How to Teach Kids to Love Food

If your child is a picky eater, you probably dread mealtime. Like many parents of picky eaters, you may attempt to engage your child in eating games while dodging food that is hastily discarded from your child's hands. You may also worry that your child is not getting enough nutrients to grow. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to teach your picky eater to love food.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Take your child grocery shopping and have them participate in picking out ripe fruits and fresh vegetables. By allowing your child to choose from one or two healthy foods you have selected, you give her some control. You can make this even more fun by taking your child to a farmer's market.

2. Cook with your child. If your child takes part in the preparation of the meal you give him ownership and pride in the final product, making eating more enjoyable.

3. Give your child creative control over her eating. If your child wants to put peanut butter on his bananas, let him by providing a plastic knife to spread the peanut butter. If your child wants to dip broccoli in ranch sauce, provide a dipping dish. If your child wants to top her strawberries with yogurt, let her.

4. Make eating more exciting by calling food by fun names and putting food into fun shapes. For example, a banana can be a boat, and an apple can be a half-moon and broccoli can be a tree. Your child can even use the pieces to make a scene.

5. Eat meals together at the table, but also allow small children to graze throughout the day. Children will enjoy your company for meals, but they will also respond well to opportunities to fill their tummies between meals.

6. Teach by example. Eat regular meals in healthy portions. If your child never observes you eating, he may not think of eating as something fun.

7. Introduce your child to new food by presenting small pieces of the food in the presence of other similar food. If you want your child to try some peas, introduce the peas with other veggies.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy some cookie cutters so your child can cut food such as bread and pancakes into fun shapes.
• Don't introduce your child to new food after they have had one of their favorite tasty snacks.
• Don't force your child to eat food and don't punish him for not eating food. This will only exacerbate your child's picky eating.

Resources

• Get fun food pyramid activities for kids at mypyramid.gov.
• For information about appropriate serving sizes for kids go to kidshealth.org.