Picky Eaters: The Ultimate Battle Strategy
Imagine you are the head chef of a 3-star Michelin restaurant where you artistically designed a five-course menu with mouth-watering ingredients that you personally prepared for your customers. Now imagine these customers start complaining: I don’t like this green stuff. Can I just have chicken nuggets? I think I’m going to throw up if I eat this.
Panicked, you don’t know what to do next until you realize it was all just a dream. But these customers seem all too familiar. Where have you seen them?
Oh right.
Your kids.
Endless bargaining over how many vegetables they are going to get? Check. Constantly requesting the same endless meal of chicken nuggets? Check. And the infinite complaining and drama? Double check.
If you’re experiencing PTSD or major flashbacks, this post is for you. It can be difficult to get through a full day of meals when you don’t know how to incorporate certain nutritious foods into your child’s diet. So, we compiled a list of simple tips and tricks to have your child rate your restaurant five stars.
Tips and Tricks for Picky Eaters
1. Continue offering, without pressure: It can take around 10-15 exposures for children to become accustomed to a new food. Consistently incorporating them into meals without forcing bites can help ease into it.
2. Include “one safe food”: Having a part of the meal be something your child is familiar with and enjoys can help lessen potential stress.
3. Make food fun: While you’re not Leonardo Da Vinci, cutting some foods into easy shapes or having colorful plates can help your child associate eating as a “fun” thing to do.
4. Let kids help: Letting them take ownership of simple steps, such as washing or stirring foods when you are cooking, can encourage curiosity and a sense of contribution.
5. Be a role model: It is important to help set a standard by also indulging in some of the food given to them. Since children look up to parents, they adopt similar actions or characteristics, including healthy eating habits (in addition to kitchen etiquette and mannerisms).
6. Start with tiny portions: In order to not intimidate, begin introducing foods in small amounts. Even touching or licking the food is a sign of progress.
7. Stay neutral: Avoid overtly praising or bribing children to eat foods. Remaining calm and relaxed can lower the risk of dangerous power dynamics.
8. Avoid short-order cooking: Similar to point 5, by serving everyone almost the same thing with small adjustments, children can look up to those around them.
Still stuck? Try moüthfuel!
With natural ingredients that you can trust as a parent, moüthfuel challenges even the most picky eaters. Including a satisfying, gluten-free chocolate chip and nutritious grains, “Sunburst” offers a snack that everyone in the family can enjoy without fear of an allergic reaction, as they’re nut-free.
Choose moüthfuel for incredibly nourishing flavors during snacks and on the go for everyone.