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Help for Picky Eaters
Does your toddler live on bread and cheese? Here’s how to gently encourage her to expand her culinary tastes and eat a healthy, balanced diet.
by: Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers
Choosey Eaters
- Picky eating is an expected developmental behavior and is about control, not taste.
- Start introducing new tastes and textures early to help prevent bad habits from forming.
- Use words like "special treat" to describe broccoli and carrots, not chocolate and cookies.
- Put new foods on your child's plate first.
- Aim for one bite of the new food and work your way up from there with plenty of praise and encouragement.
rustrated by your picky eater? Don't worry, your toddler isn't destined for a life of chicken nuggets and white bread. In fact, most toddlers are particular when it comes to eating; it's an expected developmental behavior that has little to do with the taste of food and is more about wanting control. Most toddlers learn early that eating is an easy thing for them to control. Saying "no" to foods is a great way to get a response from mom. This makes eating fun-for your kid, not you.
Don't fall into the trap of offering bland, unhealthy foods as a replacement for flavorful, healthy ones. If you continue to offer a variety of healthy options, your little one will grow to accept them. We're not saying it will be easy, but here's how to make things go a little more smoothly:
1. Start young
Habits are hard to break, so it's better to prevent bad habits from forming in the first place. Serve a variety of healthy foods at each meal and encourage your toddler to sample each new taste and texture.
2. Engage in healthy talk
Use words like "special treat" to describe broccoli and carrots, not chocolate and cookies.
3. Set realistic food goals
It's not realistic to force your child to eat a whole serving of food she doesn't like. Start with small expectations. Aim for one bite of the new food, and work your way up from there.
4. Be consistent, firm, and don't give up
Use the same tactics at every meal. Put new foods on your child's plate first. Remind her of the goal and offer plenty of encouragement. Don't give in to stubbornness. It may also work to say: "Look at mommy (or daddy)," while you take a bite too.
5. Don't rush mealtime
Most children are slow eaters, so don't try to rush them.
6. Offer praise
Even if it's just one nibble, congratulate your child. For a picky eater, even one bite is a big deal. Then, ask them if they thought it was tasty. If they say "no" or shake their head, tell them it may take a few bites to notice the delicious flavor.
7. Be a good role model
You cannot expect to raise a child who eats a variety of healthy foods if you don't do the same-your toddler learns from watching and mimicking you.
8. Eating should be fun
Above all, don't scold your child or get mad if they don't eat new things right away. Some kids just need a little more time to try new foods. Eating should be a pleasurable experience-for everyone.
Meet our experts:
Cheryl Tallman & Joan Ahlers
In raising their children, these two sisters became tired of the search for all-natural, hassle-free ways to feed their children. In 2002 they developed their own products and launched Fresh Baby, a product line that includes homemade baby food kits, baby food cookbooks, baby food and other items. Fresh Baby was selected by Entrepreneur Magazine as a "Hot Company to watch" in 2004. They have also won an iParenting award and were finalists in the 2004 Natural Products awards. You can visit their company at FreshBaby.com
