HOW TO ENCOURAGE PICKY EATERS TO TRY NEW FOODS

Parenting and cooking for a picky eater can be so frustrating. It is enough work to make one meal for everyone, that you really don’t want to have to go overboard and cook something different for the picky eater in your home. The problem is if you try to feed them the same thing everyone else is eating, you may end up making the main dish bland to accommodate the fussy eater, neglecting what everyone else likes in the meantime.

There are ways to encourage your picky eater to try new foods so that eventually, the dinner time battles can be minimized if not totally abolished.

HOW TO ENCOURAGE PICKY EATERS TO TRY NEW FOODS

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START SMALL

It is a good idea to start small. Don’t think you are going to be able to put an entire bowl of something they usually don’t like in front of them and expect them to just gobble it up. It’s not going to happen.

The best course of action to take is to give them a very small serving, and request that they try it. Once they have eaten that small serving, allow them to have something they usually enjoy. Start increasing the amounts you give of the new foods and start phasing out the follow-up items.

SCALE BACK ON TREATS AND SNACKS

Stop giving into all the requests for treats and snacks throughout the day. Scale back as much as possible and they will have more of an appetite come meal time.

Filling up on treats, snacks and even beverages during the day can have an impact on meal times. If your child is truly hungry, you may notice that they are not as picky about what they eat at meal times.

INVOLVE YOUR KIDS IN COOKING

Cooking with your kids is such an amazing experience that boasts so many benefits. One of the benefits is the sense of satisfaction your child will get from helping you create a culinary masterpiece.

The great news? That sense of accomplishment can also encourage them to want to eat what they worked so hard to create.

If you have a picky child, there are ways to at least get them to try new food items. Have fun with it and don’t get frustrated. It’s important that dinner doesn’t become a stressful time for everyone.

Sometimes all your picky eater needs is a change in shape. If possible, try cutting up the food with fun cookie cutters.

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