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How to Get Fussy Kids to Drink Juices
Learn useful tips to help get your
fussy child
pick-up the healthy habit
of eating fruits
or drinking fresh juices.
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Some kids don't need much persuasion to drink fresh juices, and some
would not drink juices no matter what you do. They would see the color
of the juice and get turned off. My daughter happens to be a fussy
one and I have been forced to think of creative ways to get her to
drink. If you share the same problem I face, here are some useful tips
which have worked for me. |
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Start with one type of
juice at a time, given in small portion. A common fruit to
start with would be an apple or an orange. Test with half a
fruit, mixed with one part water. You can also use a pear or
grapes, but as grapes are much sweeter, mix with two parts water.
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Keep or buy a very
nice cup that she likes and tell her that it is only to be used for
juices. She would look forward to using the special cup.
Remember, don't give juices to your child in bottles to prevent her
from sucking too long on the juice, thus bathing her teeth in sugar
for an unnecessary length of time.
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Let her get used to
the idea that fruits and vegetables are healthy. For snacks,
cut a variety of colored fruits into small pieces. Some good
example of fruits to eat this way are: banana, dragonfruit, grapes,
kiwi, mango, peaches, strawberries, watermelon. Later, add
carrot and celery sticks. Arrange your fruits in a fun and
colorful way, and eat with her. You will be surprised how they
will quickly pick-up the fruits-eating habit.
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If she is the really
stubborn kind, try to get her school teacher to tell her that juices
can make her strong and healthy. Children always think their
teachers know best. Sorry, but they most likely would listen
to their teacher more than they would mom.
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When you give your
child a cup of juice, make no comments whatsoever, don't even say
"It's good for you". These sort of comments would make her
more alert and wary of what you are giving her. Give her juice
like you would give her water, with no comments.
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Likewise, if at first
you give her juice and she rejects it, just take it away without
making any comment or fuss. Don't let her think that she has
"won". Reintroduce it to her in a couple of days' time.
Keep doing this until she finally relent. If she did drink,
then lavish her with praises.
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Drink juices yourself
regularly and deliberately show her how much you are enjoying your
juices. Set an example.
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Let your child be
involved in the process of juicing. Let her help to choose
when you shop for fruits. Let her help you clean the fruits
and prepare the juice. Even let her make the choice of juice
to make for the day. Children are more likely to drink if they
have been involved.
I hope you have found the
above useful. Just start to implement one or two ideas and be
consistent in your approach. Share these ideas with your spouse
and be of one mind when introducing fruits and vegetables to your child.
Conflicting ideas from parents would deter them from picking up the
healthy habit. You should soon be getting your child to take
juices without putting up a fight.
J
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