How to Get a Picky Kid to Eat More Healthy

Are you driving yourself crazy trying to get your picky kid to eat his meals? Some children are naturally picky eaters while others are more interested in enjoying the great outdoors than settling down at the dinner table. How can you overcome this challenge and get your picky child to eat? Here are some suggestions that can help your child stay at the table a little longer.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Limit between meal snacks.
   
   If you want your picky kid to be motivated to eat dinner, don't indulge him with unhealthy snacks between meals which will reduce his appetite. If your child refuses to eat at dinner, don't reward him later by giving him a snack to compensate. This will only further reinforce his refusal to eat. If your child complains of being hungry, remind him that he had an opportunity to eat at dinner. It's unlikely your child will starve by missing one meal.

2. Get your child involved in food preparation.
   
   One way to motivate your picky kid to eat is to get him more involved in preparing and choosing the foods he'll be eating. Instead of dictating what he'll be eating, give him several healthy choices and then get him involved in preparing those choices. Even if he's young, he can do simple things such as setting the table. Let him watch the food being prepared and tantalize him with interesting facts about the foods he'll be eating. This is more inspiring than setting a plate in front of him and telling him he has to eat it.

3. Keep only healthy foods in the house.
   
   If you want your picky kid to eat healthier foods, help him develop a taste for healthy offerings by making them available and limiting the alternatives. Instead of serving desserts that are high in sugar, chop up fresh fruit and add it to yogurt, or serve fruit with a healthy dipping sauce. Children are more likely to eat a healthy food if they have a sauce they can dip it in.

4. Make food fun.
   
   Find funny ways to garnish the food you serve your picky eater. Make smiley faces out of cut vegetables or add a little all-natural food coloring to healthy foods to make them more appealing. Children love bright colors. Give a healthy dish a brilliant new name that intrigues your child. Tell a funny story about the dish when your child sits down to the table. Make eating fun and your child will stick around for more healthy food.

5. Keep meal time low stress.
   
   Make meal time in your home a time for light conversation and sharing the good aspects of the day. Avoid discussing stressful issues that might upset your picky kid and keep him from wanting to stay at the table. Give your child a reason to look forward to meal time as a chance to talk about his day in a low key manner.

[CCrock]

on 1/14/2009 Great tips! I've been starting to struggle with this and you have given me some good ideas!

[Rachellewms]

on 1/13/2009 These are excellent tips on getting a picky child to eat more healthy. Thanks for sharing :)