Do you lead by example when it comes to healthy eating with your kids? Or do you find it a constant power struggle trying to get your kids to eat their fruit and veg?

Dietitian, Aoife Hearne, also known for being on Operation Transformation, joins me on this week's show to solve your problems when it comes to family eating.

She tackles the thorny issue of treats, overweight children, technology-free meal-times, fussy eaters, and how to introduce new foods to kids' plates.

"The what, when and where of eating is up to you, the parent," she explains. "The child's role is to eat or not. Kids won’t let themselves go hungry, it’s about playing the long game and holding firm with them."

As for treats? Aoife says we need to think in terms of non-food rewards so that food isn’t used as a soothing means for kids. Food can be a reward sometimes but not all the time. Have a flexible treats policy, be it a treat night, but be consistent about it.

“The key thing is that no food are off-limits,” she tells me. “Research shows that when kids have unlimited access to sweets/treats they will eat less of them."

And did you know it can take up to 20 times for kids to accept and up to 30 times to like new food?

If you have any tips/advice for family meal times do let me know and I'll share it with our listeners. I'm on email [email protected] or @KarlHenryPT on Instagram and Twitter.

For more from the podcast you can visit the show page:
https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/

The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.