What do you do if your kid is a "picky-eater"?

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Permalink Reply by Kimberley Clayton Blaine on January 27, 2009 at 6:22pm

I have a fun resource, My video on How To Deal With Picky Eaters :-) Click on Parenting Player and scroll down: http://www.thegotomom.com/videos.htm

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Permalink Reply by stephanie laubach on January 31, 2009 at 4:49am

You keep trying & never give up or in. I try to make new foods fun. Call it something funny or have a tasting night. We have a couple rules in our house:
1. You get what you get & you don't throw a fit:
2. You have to eat your age in bites of new food/food you don't like.

I have found that over the years, my boys (ages 5 & 8) police themselves & each other. We don't yell, fight or argue with them. The rules are the rules in our home. The only times we negotiate is when my husband & I are have something spicy or not for kids (sushi/strong flavored ethnic foods). We then encourage the kids to try or take a taste. Usually, they do, even if its tiny. I have also found, that they need to be exposed to food 5-10 times before they develop a taste for it. Another trick I have found is that if I'm making something that my younger one really doesn't like for dinner, I make extra variety of veggies & his favorite dessert. I will give him a smaller portion of the unlikable food, lots of veggies & no dessert unless he finishes. Sometimes, we even save the his dish for later if he is full.

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Permalink Reply by Kristen Andrews: Featured Contributor of Style on February 4, 2009 at 2:01pm

I have a picky eater too. I have found that if I let him help prepare food he is more likely to help and I also sneek it in. I put a jar of baby food (squash) in his Mac and he eats it. I just make good food available and try to set an example but it is hard and I have a picky husband too so I am outnumbered.

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Wolpinsky on February 4, 2009 at 7:53pm

Having a picky eater can be a nightmare....
I know for us we just work around our extremely picky son. We make foods we know he will eat and give him supplements to make sure he is getting enough vitamins and such. Luckily for us he will eat veggies and fruit...they just can't be mixed with anything or have any sauce on them. Pasta and rice has to be completely unseasoned. Sandwiches need to be of the deconstructed variety. (Meaning bread and meat separate....) It does make me feel like a short order cook sometimes but for most of the time I am ok with it....
The worst is being invited to someones house for dinner!
(I have actually just packed him a meal and brought it with a couple of times.)

We are keeping our figures crossed that maybe, just maybe he will grow out of it.

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Permalink Reply by Lunch in a Box on February 5, 2009 at 1:12am

Have you ever considered bento-style lunches to encourage picky eaters to try a little something? Sometimes presenting a number of different things together in an attractive way helps turn the tide, although I've also read that picky eating in childhood is partly genetic, partly environmental.

I wrote a post a while back about Bentos and the Picky Eater that has a number of interesting reader comments, if you're interested.

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Permalink Reply by Kidz Rule USA on February 5, 2009 at 6:37pm

Do you have a trader Joe's near you? I find that they have alot of conventional foods that kids love but "healthy" versions. They have soy chicken nuggets, whole wheat pizza and tofu dogs! My son and husband have no idea that I have replaced all their favorite food with healthy alternatives. They even have healthy Oreo's that are delicious and much healthier :) You can find additional recipes @ http://www.kidzruleusa.com/1721515.html Good Luck!

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Permalink Reply by Claire Kilmister on February 6, 2009 at 8:23am

My son's were both picky eaters when they were younger and at times i was reduced to tears as i couldn't understand why! As toddlers they ate very well but it all started when they started nursery. Patience and perserverence were the answer and now, as teenagers are really picky about junk food!! We introduced one new piece of fruit and veg per week and they recieved rewards if they tried the food and finished their meals. An exaple was when Rory, my youngest, struggled with cauliflower we got him to eat it firstly in soup and then with a cheese sauce . For 4 new pieces of fruit or veg a month they would get to go on a trip or a day at the coast etc. They now eat everything from curry to sprouting brocholli!! The one thing we learnt was that the dinner table must never be a battle ground and that eating as a familly at the dining table at least 4 nights a week is essential.

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Permalink Reply by tali buchler on February 6, 2009 at 11:46pm

for my kids it comes and goes. we always try to make food a fun experience. we had a great snack idea last week that i mentioned in one of my blogs, here it is: a healthy snack they cant resist
tali

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Permalink Reply by tali buchler on February 6, 2009 at 11:53pm

i do believe that what he sees on the table he will come around and eat one day...possibly sooner than later.


Rebecca Wolpinsky said:

Having a picky eater can be a nightmare....
I know for us we just work around our extremely picky son. We make foods we know he will eat and give him supplements to make sure he is getting enough vitamins and such. Luckily for us he will eat veggies and fruit...they just can't be mixed with anything or have any sauce on them. Pasta and rice has to be completely unseasoned. Sandwiches need to be of the deconstructed variety. (Meaning bread and meat separate....) It does make me feel like a short order cook sometimes but for most of the time I am ok with it....
The worst is being invited to someones house for dinner!
(I have actually just packed him a meal and brought it with a couple of times.)

We are keeping our figures crossed that maybe, just maybe he will grow out of it.

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Permalink Reply by Ainse on February 8, 2009 at 12:25pm

The best advice I ever received was this: as a parent, your job is to put the food in front of the child. If he/she doesn't eat, that is a choice the child is making. You've absolutely done your part. You can't force a child to eat, but I agree, he/she won't starve themselves and will likely at least try it eventually.

Have I made modifications at the dinner table? Sure; maybe hubby & I are having broccoli, which I know my son doesn't like, so I'll give him raw carrots instead. But do I make a whole new meal at his request? No way. You're not running a restaurant, right? That being said, there are nights when the boy gets to choose dinner. I find that if he has a say in the menu planning, he's a lot more agreeable to trying out the other dishes the rest of the week.

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Permalink Reply by aida alinsub on February 12, 2009 at 2:31pm

Great sharing Ainse, thanks!

Ainse said:

The best advice I ever received was this: as a parent, your job is to put the food in front of the child. If he/she doesn't eat, that is a choice the child is making. You've absolutely done your part. You can't force a child to eat, but I agree, he/she won't starve themselves and will likely at least try it eventually.

Have I made modifications at the dinner table? Sure; maybe hubby & I are having broccoli, which I know my son doesn't like, so I'll give him raw carrots instead. But do I make a whole new meal at his request? No way. You're not running a restaurant, right? That being said, there are nights when the boy gets to choose dinner. I find that if he has a say in the menu planning, he's a lot more agreeable to trying out the other dishes the rest of the week.

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Permalink Reply by Chella on March 4, 2009 at 2:35am

My son was born a "picky eater" he is 9yrs old and guess what? Yes he is still a picky eater!! When he was 4yrs old Trev (my son) would invent sandwich combo. He love Peppridge Farm cinnamon swirl bread when he was 4yrs old he took 2pcs of that bread, butter and ham sliced lunch meat!!! At the time I am thinking to myself YELK ,he actually sat down and eat the sandwich!! It became his favorite. I thought he wouldn't eat anything so I let him create his own sandwich combo (I still do) and he does he more. So I guess I would say let your child create their very own sandwich!! It works for my Mr. Picky Boy!
Have fun and good luck I know how you feel;)

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