Wellness

My 7-year-old son hates fish. I have tried so many types of preparations with different varieties of fish. Fish is a very important part of our diet at home, so what can I give him in place of fish and how can I make him develop a liking for fish?

Answered by Team ParentCircle

Dear Parent,

This must be quite frustrating for you. My immediate response to your question is not to force your child to eat what he indicates a strong dislike for. Research has consistently shown that when coerced into eating certain foods, children develop life-long aversions to those food items. So, if you really want your son to eat fish, don't force him! There are still other strategies you could try to get him to eat fish:

1. Does your son dislike the smell of fish? Many people can’t stand the strong smell of fish and it’s completely natural. If that's the reason, it is possible that over time he may grow accustomed to the smell.
2. As you said you have tried different preparations and varieties of fish. Have you tried to involve your son in shopping for fish? Have him accompany you to the fish market and point out different seafood varieties, whether the fish is fresh or saltwater, which parts of the world that particular fish is mostly eaten, etc. The idea is to get him curious about fish and its use in cuisine the world over.
3. Have you involved him in cooking fish? When you're cooking fish, have him give you a helping hand in the kitchen. Show him different methods of cooking fish - from frying to baking to making a curry. Help him see how the fish changes in color, texture, etc. when cooked. But even as you try the above ways, ensure you don’t force him to eat. Let him indicate whether he would like to eat it or not. Simply offer without the expectation that he will eat.
4. Fish provides an array of nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and protein that are important for your child's development. So, get creative to get your child to eat fish. You can swap one ingredient for fish in the dishes your child already enjoys, such as sandwiches, pasta, or a cutlet. Food that can be dipped into sauces seems to be more enticing for children. So, you can cut fish into chunks and grill them as lollipops or even make fish fingers.

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