Bananas, broccoli, chicken, macaroni & cheese… no matter what you serve, you just know there will be a battle. So much so, that your anxiety begins to creep up just knowing mealtime is fast approaching. Try as you may, you just can’t seem to figure out your very adamant youngster. One day they love a food only to despise it the next. Does, “Ew, this is gross, I don’t want this!” sound at all familiar? What’s worse? Nine times out of ten, all the questioning in the world won’t lead you to a logical explanation as to why the presented food item has been deemed “gross”. As a result, no explanation makes it all the more likely that the vicious cycle will only continue. So, how exactly can you stop picky eating once and for all? Try these 8 creative secrets!
As a mom of two young kiddos… this was (and some days still is- although far less since implementing these secrets) me! At first, the occupational therapist in me was quick to analyze the reasoning. Was there oral aversion to some degree? Were certain types of foods causing the picky eating time and time again. In my case (or in the case of my children), this was not the result. In fact, there was simply no rhyme or reason to the pickiness… and no one texture stood out from the others.
So, I turned to those with expertise in combating picky eating… i.e. fellow moms.
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Mama Tested-Mama Approved Secrets to Stop Picky Eating
As part of my “Mama Tested-Mama Approved” series, I polled a collection of moms to ask this exact question regarding picky eating. (Do you want to be a part of the polls in the future and receive the chance to win amazing giveaways in the process? You can join the free Facebook group here.)
With a wide variety of creative and unique tips and tricks… these secrets MAY or may NOT be what you were expecting!
- Try a dipping sauce! All too often the idea of a fun new dipping sauce helps hide what you are actually trying to get your picky eater to eat. Some fun ideas include: ranch dressing, ketchup, BBQ sauce, Greek yogurt, hummus, and even salsa!
… - Show your interest! Without fail, my kiddos ALWAYS want to eat what I am eating. (So much so, that I’ve been known to quickly eat something in the pantry when I want to keep it to myself ;)). If you can relate, then why not use this to your advantage? Simply show your kiddos how much you love an item first!
. - Let them help in the kitchen! When possible, allow your kiddos to help with the food prep. Beaming with pride, they will want to eat their masterpiece!
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. …. - Make it a game! Encourage your children to “eat the rainbow” by seeing how many different color foods they can eat at each meal. Then expand upon the rules… you must eat 3 bites for a color to count!
…. - Find/make heathy foods in fun forms! More and more food companies are hearing our pleas and turning food packing into fun and exciting forms! Veggies in pouches, beet pasta, spinach muffins, etc. Sometimes it may take a bit of tricking to get the job done ;).
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…… - Meet them in the middle! Too many new foods can be overwhelming. Instead, make it a rule that there can only be one new food a day and it has to be paired with other foods that they love and are agreeable to. That way your kiddos are feeling control over their decision, but also taking pride with challenging themselves with something new.
…. - Allow them a weekly out! Let’s be fair… as adults we often say “no, thank you” to something we are offered. So why shouldn’t our children deserve that same opportunity. Let your kiddos know that they are allowed to say “no, thank you” to one food item per week. Once they burn their “no”, they have to wait another week to use it.
…. - Lay down the law! This for sure is an “easier said than done” philosophy, but sometimes it is a last resort. When you can’t encourage your kiddo to finish their meal, try compromising with stating that they need to try at least one bite of everything on their plate before being excused. Still not doing the trick? Simply place their plate in the refrigerator and let them know that when they are hungry that same plate can be re-heated and made available to them. As in the words of my pediatrician, “Always remember, you are not a short order cook.”>>>
Did any of these work for you? Do you have any other tips not mentioned above that brought you success? I’d love to hear them below!
I really find it difficult to handle picky eaters. My daughter is so stubborn. However, thanks for these tips. These sound helpful to me.