Have you thought that you, as many other parents of children in pre primary schools in Kolkata, might make one of the following mistakes when packing the tiffin for school?
You give your child too much food
Too much food is one of the most common mistakes when it comes to packing for school. Don't judge their package by your measure. A child eats less than an adult, depending on age.
In our experience at English medium schools near Garia, large portions of food can be overwhelming for children. If the little one frequently comes home with half a package or even with the whole package, the problem may be the quantity. Especially if he can't tell you a reason why he's not eating.
Recommendation: a few smaller amounts of each food in the school tiffin. In this way, some children feel more stimulated. There is also more variety and there is a sense of satisfaction that they have finished a dish.
You put new foods in the package, which he has never tasted before
Well, children don't like surprises when it comes to meals; the familiar must be present. Especially since they don't eat at home, but open the food box at the best school in south Kolkata.
Tip: Save unfamiliar foods for after-school or home snacks when they arrive hungry and perhaps less picky. And keep the rule that new foods are always presented on a plate together with already familiar foods.
You offer him one item and that's it
That is, prepare a mega sandwich or a huge wrap, for example. Often, children do not have time during recess to eat. It's one of the frequent excuses that accompanied school packages.
You need to find out how many breaks they have and if they have a big break. And how big. We can eat a sandwich in 2 minutes. I'm not saying it's good, but we can do it. Children's attention is distributive and the time passes, the break ends.
Furthermore, children need constant energy throughout the day. This means they need a snack after sports, for example, one around 11.00, a fairly quick lunch. During the long break, they socialize a lot and play. So they won't sit still to eat a big sandwich. They want to play even though they have an empty stomach.
Recommendation: prepare more and smaller snacks! As observed by teachers at English medium schools near Garia, children are stimulated by variety. Smaller portions give them exactly what they need. And also rule out the possibility of wasting food.
You fail to get them to eat vegetables and fruits – sources of energy and fibre
That's right, not all kids eat carrots and pepper sticks. But any little bit of vegetables will make a difference over time.
Recommendation: find out what your child's favourite vegetable is. It could be sweet peas. Or beans. Or mini carrots. Even if they ignore them at first, you will consistently put them there. Lettuce in a sandwich, mini carrots in a nice container, and cucumbers with a little snack. And so on, always added, varied, and with time the little one will get used to having them there. And he will and eat.
Juicy fruits & vegetables drip over the sandwich
Some children at the best school in south Kolkata do not like too juicy and soft foods.
Recommendation: don't pile all the food in the box! Put the fruit separately in a sandwich bag, as well as the sliced carrots, which may be juicy, and the muffin in baking paper, which will absorb any excess fat. And go for boxes as compartmentalized as possible, they are very useful. Don't forget to test the box: put a little water in it, and see if it leaks. If so, you must pack everything juicy separately.
You do not involve/consult them when preparing their food
If you neither ask them what they want nor let them from time to time prepare it themselves or be there with you to prepare it, they may refuse the food. Children have moods, just like adults. So it's normal for them to refuse something they know nothing about.
Recommendation: take it slowly, first ask them to help you with small things: choose ingredients, and put the food in the box for the school tiffin. Little by little, they will sit at the counter and compose the dishes themselves. Guaranteed, it worked for many children from pre primary schools in Kolkata. Maybe make a menu for a few days with them and display it in the kitchen.
