don't let holiday planning focus mainly on planning food for your child.
Does a holiday with a bad eater have to be a nightmare?
No, they don't have to, but you can't let yourself go crazy and you can't let the baby's eating problems take over your life. You'll spoil your opportunity to relax, and you'll give your child a food trauma that will follow them into adulthood. Sounds scary, I know, which is why I have some tips for you to help you survive holidays with an underachiever and perhaps they will stay with you for longer.
Travelling with an underweight child (food selective child) can be a challenge, but proper preparation and strategy can make the situation much easier. Here are seven tips for families travelling with a non-eater:
How do you prepare for a holiday with a bad eater?
1. Explore food options on site:
The first step to a successful holiday is open and honest communication. Before you set off, talk about your food preferences and what will be available at your destination. Before you leave, check what restaurants and grocery shops will be available at your destination. Find out if they offer dishes that may suit your child's preferences. You may also want to bring along some products that will be difficult to find locally.
2. Prepare meals in advance:
If possible, prepare and take with you meals that an eater likes. Portable food containers and travel coolers can be of great help. Protect your food from spoilage by using suitable refrigeration.
3. maintain an eating routine:
Try to keep meal and snack times as consistent as possible to make your child more comfortable. If possible, serve food in familiar dishes or with your child's favourite cutlery.
4. introduce new foods at home before travelling:
If you plan to introduce new foods, do so a few weeks before the trip. The baby will have time to get used to them, which can reduce the food-related stress in a new place. Holidays are supposed to be a pleasure for everyone. And a new place, new smells and new food is already quite a lesson in taming and nutritional therapy. Remember, your child doesn't have to try new things right away.
5. remain flexible and be patient:
Travelling is a time for relaxation and adventure, so try not to stress too much the child's eating habits. Be flexible and prepared for the fact that some meals may not be ideal. Encourage but do not force your child to try new foods.
6. Ensure your child's comfort and safety:
Make sure your child has the opportunity to eat in a calm and comfortable environment. Avoid crowded and noisy places that can further stress your child. If possible, find a place where you can eat quietly and at your own pace.
What should you avoid as much as possible when dealing with an unclean child?
1. Compulsions:
There is a lot of research showing that children who are forced to eat eat less and often struggle with eating disorders in the future. So it is a shortcut and definitely not the way to go, it is not worth it.
- "If you don't eat, there's no reward."
- "Eat because you won't grow."
- "You don't leave the table unless the plate is empty."
- "At least eat the meat."
You know such ways of forcing children to eat? NO, NO and NO again! We forget about them and look for other solutions.
2. snacks between meals:
Let us remember that if child does not want to eat Nothing for breakfast, but "stuffs" itself with crisps, flip-flops, fruit, nuts or other snacks, it will not eat anything for lunch either. An hour after lunch it will be hungry and will again satisfy its hunger with snacks. And the circle is closed. This is why it is particularly important to keep an eye on non-eaters. Even healthy snacksFruit, vegetables, fruit mousses and nuts are no substitute for a complete meal. On holiday, ice cream, sweets and other temptations can be found at every turn, so let's be vigilant and control what your child eats between meals.
3. sweetened beverages:
Fanta, Sprite, fruit juices or even, horror of horrors, cola - on holiday children will ask us for them. If a glutton takes in a large dose of sugars in drinks, we shouldn't be surprised if he won't even look at a cutlet with potatoes when it's lunchtime. Water - this is the only legitimate drink that will quench thirst and not satisfy the hunger in an underachiever. We say a definite NO to empty calories.
4. constantly talking about food:
Let go, show your child that eating is a pleasure. Savour the food and wait until your child's stomach growls and he or she reaches for something on his or her own. Let him or her associate mealtimes with family get-togethers, conversations, laughter and a pleasant atmosphere, not with nerves, shouting, anger and stress.
Holidays with a bad boy - how to enjoy a family trip?
And although a theoretically healthy child will not die of hunger, only parents of non-eating children know how much effort and energy it costs them to provide at least a minimally balanced diet for their child. When you have a child at home for whom the only acceptable meal is pasta, a slice of dry bread or pancakes, you sometimes run out of strength in the daily struggle for every bite of other than your favourite food.
And if we are fighting such a mentally and physically exhausting battle every day, at least on holiday we would like a break from the routine and the problems of eating, or rather not eating.
Following the above tips can help reduce the stress of eating while travelling and make the trip enjoyable for both the child and the whole family. It is worth trying and not giving up.
And if, after the holidays, you find the non-vomiting problem overwhelming you, don't wait for the last bell, let us help you. You are welcome to come for a consultation at Kids Medic Children and Youth Therapy Centre in Warsaw and benefit from a consultation paediatric nutritionist - you may find that your next holiday will be very different.
We wish you a happy and tasty holiday 🙂
