Picky Eaters Tips
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Looking for ideas, tricks and tips for parenting the picky eater. We know it can be challeging to try to get your child to try new foods.
Children have different personalities just like us so often what works for one child will not work for another. So patience and persistence are key to success. Most children will eventually be willing to try new foods but it can take many attempts.
Here is a list of our tips for parents with picky eaters that
-
offer different ideas on how to get children to try new healthy foods
List Of Tips For Parents With the Picky Eaters
- If you find a couple of vegetables that they do like, well, it is okay to repeatedly serve them. Just continue to introduce one new food at a time.
- Don’t nag, its okay if they refuse new foods initially, introduce the food again in a few weeks.
- Introduce one new food at a time. Introduce it with another food they enjoy.
- Make the foods interesting. Jazz up those vegetables and fruits. Kids love dipping foods, so
how about adding a low fat dip for their vegetables or fruits. Serve them their vegetable with a vegetable made of into a picture or funny face.
- Try eating meatless meals on Mondays this December.
- Children are more accepting of a new food if they've learned about it first.
- Avoid bribing please! ie “If you eat your vegetables, you can have dessert later.” You will send the wrong message to your child. Multiple studies have shown that bribing kids doesn’t promote good healthy food preferences in the long run.
- Don’t despair. Be patient there is no magic solutions because kids, like us adults, have different personalities, tolerance levels, patience, moods etc. So in other words, what works for one child may not work for another.
- To add more nutrition for that stubborn picky eater who absolutely refuses to eat vegetables or fruits, be creative. You can add vegetables into some of their favorite meals. Dice them finely and add these healthy foods to their favorite meatloaf, stew, soup, casserole dish or pasta.
- Avoid letting your child snack all day long. If they aren’t very hungry at mealtime they are
less likely to try new foods.
- Take advantage of other activities to expose your child to healthy foods outside of mealtime. Have them help you pick out the vegetables and fruits at the grocery store, or better yet, at the farmers market. Let them help prepare the foods.
- Try and offer them one bite of the healthy food they don’t want to eat. If your child
refuses, don’t give up or get mad. Keep bringing that vegetable back to mealtime every several days or so.
- It’s okay for kids to have a dessert or high sugar, high fat food once in awhile. Avoid completely eliminating a food they enjoy. Instead, teach your child how these foods are good to have once in a while.
- Encourage your child to put a small quantity of vegetables on their plate, even if they won’t eat it.
- Try to eliminate distractions, like TV, telephone, and cell phones during mealtime.
- Be a fun healthy eating role model. The kids are watching you. Pile on those veggies on your plate and let them know how delicious it is.
- Don’t get upset if they don’t like the food or meal, don’t take it personally.
- Introduce new foods, vegetables and fruits at mealtime.
- Always offer a food your child will eat at meals along with a new food.
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