Do you have a picky eater on your hands? There are many types of picky eating behaviors. Your child might be scared of trying new things, like fruits and vegetables. They might only be sticking to foods that are familiar or maybe you are finding them at the dinner table trying to do anything but eat. Don’t worry, there are several ways of dealing with picky eating and helping your child learn to try new foods.
Picky eating is so common, particularly for toddlers and preschoolers, perhaps, even with adolescents. Feeding toddlers and kids is hard. You haven’t failed as a parent just because you have a picky toddler or child!
Millions of parents come to us every day needing support. It’s stressful, when your toddler is not eating or your child is refusing foods they have always eaten!
We know these tips will put your child on the road to eating more foods.
Start “no-pressure” meals
If you’re tired of all the effort it takes to just get your toddler to take a bite or your older child to eat, start with “no-pressure” meals. When you have a meal ready for your child, let them decide how much or whether they want to eat. Believe it or not, giving them the choice helps them to learn to like more foods over time!
Here are some examples of what pressure looks like:
- “Just try one more bite.”
- “You have to eat it, or you can’t go out to play.”
- “You will make mom very happy if you try a bite.”
- “You can have dessert as soon as you try this food.”
Is it easy to take off the pressure when your child is not eating? No, it may feel uncomfortable at first, but it does get easier. The goal is to create a pleasant and inviting eating environment for your child where they can learn to like new foods.
Model the behavior you want to see
When your child watches you, they learn to eat what you eat! Model all the strategies we discussed here in front of your child.
Let your kid see you eat a variety of different foods. If there is a food you don’t enjoy, try it in front of your child. It’s okay to let them know that you are learning to like this food. You can say, “I’m learning to like this food. Maybe I’ll try more another day.”
You can model how to talk about the foods on your own plate, use neutral language to discuss dessert, and even play with your own food to help them engage with theirs!
Eat with your child whenever it works for your family. Maybe you have dinners together, or maybe you eat lunches together on the weekends. Whatever works for your family is great.
Let your kids be “produce pickers”
Having them pick out their own fruits and veggies at the store could make them more excited to eat it at home.
Have your child help prepare meals.
This will help them learn about the food and be more willing and excited to taste the food when they get to help make it.
Offer Choices
Rather than having one option for the vegetable at dinner, try asking “Would you rather have carrots or broccoli for dinner?”
Enjoy Each other while eating family meals together
Have fun and happy conversations at the dinner table.
Offer the same foods for the whole family
Make things fair at the dinner table. If they have to eat green beans, they will want to see Mom and Dad eating them too.
Remember…
If you are concerned about your child’s diet, talk with your pediatrician, who can help troubleshoot and make sure your child is getting all the necessary nutrients to grow and develop. Also keep in mind that picky eating usually is a normal developmental stage for toddlers. Do your best to patiently guide them on their path toward healthy eating.