Picky, Picky Eaters
Picky eaters are frustrating at any age, from toddler to teens. Get in the habit of encouraging your littles to give new foods a chance. Incorporating a “One Bite Rule” encourages kid to at least try new foods and to keep trying. What’s rejected today might be a favorite tomorrow!
When working with fussy eaters, try to focus on the positive. This can be hard to do, especially when a meal is prepared and children refuse to eat. Offer one item with meals you know your kids will eat, even if it’s bread and butter. The kitchen is “closed” after meals. When snacks are an option, kids don’t need to eat meals.
I highly recommend making one meal for the family. If the picky eaters choose not to eat, hunger is a natural consequence. Unless there’s a medical reason your children need to eat on a schedule, missing a meal will not hurt them.
Try to stay away from calling kids “picky eaters”. Sometimes being picky can become an excuse for fussy behavior at the table. “We give everything served a taste” can be a helpful meal rule.
Books are a terrific parenting tool. This includes training kids with finicky palettes to eat. Here is a list of my favorite books for preschoolers and early elementary-age children.
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess
Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
Pie in the Sky by Lois Ehlert
Grow Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
Jamberry by Bruce Degen
Cooking together is a great tactic as kids will usually taste what they’ve helped to prepare.
Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes: A Cookbook for Preschoolers and Up by Mollie Katzen & Ann Henderson
Knowing why we need to eat a variety of foods to keep our bodies healthy is a helpful strategy too. Learning about how the body works is also a good learning tool.
Good Enough to Eat: A Kid’s Guide to Food and Nutrition by Lizzy Rockwell
The Everything KIDS’ Human Body Book: All You Need to Know About Your Body Systems by Sheri Amsel
The single most beneficial habit for your family is mealtime. Family members build relationships around the table. Children learn communication skills and manners. They also learn nutrition from parents and siblings. Make a commitment to share one meal a day around the table with your family. Your picky eater will learn a lot!
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© 2024 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved.
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