Regine Velasquez, Marian Rivera give tips for feeding picky eaters
MANILA, Philippines — Are you a parent or a guardian of a child who is a picky eater?
Worry not because Kapuso actresses Regine Velasquez and Marian Rivera are also like you.
In separate press conferences, Regine and Marian revealed some tricks they do to make their children eat healthy.
Regine: Mix and introduce slowly
Related video: Regine shares how she teaches Nate to eat healthy
“He is a picky eater talaga,” Regine said of her son, Nate, during their recent launch as new Jollibee endorsers.
Before Nate has learned to obey Regine in eating vegetables, there used to be a time when she had to hide vegetables in his food.
“Pwede mo namang dayain eh. ‘Pag buo ‘yung kanin nila tapos ‘yung meat nandyan, gawin mo i-osterize mo ‘yung vegetable, ilagay mo sa kanin, ‘Anak, fried rice ‘yan!’” Regine shared.
Eventually, Nate got used to eating vegetables. His favorite now is the Filipino sour-soup-based meat and vegetables dish Sinigang.
Now, she is in the phase of teaching him to eat fruits.
“Slowly, nakikinig naman. Ngayon, nasa saging na kami. There was a time na apples. So, I’m hoping na he will have more variety.”
Marian: Offer rewards
“Wala namang batang hindi naging pihikan,” said Marian during her recent launch as Mega Prime Club endorser.
“Meron silang gustong pagkain na ‘yun at ‘yun lang din. Ang maganda kasi sa anak ko, bata pa lang s’ya sinabi ko na kumain ng vegetables – spinach, broccoli. Hihilahin ko talaga s’ya.”
But Marian quickly clarified that she is not a strict parent.
“Tinatanong ko s’ya, ‘Anong gusto mo, anak?,’ ‘I want chips, I want candy,’ yes, definitely, ibibigay ko ‘yun pero kelangan tapusin mo muna ‘yung pagkain mo. ‘Di pwedeng walang meal na walang gulay. Dapat lahat may gulay. So, ‘yun ‘yung treat ko sa kanya. Hindi ka kakain, hindi kita bibigyan ng reward. Kainin mo ‘yan.”
But she does not force Zia to eat just anything she wants her to. She gives Zia choices.
“Ang chaka naman kung sabihin kong nauto ko, ‘di ba? Pero nalinlang mo, napaikot mo s’ya ayon dun sa mga nutrition na gusto mong ibigay sa kanya. So ‘yun lang kelangan me option.”
The key, Marian said, is to never give up on a picky child.
“At saka ‘wag susuko. Ako kasi mahilig ako magluto. Lahat gagawin ko para maging healthy talaga ‘yung anak ko,” she shared.
“And hindi naman ako nagkamali. ‘Yung anak ko medyo skinny pero ‘pag binuhat mo, mas mabigat pa yata sa’kin!” — Videos by Kat Leandicho
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