You've tried begging. You've raised your voice. You've threatened to
take away dessert.. but you STILL have a picky eater! At
BabyandKidAllergies, we have "been there, done that" - and along the way, have
learned some wonderful tips on how to get your picky child to eat.
This
article is for older toddlers and above. Never restrict your baby or
very young toddler from food when he or she is hungry!
No Tricks
Believe us, you will see the tricks further down! But for now, let's look
at the bottom line when it comes to picky eaters. If you begin catering,
you will cater for the rest of your child's life. Monsters can be created
very quickly when Mom decides to make more than one meal for dinner, and that is
exactly what you are trying to avoid.
Our very best advice? Only one meal, no matter how much crying or
screaming you hear. Don't make food a huge issue. After all, if your
child is hungry, he or she will eventually eat. By making one meal that
the whole family is eating, you are teaching the child that he or she cannot use
food as a weapon or tool. Dinner is dinner, period. Dinnertime is
truly for the family to be together, to talk and enjoy quiet time together.
It should not focus around the actual food being eaten, but rather the wonderful
family time it allows.
As we said, create one meal. But if you know the main dish is going to
cause some resistance in your picky child, make sure you have at least two sides
that your child can fill up on. Ask your child to try the main dish, but
if you get a refusal, serve the sides and move on. If you begin to fight,
your child will learn that there is power to be had around food, and that your
weakness may just be at the dinner table. If the toddler knows that
avoiding food will stress Mom out, trust us, the toddler will begin to use this
as a tool. If your child begins to cry and make a fuss, either ignore it
or ask your child to please leave the table until he or she is ready to join in
the wonderful family discussion at dinner.
Never tell your picky eater that he cannot leave the table until he finishes
his meal. Food should never be a battle, because your picky eater will
always win. Allow your child to eat the sides and then dinner is over.
If your child wishes to snack shortly after dinner, your response should depend
on the child. If your child is young, allow an apple, banana, yogurt -
anything small and healthy. But after that, no more snacks or grazing.
And DEFINITELY no desert if the child didn't at least try the main dish.
If your picky eater is older, simply tell them they should have had more at
dinner, and tell them what time breakfast will be served. Allow water or
milk, but no desserts or further snacking.
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Tricks
Yes, we said tricks! Young children may try to gain power over food, but
you are smarter, and can actually trick him or her into eating healthy food.
Some may say you should not have to play games to get your child to eat... but
these people have probably never had three children, two adults and a dog around
the dinner table! Here are some tips and tricks to help your child learn
to enjoy eating healthy food:
Teach your child how to prepare the food on his or her own. Always
supervise, but truly allow your older child to chop, mix and stir.
Younger children who cannot use a knife can pour things in to unheated bowls
or pots, they can stir items before they are heated and much more. Use
your imagination. Green beans for dinner? Allow your little one
to pop the ends off the beans before you cook them! Yes, you may have
some very strangely shaped beans, but your toddler just may want to taste
them after they are cooked!
As you are preparing dinner, slice up a few grapes, carrot sticks or
other healthy food and put it in a bowl right next to you. Don't pay
any attention to it and watch the magic begin. You just might see a
hand sneak up and grab one. If this doesn't happen, use the squirrel
trick! Say outloud, "Oh, I thought I saw a little squirrel running
around the kitchen! Hmm I wonder if little squirrels like to steal
carrots? I have four carrots in here. I wonder if I look away,
if one will be gone!" We have used this trick many times... it is fun
to watch the little hand sneak up, grab a carrot and shove it into a nearby
mouth. Act surprised and say, "Oh my!! Why, a little squirrel
came in and ate a carrot! There were four, and now there are three!
I wonder if the squirrel will sneak another??"
At the dinner table, if you know your child will turn his or her nose up
at a new vegetable, place it on your own plate and offer it to others.
Eat is as if it was the best food in the whole world. Make sure you
always have a bit on your plate near your toddler. If your toddler
thinks it is his idea to try it, he may sneak a piece of your plate and try
it! Or put the bowl of this food next to her - she may decide to take
a snitch! If your toddler does not like it, simply say, "It's OK not
to like it, and I am so proud you tried it! Maybe the next new thing
you try will end up being your favorite food!"
Act excited and tell your child you don't think he could POSSIBLY eat
two bites of that chicken. You KNOW she can eat one, but TWO?
What an amazing thing that would be! Make this a game and watch your
child take more and more bites.
It's all in the presentation! Make the meal look like a smiling
face on the plate, or stack things up so they look fun to eat.
Serve a meal that everyone can prepare, such as pita bread, bowls of
cheese and other condiments along with ground beef. Your child may
love adding things to the pocket pita bread!
