Feeding a Picky Eater – Meal Time Hassles

Growing up I was really picky with the food I ate. There were many nights where I would not eat because the meal was something I just would not eat. I was not given an alternative to the meal that was prepared. I ate it or I went without. It seems that my daughter has turned out the same way and is now a picky eater too. As I grew I changed some of my eating habits and began eating more of those vegetables and fruit I did not eat.

Feeding a Picky Eater

My daughter has issues with texture and if it doesn’t feel right on her tongue, she will not eat the food. On the rare occasion, she will just say she doesn’t like an item before even trying it. Well, that just doesn’t cut it with me and I always say if you haven’t tried it, you don’t know if you like it. You have to take a small taste and go from there. I will get a thumbs up or a thumbs down and a possible new item on her menu.

I am sure most parents have gone through a picky eater phase, it is part of growing up. Many kids don’t always like to eat certain fruits or vegetables and as parents, we find ways to put them into our meals.

Meal Time for Picky Eaters

• make lists of foods likes
• incorporate foods into meal prep/planning
• taste test new foods
• allow the child in the kitchen

I found some more helpful tips over at Eat Right Ontario.

My daughter prefers to snack all day long, she will eat a little bit at a time. It is hard for her to do during school hours. At school, there is a morning snack shortly after school begins, lunch and then an afternoon snack. I always give my daughter extra snacks, just in case she doesn’t like the snack in the program. The school snack program has helped me with the choosing of snacks during grocery days. I have found many items that she would not eat at home, she was eating at school.

Meals

• pasta, with or without sauce
• pizza
• rice
• meat
• poultry
• fish
• salads

These are meals I have found that work with my daughter. Around the age of 2 until about 4, most of her meals were chicken nuggets,

Snacks

• cheese and crackers
• granola bars
• fruits
• veggies
• DIY Lunchmates
• muffins
• popcorn (age appropriate)

If it’s on a stick, my daughter will eat it.

These are just a few of the snacks that I prepare for my daughter during the week. Each child is different, what is on our list may not be on yours. Know what your child likes and doesn’t like and mealtime will go smoother until a new milestone and they don’ eat what they once liked.

make cute characters

I don’t go out of my way to make a separate meal for her, I make sure that there is food on her plate that she will eat. The one thing I do know is that she isn’t going to starve if she doesn’t eat all of her dinners. When she says she is full, she is full and she shouldn’t expect a treat right after saying she is full. She may try, but she doesn’t get one.

How do you handle your picky eaters? Do you have any tips to share?