Quick Tips for Feeding a Picky Eater

Problem: One-Food Wonder

Your child may happily eat some foods and toss others on the floor. Is it just a phase, and how long will it last? What do you do in the meantime: Give them what they want, or hold your ground?

Solution: Don't Fight It

Don't turn mealtime into a battle of wills. Keep offering a variety of good-for-you foods, even if your kid rejects it at first. Many kids take their sweet time before deciding they like a new food after all, so keep trying. Offer fruit, vegetables, and even "grown-up" food, without pressure. Your child may surprise you with what they like.

Problem: Won't Eat Their Veggies

Does your child say they hate asparagus, even though they've never tried it? It happens a lot. Many vegetables have a strong smell and taste, especially when cooked. Be patient. They may want to see it and smell it before they'll taste it, and even then they may spit it right back out. Take a breath and try it again another day.

Solution: Give Them Choices

Many children warm up to veggies when they've helped pick them out, whether at the store or at meals. If green veggies turn them off, try orange or red ones instead. Or offer them raw with a dip like ranch dressing or hummus. Although hiding vegetable purées in foods like baked goods or pasta sauce is a short-term fix, it doesn't teach them to like those veggies when they are out in the open

Problem: Drinks Their Calories

Does your child drink so much milk or juice during the day that they are not hungry at mealtimes? It can be a problem if they drink so much it makes them miss meals.

Solution: Limit Liquid Calories

For children ages 1 to 6, keep juice to 4 to 6 ounces a day. That's 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup. Avoid juice with added sugars. Water it down gradually until your child is drinking plain water. Or try serving milk or juice for meals and water the rest of the day. Your child should have about 2-2½ cups of milk a day. Remember that kids over 2 should be drinking 1% or skim milk.

Problem: Too Much Sugar

Does your child have a sweet tooth that won't quit? They insist on sugary cereal for breakfast. You open their lunchbox to find they have eaten the cookie and nothing else. At dinner, they beg for dessert right away.

Solution: Everything in Moderation

These tips may help tame your child's sweet tooth:

Offer snacks that are naturally sweet (low-fat yogurt, fruit, frozen bananas or grapes, apple slices with peanut butter).
Don't keep many sweets in the house. If they're not around, they won't be tempted by them (and neither will you).
Don't use sweets as a bribe or reward. Make them a small part of a balanced diet, rather than the big prize after your child has cleaned their plate.

Problem: Grazer

Many kids snack so much all day that they're not hungry at mealtimes. Kids need to eat up to six times a day, including three meals and two or three snacks. So how do you keep them full and happy all day while making sure they save room for a healthy dinner?

Solution: Set a Schedule

Get your child on track by setting a time frame each day for meals and snacks. Your child may still skip a meal once in awhile, but if there's a schedule, they'll know when to expect the next meal. If your child wants a snack at another time, offer items like fruit, vegetables, yogurt, peanut butter, cereal, or half a sandwich.

Why Are They So Picky?

Many young children are picky eaters. Choosing when and what they'll eat is how they learn to be independent. Most develop healthy eating habits as they get older. If you think your child physically has trouble eating, talk with your pediatrician. Those cases are rare, and remember, the pickiness is probably just a phase.

Do They Eat Enough?

If your child seems to live on nothing but three chicken nuggets a day, you might wonder if they need a lot more. But if they have plenty of energy and is growing at a healthy rate, they are probably OK. Still, it's a good idea to talk to your pediatrician. If your child isn't growing at the normal rate for their age, you and your pediatrician should look into that.

Do: Make Mealtime Fun

Little tricks can sometimes encourage better eating. For instance, you could cut foods into fun shapes using cookie cutters. Turn mealtime into a game to see who can "eat all their colors." Or try an at-home picnic for a change of scenery. Keep the mood happy and upbeat by talking about fun topics.

Don't: Bribe With Dessert

"If you eat all your broccoli, you can have some ice cream." Don't go there. Bribing is shortsighted, and it backfires. It can teach your child to value treats more than other foods and to please you through food. Take the focus off dessert, don't use it as a reward.

Do: Keep Offering

Just because they have turned up their nose at zucchini the last five times you've served it, don't give up. Most children will try a new food after it has been offered 10 to 15 times. When introducing new foods, keep portions small, and when you offer something new, also serve a food you know they love.

Don't: Be a Short-Order Cook

Resist the temptation to prepare special meals just for your picky eater. Offer the same foods to the whole family, but try to make at least one thing that you know they like. If someone in your family is an adventurous eater, apply a little positive peer pressure by seating them next to the picky eater.

Do: Let Kids Help in the Kitchen

Kids who help prepare a meal are much more likely to eat it. Let your child help shell beans, roll out dough, wash lettuce, or other easy meal prep. They may give them a try once they are on their plate.

Don't: Negotiate

Bargaining with your child over food sets you up for a power struggle. Put the food in front of your child, and leave it up to them whether they eat it or not. Let them follow their own hunger cues.

Do: Set a Good Example

Kids copy the adults in their lives. Are you modeling the kind of eating habits you want them to have? It's just like other things in parenting: Your child is looking to you, so let them see you walk your talk.

Don't: Fall into a Junk Food Trap

It's tempting to give in when they ask for an unhealthy snack. If it's not a rare treat, giving in may start to set a habit that's hard to break. Kids naturally love sweet and salty foods, just like the rest of us, and it's up to parents to offer choices that nourish and to keep treats as exceptions.

Do: Pay Attention to Their Cues

If your child is pushing food around on their plate, they may be full. Forcing them to keep eating can set them up for overeating and weight problems down the road. Offer child-sized portions of a variety of healthy foods, and let them decide when they've had enough.

Will They Ever Outgrow It?

Most children get over being picky eaters by the time they reach school age. In the meantime, take it in stride. Praise your child for what they are doing right at mealtimes, and don't make a big deal about picky behavior. The more you talk about it, the more likely they are to keep doing it. A nutritionist can help you cover your child's nutritional needs, too.

Source: https://www.webmd.com/parenting/ss/slideshow-picky-eaters