Picky Eaters – 11 Tips For Pleasing A Picky Eater
Tired of picky eaters? Have no fear! Here are 11 tips for pleasing a picky eater so they eat more variety every day.
Let’s chat about picky eaters.
Convincing picking eaters to eat can be a challenge for parents at the best of times.
Between the ages of about 2 and 5 it’s natural for children to become super fussy about what they will and won’t eat.
Do you have a kid who is the same?
If so, try the following tips to keep your sanity and the peace at mealtimes, while doing your best to feed your child a balanced diet.
Keep it Healthy for Your Picky Eater:
PICKY EATERS
TIP # 1 – Take the long view.
You might be convinced that your child’s picky eating habits are terrible but is that really true?
Evaluate whether your child is eating a healthy diet over the course of a full week.
Toddlers may have individual days when they’ll eat nothing but noodles, but that’s okay if it balances out in the long run.
PICKY EATERS
TIP # 2 – Introduce new foods gradually.
As your child gets more mobile, they’re designed to test whether the new things they encounter are safe to eat.
It’s normal for them to be cautious.
You’ll often get the best results if you present a new food every day for about 1 to 2 weeks.
PICKY EATERS
TIP # 3 – Scale it down.
Small children need small portions – not large massive portions like some adults eat. If you are worried it’s too small, let that fear go.
They’ll ask for more if they’re still hungry.
Encourage your child to try one bite at a time.
Also limit meal times to a maximum of about 30 minutes – rather than dragging it out. It’s possibly better to serve smaller and more frequent meals if your child is picky
Sticking to a regular schedule may also get good results.
PICKY EATERS
TIP # 4 – Use innovative recipes.
A little creativity can work wonders for getting your child to eat their vegetables and other wholesome fare.
Grate carrots into pancake batter.
Bake spinach lasagna.
Have on leftover chicken in the morning and serve waffles and other breakfast items for dinner.
You might find that this works that encourages your child to eat when you mix things up.
PICKY EATERS
TIP # 5 – Rely on nutrient dense foods.
There may simply be times when your preschooler doesn’t have much of an appetite.
At these times, make every calorie count with nutrient-rich foods like eggs, yogurt, beans, and peanut butter.
PICKY EATERS
TIP # 6 – Stay calm.
Emotional health is also important to your family’s wellbeing.
Try talking about pleasant things while you eat rather than making your child’s dining habits the center of attention.
The more you fuss about your child, the more he or she is likely to fuss. Indulge their preferences within reason.
Remember this is likely to be just a passing phase.
Keep that in mind at all times – eventually this fussiness will pass!
Make it Fun for Your Picky Eater:
PICKY EATERS
TIP # 7 – Take your child food shopping.
If your kid is super picky, why not take him or her food shopping and see what foods they are actually interested in?
Use grocery shopping as an opportunity to discuss good nutrition and admire attractive displays of food.
Let your child pick out fruits and vegetables.
See what piques their interest and curiosity.
Welcome their suggestions for planning your weekly menu.
PICKY EATERS
TIP # 8 – Start a garden with your child.
Did you know you can grow the most amazing organic veggies right from the comfort of your own home?
This is a great way to involve your child in preparing meals and snacks.
They will be more tempted to eat food that they have grown themselves.
PICKY EATERS
TIP # 9 – Make dining a social experience.
Schedule a lunch date with other children and adults who can serve as good role models for eating well.
Pack up a picnic lunch or visit a family friendly restaurant.
Make it a social event where food isn’t the sole purpose of the catch-up.
PICKY EATERS
TIP # 10 – Get messy.
Kids love to get a little wild.
Make a game out of dipping baby carrots in yogurt or smearing toast with peanut butter.
Give ordinary dishes funny names like olive eyeballs or orange fingers for carrot sticks.
PICKY EATERS
TIP # 11 – Use fun props.
Presentation is the key.
Look for cups and plates with your child’s favorite cartoon character or zoo animals.
Wear funny hats.
Develop a ritual to celebrate eating together including your own theme songs.
Even small children can use cookie cutters to turn bread into unusual shapes or help arrange vegetables into funny faces.
In the end, I want to reassure you that this picky eater stage is often a phase. It’s exciting to watch your toddler grow and master new skills even when you need some extra patience at meal times.
With a little time and effort, you can use these strategies to encourage your child to get used to eating a larger variety of healthy foods. It can be done!
Rather than fighting constantly or viewing it as a battle you will never win, you can indeed learn to find ways that please both your picky eater and you so your whole family can eat a balanced diet at mealtimes together.
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I’m Frances Vidakovic – a mindset & action coach for quietly ambitious women who want to stop overthinking and finally take aligned action. I help women achieve their goals and follow through on what matters, without sacrificing their sanity or soul.