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Little Prince Leopold

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You are here: Home / Mom Life / A Few Tips for Parents of Picky Eaters

Mom Life

A Few Tips for Parents of Picky Eaters

picky eater solutions

A Few Tips for Parents of Picky Eaters

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may be compensated (at no additional cost to you) if you make a purchase using one of these links. Feel free to check out my full disclosure here.

I’m not going to sit here and act like I know everything about picky eaters. I’m not going to claim that I can solve your problems, either. My son is only a year and a half old. I’m pretty sure his taste buds aren’t even fully developed yet.

toddlers love chick fil a

I have, however, worked with a lot of kids over the years.

I’ve worked at a daycare with a kid who never ate. We tried everything! We would celebrate if he took one bite of his food. His doctor had assured his mom that it was a phase, he would eat if he was hungry, etc. That picky little boy is healthy and happy now and never suffered serious consequences for not eating much. It was just one of those weird things that toddlers do.

I spent a year in Germany with three kids who were all picky at one time or another. Don’t they realize they live in Bavaria? Everything is delicious there!

I’ve also babysat a few picky eaters. It’s different when you’re just babysitting and not actually in charge of their diet or meal choices. Most of the time you are told what’s for dinner and that’s what you give them. One child I babysat was your ‘typical’ kid in that he only ate a very select few items. These were obviously things like peanut butter and jelly, waffles, pizza, french fries, and a grilled cheese if you were lucky.

I have always told myself I won’t let it get that far. I’m not going to allow my child to be that picky. I know it’s not always that easy. Sometimes you try and try to get them to eat a wide variety of healthy foods but they just refuse. You can’t just let your kid starve!

While I’m not deep in the thick of ‘food wars’ with my son quite yet, I understand the struggle.

As I’ve been blogging, I’ve come across a few neat tricks and some products that might help you win the fight.

Let your child share his meal with Milton.

meals with milton for picky kids

I received Milton free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion and review. All opinions are my own!  

I’ll be honest, I didn’t quite get the whole idea behind Milton when I first came across their Instagram. After looking over their website and receiving our own in the mail, it makes so much more sense to me!

meals with milton

Milton is made of food grade silicone and is small and portable. You can keep him at your child’s seat or take him to dinner at grandmas. He loves to travel! We haven’t fed him very much yet since my son eat his dinner without much issue, but Leopold loves playing with him!

feeding milton

The idea behind Milton is to keep him at the table. When you introduce a new food to your child, have Milton try it first. Show them how to safely chew their food by using Milton as an example. Once Milton has enjoyed this new food, your child will feel more confident that they will like it too!

Milton is totally dishwasher safe so he can eat even the messiest of foods! He is super easy to hand wash, too. He even comes with a colorful children’s book that Leopold loves flipping through.

milton getting clean

Check out their website or Instagram to learn more and grab one for yourself!

milton eating

Have your child help you prepare meals.

making waffles

Even at Leopold’s young age (and since he had just turned one). I have let him help me with meals. It is definitely easier to just do it myself and most nights my husband helps with him so I can do just that. But if you are dealing with a picky eater it might be worth the extra time it takes!

We have a kitchen helper so Leopold can stand up at the counter and watch what I’m doing or help me prepare something. He loves snacking on bell peppers when I’m cutting them up. The other night I caught him gnawing on an onion I’d used for a recipe! When children see how dinner is made and they help put in the work, they are more likely to be proud of what they have done.

toddler chef

When I am not in the mood for something but have to cook it for my husband, the process of putting it all together usually makes me excited to eat it. I believe it’s the same for kids! Find some kid safe kitchen tools, a tiny apron, and get cooking!

baby kitchen helper

Don’t be afraid to add seasoning!

I’ve noticed when people start introducing new foods to babies they are often hesitant to add spices or seasoning. Added salt is a no-no for a while, but there is nothing wrong with some flavor!

One of my goals with my son is for him to have a ‘refined palette’. It’s partly a joke, because who are we kidding, kids are kids. But I do want him to have experience with all sorts of flavors. I’m not a fan of spicy foods but I’m not afraid to throw in a little spice now and then!

beggar dogs

My favorites are oregano, basil, paprika, garlic and onion powders, cumin, thyme, rosemary, tarragon, lemon pepper, and parsley. When I’m cooking a new dish I like to try different ones but that’s the group I use the most! I sometimes like to let my little kitchen helper smell the different spices and herbs. I will tell him what it is, have him smell, then name it again and have him repeat it.

