Handling Picky Eaters

“No dessert until you finish that first!”

As a mom you  always worry that your baby isn’t eating enough or don’t eat when they should.

My first experience with picky eaters was when I had to buy 3 different types of cereal for my son, 3! It does become hard and frustrating when your child simply refuses to eat yet don’t have the verbal skills just yet to tell you what they don’t want.

So how do you handle this?

The goal is not to get them to eat the broccoli today or tomorrow but to help them actually like the broccoli in the long run.  Some food may seems ” gross or nasty” with our kiddos at times because they are green. That’s where it gets hard. Processed foods are not the answer to everytime your child decides they don’t like it. This is a habit that can stay with them their whole lives.

Here are some easy tips:

• Start hiding vegetables in casseroles, spaghetti or their favorite foods! Pinterst has a lot of great info for scenarios such as these.
• Keep at it! Expose your child to one new food or food group at least 4 times a week. A child’s tastebuds change every 7 weeks, don’t be afraid to come back to something.
• Don’t let them fill up on milk. When giving your child this go-to, they rely on this and will refuse to eat. Save milk until the end of the meal or use separate from meal time.

Always be sure to consult with your child’s pediatrician when you have a picky eater. Like I mentioned earlier, eating habits kids develop before age 5 can follow them the rest of their lives.

Remember through this whole process that many parents have been through the same thing. Stand your ground and don’t give in; you’ll be helping your child in the long run!

Thank you for reading!

~Tenesha
Safety & Health Coordinator

Early Childhood Educator