“My kid is a picky eater!”
Who hasn’t been there? Almost all parents can relate to this situation. Kids often go through a phase when they are super selective with the food that they eat. Luckily for us parents, the operative word here is phase—meaning, it will pass.
What can we do when faced with plates of uneaten food and a storm of tantrums?
Stay calm and get creative!
Textures, tastes, smells. These are usually the factors that dictate whether or not our kids will enjoy the food that’s presented to them. They’re also the reason why fruits, vegetables, and even ground meat are at the top of the list of “disliked foods”.
Did you know that food may have to be presented at least eight times in order for our kids to even be curious about trying it out? So, take a deep breath and don’t stress too much about—it might take time, but you will eventually get there. Speaking of pressure, don’t let your kids feel it as well! Creating a relaxed and pressure-free environment will help your kids be more open to trying out different kinds of food.
One way to be creative about getting your kid to try food is to make it an experience. Prepare food with different colors and shapes that could spark their interests.
When shopping for food, let your kid choose fruits and vegetables that are the most colorful. Making them select their snacks could make snacking become much more fun. Get your kid to also help in choosing and preparing their food—studies show that when a kid picks the ingredients or mixes sauces, they’d be more likely to eat the food.
Get creative with preparing and packing food as well. Consider mixing different kinds of fruits and vegetables, or cutting sandwiches into different shapes, so that the contents of your kid’s lunch box look pretty.
One easy way to make your kids more adventurous eaters is to have a variety of food available. This not only means making sure they get to see a varied spread each meal, but also having healthy food available for snacks. Consider cut-up fruits and veggies stored in clear containers that kids can easily reach.
So, make sure to mix up your weekly meal plans! Not only are you exposing your kids to more food, but it also primes them to not expect certain dishes during specific meals.
Half the battle in dealing with picky eaters is in attitudes and behaviors during mealtimes. Always make mealtimes a fun family affair with no distractions—no TVs, no iPads, no mobile phones. That way, your kid is fully present and focused on the food in front of them. Making mealtimes happy gets your kid looking forward to it and more open to trying out different kinds of food.
If we want our kids to be adventurous eaters, then we should be too! When our kids see us trying different kinds of food, it might spark their interest in food. How you talk about food will also heavily influence how your kid views food.
These are just some tips to develop adventurous eaters. The important thing is to not give up, just keep trying, and keep calm and collected as you try different strategies to get your kids to explore more dishes, fruits, and veggies.