My husband is not a friend of the kitchen. He can make two or three dishes fairly well but other than that it’s all on me. I’m trying to do my son’s future wife a favor by teaching him to cook and enjoy different foods.

Try using a fun plate or utensil.

fun plates

Sometimes it doesn’t matter what you eat, but how you eat it. If you have reached the end of your rope, try buying a fun plate with your child’s favorite character or animal on it. If you have to, make a game out of it.

alternate utensils

Find a fun way to use utensils. Teach them how to use chopsticks! Try these ‘picks’ from pick-ease or maybe have them use a spoon when they are supposed to use a fork.

                                                                                              

Be a good example.

no more picky eaters

If you hate vegetables, don’t project that on your child. I hear people complaining that their child is so picky and then I see that same person turn up their nose at a new food they have never tried. If your kid sees you stopping at McDonalds for dinner and then you expect them to eat baked chicken and broccoli, no wonder they put up a fight!

I am guilty of this sometimes. I know I need to be a better role model for my son by eating healthier! It’s hard to buy food solely for your child when you aren’t sure if they will even like it. I don’t like mushrooms, tomatoes or fish, but I try to offer those things to Leopold if we have them around. Just because it’s something I’m not crazy about doesn’t mean he shouldn’t try it.

Except for ketchup. He hasn’t had ketchup yet and that nasty stuff will not enter my home if I can help it!

When all else fails, be sneaky!

I love a good black bean burger and Leopold does too! Last time I made them my husband didn’t have a clue it wasn’t actual meat! It was packed with vegetables, too!

black bean burger pioneer woman

We have done cauliflower pizza, but I failed at the crust so it tasted great but the texture was off.

I love sneaking extra spinach in places like sauce, mixed vegetables, or a smoothie.

You can cut up carrots and zucchini super small and add it to your spaghetti sauce. The carrots are said to bring out the flavor of the sauce, too! If you want to be even more healthy, you can use spaghetti squash or ‘zoodles’ instead of classic noodles.

Substitute ground beef for ground turkey or shredded chicken for a leaner option in almost any recipe.

Make ‘fries’ using zucchini, sweet potato, or asparagus. Just bread it and bake it and chances are your kiddos will eat it up, no questions asked! Pinterest has a lot of great ideas for sneaky meal ideas!

One More thing:

Remember to be consistent! Just because your kid refused green beans on Monday doesn’t mean he won’t be willing to try them on Thursday! Keep offering these new foods as often as you can! Don”t give up after one failed attempt. I’m currently determined to get my son to eat salad, so I offer him some every time we eat it. Just because I know he won’t eat it doesn’t’ mean I’m not going to at least try!

                                                                                                      

What are your favorite ‘sneaky’ recipes? Make sure to comment below and let me know!

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20 Comments April 13, 2017

Comments

  1. Annie says

    April 14, 2017 at 4:01 pm

    This is a great post! My son is 16 months and the WORST eater! He has issues with textures, he doesn’t self feed at all unless it’s berries, bananas, or Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies on his plate, and he basically lives off oatmeal and peanut butter toast. We hide veggies in everything he eats so I don’t worry about not getting enough vitamins into him but I wish he had a broader palate. I need to experiment more with seasonings and continue trying foods, not stopping at the first bad experience. Thanks for your tips!

    Reply
    • Ayana says

      April 24, 2017 at 3:11 pm

      You’re welcome!! I hope some of them work for you! Lately my son has been picking out green things from his plate. Where do they get this nonsense from!? My kid could live off of ‘snacks’ like bread, crackers, goldfish, applesauce, etc if I let him!

      Reply
  2. Victoria says

    April 14, 2017 at 6:49 pm

    I wish these tips would work on helping picky eating adult parents. My father is a picky eater. My mom and I always have trouble making dinner for him. If he comes over for dinner with my husband and I, we only have a few options that are dad safe and approved. These tips will be great for once my daughter is older I’m sure!

    Reply
    • Ayana says

      April 24, 2017 at 3:12 pm

      That sucks!! Maybe his parents didn’t try hard enough with him? I struggle with my husband and fruit. I know it’s not life of death but it drives me INSANE that he refuses to eat ANY fruit! You can sneak veggies into foods but fruit is a little harder!

