when your child won't eat

when your child won't eat | will it lead to an eating disorder? | what can parents do? | help & info

by Hilary Pereira

help and info

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organisations

British Nutrition Foundation
52-54 High Holborn
London WC1V 6RQ
Tel: 020 7404 6504 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
E-mail: postbox@nutrition.org.uk
Website: www.nutrition.org.uk
Offers impartial nutritional advice based on the latest scientific findings and has considerable influence over all bodies involved in UK food production and distribution, including the government. The website is dedicated to food information, with useful tips on how to make food interesting for children, to encourage them to eat.

National Childbirth Trust
Alexandra House
Oldham Terrace
London W3 6NH
Enquiry line: 0870 444 8707 (Mon-Thur 9am-5pm, Fri 9am-4pm)
Membership line: 08709 908040
Breastfeeding line: 0870 444 8708 (every day 8am-10pm)
E-mail: enquiries@national-childbirth-trust.co.uk
Website: www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com
Information and support in pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood. Can arrange contact with counsellors and/or local and regional support groups, including groups for caesareans and miscarriage. Provides post-natal exercise groups and antenatal teaching. Also produces leaflets and books.

websites

for children:

Feed Me Better
www.feedmebetter.com
Rubbish food at school? Get involved. Start a revolution in your school dining hall. Order the Feed Me Better pack on the FMB Hotline 0871 222 5678.

Welltown
www.welltown.gov.uk
Site for 5-7 year olds (key stage one), which uses fun activities to provide information on food and other health issues.

Galaxy-H
www.galaxy-h.gov.uk
Site for 7-11 year olds (key stage two), which uses interactive tools to educate children about their general health on subjects from food choice to smoking.

LifeBytes
www.lifebytes.gov.uk
Site for 11-14 year olds (key stage three), which uses interactive tools to educate young teenagers about their general health on subjects from healthy eating to sex and relationships.

Mind, Body and Soul
www.mindbodysoul.gov.uk
Site for 14-16 year olds (key stage four), exploring all aspects of personal wellbeing and health. Dietary advice includes 'Seven Steps to Healthy Eating' and the Menu Master game.

for parents and care-providers:

Anna Freud Centre
www.annafreudcentre.org
The Anna Freud Centre helps children with behavioural and emotional problems. Website features guidelines helpful to parents concerned about their children's feeding habits.

Food Dudes
www.fooddudes.co.uk
The Food Dude programme was developed for use in Primary Schools by psychologists at the University of Wales, Bangor. It is an initiative to encourage and maintain healthy eating habits in children.

Health and Nutrition
www.healthandnutrition.co.uk/hffhk/pages/articles/mychild.htm
An article entitled 'My Child Won't Eat' offering important insights into why children get faddy about food and offering ways to deal with picky eaters.

Jamie's School Dinners
www.channel4.com/life/microsites/J/jamies_school_dinners
The website that accompanies the ground-breaking Channel 4 series. Includes a downloadable action pack specifically for parents and a link to the Feed Me Better campaign website.

National Network for Childcare
www.nncc.org
Talks about what child carers can do to get kids to eat, with lots of useful tips for anyone feeding a child.

reading

	Coping with a Picky Eater: A guide for the perplexed parent by William Wilkoff (Fireside Books, 1998) Shows parents how to avoid mealtime battles, including setting rules, using strategies, and creating healthy eating habits for children. Get this book
	The Food Our Children Eat: How to get children to like good food by Joanna Blythman (Fourth Estate, 2000) Offers practical tips for parents who are concerned about what their children eat and looks at the long term consequences for human health and society of the increase in consumption of junk food. Get this book
	Healthy Food for Healthy Kids by Bridget Swinney (Meadowbrook Press, 1999) A resource for parents wanting to give their children a healthy attitude towards food. Get this book
	Roald Dahl's Revolting Recipes by Felicity Dahl (Red Fox, 1996) A collection of recipes based on food and drink featured in Roald Dahl's books. They include mudburgers, hot frogs, lickable wallpaper, stinkbugs' eggs and crispy wasp stings. Get this book

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(April 2002, resources updated March 2005)