Dear (Mom, Mother-in-law, family member, baby sitter),

Thank you for taking care of your (granddaughter/grandson, niece/nephew, etc.). We appreciate your help tremendously. We wanted to let you know how we are choosing to feed (child’s name) and eat as a family. Based on current research and our goals to minimize picky eating and help (child’s name) listen to (his/her) body and grow in a healthy way, we want to listen to (child’s name) and stay in our role as the adult.

First, to listen to (child’s name):

We want to honor (his/her) body’s fullness and hunger cues. (Delete the following if child is talking) Please watch for these ways in which (child’s name) can express hunger: reaching for or pointing to food, opening (his/her) when offered a spoon or food, getting excited when (he/she) sees food or using hand motions or sounds to let you know (he/she) is still hungry. (Child’s name) can express fullness by pushing food away, closing (his/her) mouth when food is offered, turning (his/her) head away from food or using hand motions or sounds to let you know (he/she) is full.

(Delete if child is talking): Please continue to feed what is available for the meal as (he/she) is expressing signs of hunger. Also please stop feeding right away (not one more bite) when (he/she) expresses signs of fullness.

(If child is talking): (Child’ name) will tell you when he is satisfied. When he says he is done, say “Ok, thanks for letting me know.” When (child’s name) asks for more of something, please give him more without comments such as “Eat more chicken first.” “Did you try your broccoli?”

During the meal please do not comment on:

• what (he/she) is or isn’t eating

• how much (he/she) is eating

• why (he/she) should eat a certain food

To stay in your role as the adult, please provide three meals per day with one snack between meals. We don’t want (child’s name) to have multiple snacks between meals so he is hungry at mealtime. We also (want you to choose what is served/want the meals we have provided to be served). (Child’s name) does not get to pick what he wants served at meals or snacks. (Child’s name) does get to decide if (he/she) wants to eat what is provided without any pressure/comments (such as mentioned above). If (he/she) does not eat much at meal time or snack time that’s ok.

Based on what we have learned, (his/her) growth rate changes so how much (he/she) eats will change as well. We don’t have to worry if (he/she) is getting enough or too much. If (child’s name) asks for a snack shortly after a meal, please do not give an early snack. Say “It’s not snack time yet,” and redirect to an activity.

Thank you for helping us minimize picky eating and model the importance of eating variety of foods. We are in no way

criticizing how you would care for (child’s name). We are simply trying to apply recommendations for (child’s name) to honor (his/her) body and create a pressure free environment for (him/her) to try new foods.

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