Dealing with Picky Eaters

Answer 1

You can try to give kids things they say they like, other than sugar and junk-food, of course. I'd try maybe some pasta OR pastina. It's pasta in the shape of little stars. The kids could have fun and eat at the same time! Hope it works!

A choice. Eat it or don't eat it. But the kitchen is closed until the next meal.

Answer 2

As any parent can attest, getting a picky eater to try new foods or even eat the foods already on their plate can be incredibly exhausting. It is very difficult to change someone, or their taste buds, for that matter. Here are some great ways to attempt to get picky eaters to eat what's on their plate.

Shape It and Serve It

Making foods into cute little shapes will make kids laugh and have fun with their meal. Making people-pizzas or even using cookie cutters to cut out ham and cheese can make kids forget that their gross-tasting meal is the same silly shapes they’re eating. Sometimes children just need to be amused while they eat, and, "here comes the airplane" has gotten too old for them.

Let 'Em Like 'Em

Make a meal and give children and spouses the opportunity to eat their favorite side dish. Maybe salmon for dinner isn't everyone's favorite, but if serving broccoli makes them happy, make that too. There is nothing wrong with serving multiple foods in one sitting. After all, it’s better that children and spouses eat something rather than nothing. Just make sure that the side dishes are a healthy second option.

Ask for Help

If spouses and children are still not eating what you make, take them grocery shopping or have them make their own list of what they like. Tell them they can choose one unhealthy item and the rest needs to be healthy. They will love the opportunity to have a say in what they want to eat, and it will avoid much conflict later.

Don't Give too Many Options

Food can be frustrating for children due to the many different tastes and textures. Make sure that children only get two to three options at dinnertime and that they are all healthy options. Children are going to eat what they want, but too many options will make them upset, and dinner time won't be fun for them - or you - anymore.

Be Patient

When family members, particularly children, try new foods, it may take them a little bit to get used to it. They may move it around their plate a little bit and possibly even spit it out. Do not get upset or punish children if this happens. Patiently tell children that you are proud of them for trying it, but that spitting it out is not a nice thing to do. Yelling at them or punishing them makes everything worse, and getting them to try that same food, or any new food, in the future probably won't happen.