Chances are you’ve dealt, are dealing with or will deal with a picky eater. Pickiness can come in as a phase when you least expect it, sometimes staying a long time, other times just a short duration. Regardless of what level of picky eater you have to deal with, it is most likely not pleasant. It makes preparing meals and snacks more challenging. You are always looking for something new to get them to try or ways to sneak healthy food into their favourite dishes.
I’ve been compiling ideas for a while now and thought this might be a great venue to share the wealth. I found some great ideas in the Today’s Parent magazine in an article titled: “10 ways to tame dinnertime drama.” Let me know if any of these ideas help with your little ones.
Get them involved
Kids love the kitchen, give them a job to help prepare the meal, this may help in a variety of ways. They may be proud they helped prepare the meal, or it could simply help them be aware and mentally prepared for the fact that this is what dinner is (a posted menu in the kitchen that showcases the nightly dinner or a weekly calendar can also help with this).
You can also have them help prepare the weekly meal plan. I’ve just implemented this in our home. Everyone picks a meal for the week (I have a few limitations: one chicken, one pasta, one fish) but the night their meal comes up they’re so excited.
I also remind them on the days the meal isn’t one of their favourites that their meal is coming. It seems to have helped us for now.
Put a friend on the plate
When you’re cooking a dinner that isn’t well accepted, pair it with something that is. That way they know there will be something they like to eat once they’ve tried the new or unloved portion.
I also have heard families having fruits and vegetables (bowls of different coloured foods like broccoli, cantaloupe and strawberries) cut up on the table with every meal so that kids can also choose those healthy things to fill their plates with as well. As long as you vary the choices daily they will be getting the nutrients and minerals you want them to get.
Let them self-serve
I’ve often heard and even noticed that toddlers sometimes steer away from full plates. Offering smaller portions, (think of a tackle box – just a tiny bit of a few things) of a few different foods is less intimidating. While toddlers are too young to serve themselves, preschoolers and older are definitely able to do so. This helps kids control how much of each food they would like to try.
You may have a house rule that they have to try a bite of each thing offered, or maybe the rule is you have to choose two out of three of the things offered. Whatever the rule they have some control over how much of each thing they pick. The control isn’t in what they get to eat but how much of it they have to eat which eliminates the power struggle.
Limit distractions and don’t talk about food
Turn off all distractions, shut down the technology and have meal times as a family. Focus on each person’s day and silly, fun or memorable things that happened during the day instead of negotiating one more bite, try this, you must taste that. You’ll see it works.
Close the kitchen
I will not be a short order cook. My kids know this. Everyone eats the same meal. Once you start giving in on this they will continue to want their own specialized meal and you will have a hard time reverting back to one meal. I like the concept of teaching your child that they don’t have to clean off their plate or eat all of what you’ve give them but: “you don’t have to eat all your dinner but make sure you’re full because that’s it for tonight.” Again framing the conversation this way gives them the power to choose how much they need to feel full.
You have to taste something 20 times
Something we repeat often is that our taste buds need to try something at least 20 times before they can detect whether or not they like something. It’s our mantra and it’s true!
Keep offering up the hated meals
Okay, sometimes you try a new recipe and it’s disgusting, no one likes it — those recipes you can throw out and never repeat. I remember my parents trying salmon cakes that simply did not go over with any of us, it was never repeated again. But if you have a child that currently doesn’t like melted cheese (our current issue) offer up quesadillas or casseroles regularly because eventually they may change their mind. Or find another way to offer up the hated item (broccoli in a casserole instead of steamed) or find a way to alter their portion somewhat (for us it’s to keep a section of the casserole uncovered with cheese). In the end their eating what you’ve made and continuing to give it a chance.
Hang in there. Eventually we’ll all have teenagers eating us out of house and home.
For now, I truly hope some of these tips help with your picky eater.
Enjoy your long weekend with family, Happy Easter!
