WORRYING about whether a child is eating enough nutrients is a common concern among many parents who are used to dealing with teatime tantrums.

When the 'aeroplane game' no longer has any effect, or they only eat selective food groups, it would be easy to find mealtimes a battle dreaded by both parent and child.

The Happy Healthy Toddler Club, an eight-week programme for ages one to four, has supported more than 100 families in Bolton since it began five years ago, teaching them the key principles of the Change4life campaign.

The Kearsley club, run by community nutritionists Sara Gibson and Louise Townsley, at Kearsley Children's Centre, brings the fun back to food, allowing the tot to explore new healthy tastes and textures with their parents.

The class also includes a 20 minute exercise session — known in the club as "going to Rainbow World" — where the youngsters run, jump, play and sing songs before being given a healthy snack.

Ms Gibson said: "Our team is double in size now because we are doing three toddler clubs in Bolton now. We take the kids to Rainbow World where we do physical activities with them before sitting down to look at and eat new foods.

"We usually chose seasonal vegetables for them to try — from peppers to persimmon — so that they can get used to the look, smell, touch and taste of healthy foods.

"We do it without any pressure so that if they only touch or smell the food it doesn't matter. Their parents sit with them too so that it is a shared experience."

Behaviours often have to be relearned by both children and parents after they get stuck into bad habits such as separate mealtimes.

Ms Gibson said: "At the start of the group we ask the parents for their expectations and want they hope to achieve from the course. For most of them it's mealtime behaviours. Some have a problem where a baby only eats when they have the television on and don't register what they are eating. That's a habit early on.

"Then when children get between 18 months and two years that's when they start rejecting the food because they realise that they don't recognise it and they are near the phobia stage, which can affect everything in the future.

"We teach in the class that it's about moving away from the TV and getting youngsters to notice what they are putting into their mouths while eating at the table. Sometimes children don't have the same meals as their parents or eat separately, which should not happen as parents are role models and they will be copied."

Choice is a big part of the class which is taught to allow children to choose elements of their meal so they feel like they want to eat it.

Ms Gibson said: "We like to get parents to ask the kids to pick elements of their meal, for example peas or carrots, or food on a blue or green plate. With the TV, we get the parents to ask them whether they want to turn it off. It really has an effect on their behaviour.

"I have two boys and I have changed a number of things I do at home as a result of the toddler club. And what makes it better is that people can take the advice home and do it there.

"We talk about them needing 300 minutes of physical activity a day along with the food side of it. Often children do run around but research says they are not getting their heart pumping and their faces red, which we hope to help with during the classes."

SIDEBAR

MUM-of-two Kimberley Keskin, from Farnworth, brought her daughter Leyla, aged 16 months, to the club after mealtimes became stressful.

She said: "I was worried the amount she was eating — it didn't seem to be enough. She was great with fruit and vegetables but at mealtimes she would refuse to eat. I didn't know what was wrong and I was really concerned and thought she had to be hungry.

"I spoke to the health visitor and told her I was worried about it. She suggested I put my name down for the class, so I did. We are on week five now and it has been really helpful. We have learnt invaluable tips and behaviours about eating to get kids to eat their meals.

"I used to have really bad anxiety when it came to mealtimes and I know that Leyla picked up on it because she was too. But the class has helped me keep calmer.

"We have changed our habits now — rather than grazing we have proper mealtimes, food like chicken and rice or other homemade dishes. She sits at the table now, which is a new rule in the house — iPads are banned too so this promotes more talking between us all, such as finding out about my son's day at school.

"After this course I am hoping to go to a cookery class to learn about how to cook proper healthy meals too."

FIVE STEPS TO EATING NEW FOODS:

Look, Touch, Smell, Kiss, Taste