Many parents know the very real struggle of mealtimes when their little ones prefer only certain foods – or even worse, the foods they like are lacking in nutrition. One day your kid loves bananas, the next, they act like you’ve betrayed them by putting one on their plate. It’s frustrating, confusing, and often leads to that sinking feeling of guilt - "Am I giving my child all the nutrients they need?". You become anxious as your nurturing instinct goes into overdrive.
Well, the good news is you’re not alone. Selective eating is a common phase, but when it lingers, it can bring stress to both you and your child as well as the family dynamics. Beyond your own dinner table, it affects social interactions, school meals, and even family gatherings. The pressure to ensure your selective eater gets enough nutrients while navigating their difficult preferences can feel extremely overwhelming.
That’s where Novalac Junior Vanilla plays such an important role in your child’s nutrition. It’s a delicious, no added sugar, vanilla-flavoured growing-up milk for children aged three and up. Packed with essential vitamins and minerals, it helps fill the nutritional gaps, giving parents peace of mind and kids the support they need for healthy development.
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What is a selective eater ?
Whilst there is no generally accepted definition of selective or picky eating, it is indicated by a variety of behaviours whereby children are highly selective in what they do or do not eat. This behaviour is often related to sensory sensitivity and a deeper cognitive processing of physical, emotional or social stimuli.
What are some examples of selective eaters?
Selective eating isn’t just about taste. Children may fear new or certain textures such a lumpy or chunky foods or avoid food with strong smells. On the other side children who are high sensory seekers may only want to consume very sweet food and drinks. But even emotional factors can influence a child’s eating choices like seeking control over their environment by choosing how, when and what they eat, which can result in a food throwing tantrum if they feel out of control of the situation. Some kids prefer predictability and familiarity in their meals, while others may have a naturally lower appetite. Some prefer plastic utensils whilst others prefer metal.
For parents, this can be deeply frustrating and oh so confusing – especially when friends, family, or even strangers offer well-meaning but unwelcome advice:
- “Just make them eat it!”
- “If they’re hungry enough, they’ll eat anything!”
- “They’ll grow out of it – just wait.”
- “When I was a child, my parents made me sit at the table until I had eaten my plate clean.”
But when your child’s diet is limited, waiting doesn’t always feel like an option. The concern creeps in – are they getting enough iron for brain development? Enough calcium for strong bones? Enough vitamin C for a healthy immune system? These are the questions that may plague you.
With Novalac Junior Vanilla, you can sleep easier knowing your child is still getting the right nutrients, even when food choices are limited.
The emotional impact of selective eating
The negative effect that selective eating has on a family extends beyond nutrition. Kids may feel anxious or embarrassed in social settings where they can’t eat the same foods as their peers. Birthday parties, school lunches, and meals at a grandparent’s house can become stressful instead of enjoyable.
For parents, there’s often guilt and exhaustion – especially when feeling judged by others. The constant battle over meals can take an emotional toll, making food feel like a source of conflict rather than connection. All this can have an impact on the parents involved, as they clash over ways to solve the problems. One word of advice- stand as a united parenting team, decide on the processes that you will take and agree on boundaries to steer through times of rough sea together.
This is why Novalac Junior Vanilla isn’t just a nutritional solution – it’s also a way to relieve stress for both you and your child. Knowing that they are getting essential vitamins and minerals – like vitamin A for vision, vitamin C for immunity, Calcium for strong bones, and Iron for growth and brain development – means mealtimes are less pressurising and more about connecting.
Plus, Iron has another bonus benefit – it helps improve appetite in iron deficient diets, which can encourage kids to expand their list of preferred foods over time.
A simple solution for nutritional peace of mind
Novalac Junior Vanilla makes it easy to get those extra nutrients into your child’s diet without all the drama. It can be mixed as a simple drink, added to milkshakes, blended into smoothies, or even added to simple recipes like porridge or pancakes. The natural vanilla flavour makes it enjoyable on its own while also being versatile enough to pair with other foods.
And shouldn’t mealtime also be fun? That’s why Novalac Junior Vanilla has introduced four adorable characters which are featured on the eye-catching tin. Each character represents an essential micronutrient.
- Bush Baby = Vitamin A (for visual development)
- Cat = Vitamin C (for immunity support)
- Hippo = Calcium (for strong bones and teeth)
- Loch Ness = Iron (for growth, brain development and appetite)
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These characters can help turn mealtime into a learning and connecting experience, giving parents the opportunity to bond through storytelling with their kids – for example, you could tell the story of baby hippo and how she grew big and strong. Watch how your little one begins to engage with the idea of healthy eating in a way that feels fun rather than forced. Unpack exploratory questions such as what do you think it is like to eat with only your mouth and no hands like the hippo, or why do cats love fish? Can you describe what fish tastes like. Do bushbabies eat together or on their own? These are fun ways to get your child thinking about the eating process, whilst using sensory cues to encourage eating.
Novalac Junior Vanilla takes the pressure off mealtimes and mom-guilt
There’s something to remember: It’s not your fault. Eating habits develop over time, and every child’s journey is different. Your role isn’t to fight every meal – it’s to offer balanced options, support healthy habits, and ensure they get the nutrients they need in a way that works for you as a family at that particular stage.
With Novalac Junior Vanilla, you have a trusted nutritional ally that helps fill the gaps, reduces the stress, and provides peace of mind – because healthy growth isn’t just about food; it’s about emotional well-being, too. Find out more about this delicious growing-up milk and how it can play such a vital role in your selective eater’s daily diet.
So next time your little one turns their nose up at dinner, take a deep breath. You’ve got this in the tin, so to speak. And with Novalac Junior Vanilla, they’ve got the nutritional support they need to thrive… and have fun with food while they do.
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