By Linda Taaffe

Children would rather pick up their toys than eat mushy vegetables, survey reveals

f the family dog is mysteriously gaining weight, there’s a good chance he’s snacking on your children’s table scraps. About 20 percent of children say they feed food they don’t like to their dog during mealtime, according to a recent national survey on children’s eating habits.

The same survey labeled 80 percent of all children as “fussy eaters” - kids who won’t try new foods, will only eat fast food or only take two bites of food at dinner. Wilton Enterprises’ “Fussy Eaters” survey asked 1,000 parents nationwide about their children’s eating habits and how they deal with their children’s finicky tastes. The survey, conducted online last April, includes the eating habits of children up to age 11. Wilton Enterprises is a bakeware company located in Illinois.

Most Los Altos parents interviewed for this story agreed that their children were finicky eaters.

Nearly all had tried making food more fun to eat or had cooked special “kids’” meals for their children at one time or another.

Some parents tried cutting sandwiches into different shapes, made broccoli into “trees” or sliced breakfast sausage in such a way that it resembled a flower or octopus in shape.

More than 60 percent of the parents in the Wilton survey said they had prepared a special meal for their children because they wouldn’t eat what had already been cooked.

Parents with children who won’t try new foods prepare a special “kids’” meal about 94 percent of the time, according to the survey.

Among the things children would prefer to do rather than eat foods they dislike, picking up their toys ranked highest. About 40 percent of children said they would rather pick up their toys. Another 16 percent said they would rather take out the trash, according to the survey.

Los Altos kids don’t seem to take such drastic measures when faced with foods they don’t like. Most said they just pick at the food they don’t like. Some said they ask their parents to prepare them a special meal. A few admitted that they hid food in their napkins. One third-grader said he has fed food he didn’t like to his dog, Shasta. His classmate said she went as far as trying to give her cat undesirable food.

Food expert Nancy Siler advised against spending time arguing or forcing children to eat.

“With kids going back to school, parents don’t have time or the energy to make special requests for their fussy eaters,” she said. “Take a light-hearted approach to mealtime.”

Siler suggested making meals fun. Entice children with colorful, fun-shaped or themed foods.

Next to the taste of food, color and shape were the most important aspects of food for children, the survey revealed.

A majority of surveyed parents said their children would be more likely to eat a meal they helped prepare or try new foods if they were prepared in fun shapes or themes.

During lunch at one Los Altos school, third-graders prepared pizza from prepackaged Lunchables, adjusting the pepperoni and amount of sauce to their liking. Others ate sandwiches rolled in a tortilla instead of white bread.

Peas, tomatoes and other “mushy” vegetables ranked among the least favorite foods. One third-grader said she didn’t like sandwiches because she gets tired of eating white bread every day.

Favorites included fruit, salami and fruit rolls.

“Fussy Eaters” survey results

Below are the results of Wilton Enterprises’ “Fussy Eaters” survey, which asked more than 1,000 parents nationwide about their children’s eating habits and how they deal with their children’s finicky tastes. The survey was conducted online last April and includes the eating habits of children up to age 11. Wilton Enterprises is a bakeware company located in Illinois.

Eighty percent of the parents surveyed said their children were fussy eaters.

Sixty-one percent of the parents surveyed said they sometimes prepare a special meal for a child who won’t eat what has been cooked for the rest of the family.

How fussy are children?

35 percent “would try a little.” 23 percent “can’t get enough fast food.” 16 percent say “everything’s ‘yucky’.” 6 percent “only eat food Mom makes.”

What do children do with food they dislike during mealtime? 71 percent spread it around the plate, blending it with other food. 20 percent feed the family dog. 18 percent spit food out into their napkin. 3 percent stick food in their ears, nose, etc. 2 percent put food in their pockets.

What would children rather do than eat food they don’t like?41 percent: clean up their toys 29 percent: take a bath 16 percent: take out the trash 15 percent: be nice to a sibling

Seventy-four percent of the parents surveyed said their children are more likely to eat a meal that they help prepare.

Seventy percent of the parents said they believed that their child would be more likely to try something new if the foods were prepared in fun shapes or colors.