      Reply
  3. Catherine Short says

    April 14, 2017 at 7:35 pm

    I’ve never heard of “Milton” but I can see why he would be helpful. My son is 8 months and he isn’t all that interested in food yet but all of your tips are really helpful.

    Reply
    • Ayana says

      April 24, 2017 at 3:13 pm

      It’s always good to stock up on info like this hahah you never know when your ‘good eater’ will turn on you in the future! Hopefully when your baby starts eating he will be a champ and stay that way! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Vicki @ Babies to Bookworms says

    April 14, 2017 at 11:28 pm

    I Love the idea of Milton!!

    My mother always insisted that we pick at least one meal a week when we were younger and then cooked one meal a week as we got older. It really helped us be less picky!

    Reply
    • Ayana says

      April 24, 2017 at 3:14 pm

      I love that idea!! My husband should have done this growing up. I hate that he is so incompetent in the kitchen!

      Reply
  5. Logan says

    April 15, 2017 at 1:41 am

    That tower is so cool! I need one for my kitchen!

    Reply
    • Ayana says

      April 24, 2017 at 3:15 pm

      It’s SO cool! You just have to remember to keep the area surrounding it clear once they learn how to climb up on their own! hahaha

      Reply
  6. The Messy Mommy says

    April 28, 2017 at 4:15 pm

    These are all wonderful suggestions. I’ve started adding some spices to some of my daughter’s foods, but the response hasn’t been great, lol. Perhaps something like Milton would help.
    Thanks for this!

    Reply
    • Ayana says

      April 28, 2017 at 4:34 pm

      It’s always hard to tell what a kid will respond to! Parenting is just one big trial and error hahaha. I hope some of these tips help you out!

      Reply
  7. Meredith says

    April 28, 2017 at 6:19 pm

    I just recently realized that one of my kids rarely eats soft, mushy foods. I knew he didn’t like them, but I didn’t put it together that they all had the same texture. Now, that I serve more raw veggies and other crunchy foods, he gobbles them right up!

    Reply
    • Ayana says

      April 30, 2017 at 5:32 pm

      Huh! A texture aversion! I have that with certain things so it’s definitely understandable!! Glad you figured it out and was able to alter the way you prepare foods so he likes them now! Go mama!

      Reply
  8. Jordan | Read. Eat. Repeat. says

    April 29, 2017 at 8:31 pm

    It really does help to let them assist with the food prep, especially as they get older. My 4 year old is more likely to eat something she feels a little ownership of. And I love being sneaky! I’m actually starting a whole recipe series on my blog in May called Sneaking In Veggies, you should check it out! Sometimes sneaking is the only thing you can do…

    Reply
    • Ayana says

      April 30, 2017 at 5:34 pm

      I’ll definitely do that! It’s always great to learn new ways to sneak in extra nutrients. Even for myself! I would obviously prefer my son to just LIKE the vegetables by themselves but come on, let’s be real here! I’m not that delusional!

      Reply
  9. Erin Klema | The Epicurean Traveler says

    April 29, 2017 at 11:59 pm

    I was the pickiest eater as a kid. My foods couldn’t touch. I demanded separate forks for different foods. I must have been a complete pain for my mother. But, the good news is sometimes we picky eaters grow out of it and become foodies who eat octopus and llama when we travel to foreign countries. 😉 Until then, continue to be sneaky and good examples. I plan to be a mom who sneaks fruit and veggies into my kids’ food. Lol.

    Reply
    • Ayana says

      April 30, 2017 at 5:35 pm

      Oh wow I’ve heard of not letting the foods touch but never needing a new fork for each! But I’m glad you grew out of it! How was the llama?! I’ve never seen that on any menu! (and I’ve been around, too!)

      Reply
  10. Heather says

    April 30, 2017 at 1:30 am

    Wish I had these tips when my kids were little! Maybe I’ll save them for my nieces and nephews!

    Reply
    • Ayana says

      April 30, 2017 at 5:35 pm

      That’s a good idea! You never know when you will need them!

      Reply

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I'm just a twenty something stay at home mama trying to do my very best to be awesome at my job. I love Harry Potter, crafting, coffee, red wine and stretchy pants. I used to be a world traveler but I've settled down (for now) to have babies. I'm married to my best friend James and I'm a dog mom to Niko (Goldendoodle) and Rahksi (Chinese Crested). Read More…

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