How to Please a Picky Eater at the Table
Picky eaters can be difficult to please at the dinner table. Whether you are serving the family dinner or preparing lunch, if you have a picky eater at the table you will most likely find yourself struggling to get them to eat. Rather than giving in and serving your picky eater what they want, there are a few techniques you can put into play to get your picky eater to eat what is in front of them.
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Instructions
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Give a variety of bite-size portions for your picky eater to try rather than larger portions. Use an unused painter's palette and fill each compartment with banana slices, apples, yogurt, broccoli, pieces of egg and healthy cereals. Make food pieces small enough to be eaten in one bite and less intimidating larger pieces of food.
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Create dipping sauces for food items. Give your picky eater yogurt, cream cheese or cottage cheese to dip with fruits. Give your picky eater peanut butter or fresh salsa to dip with vegetable slices or healthy chips. Do not be afraid to use ethnic dipping sauces such as yogurt and garlic sauces with grilled meats.
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Puree vegetables and fruits to hide in recipes your picky eater does like. For example, puree broccoli and carrots to add to spaghetti sauce and serve with whole grain pasta. Puree bits of cauliflower and mix with mashed potatoes. Add thinly sliced spinach with cheese when creating a grilled cheese sandwich.
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Use cookie cutters to cut up foods. Cut sandwiches, pancakes, waffles and even quesadillas into shapes such as stars, bears and hearts. Serve with fruit or vegetable accents to build a character. For example, use a teddy bear cookie cutter to cut out a pancake and serve with two raspberry eyes and blueberry sauce for a smile.
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Let your picky eater help prepare the food before it is served. Give younger children the opportunity to sprinkle finishing touches on dishes such as salt, pepper or cheese. Give older children tasks such as washing vegetables, turning on the oven or gathering ingredients from a list. Allow your picky eater the opportunity to add their own special touch to a recipe to make it their own.
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Offer choices to your picky eater. Give your picky eater the chance to select a side dish with dinner or the fruit he wants to eat with his lunch.
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Make food fun. Create smiles on sandwiches using cut up vegetables. Create a "snow pile" of mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower and place broccoli trees on top for a landscape scene.
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References
- Photo Credit Blue Jean Images/Photodisc/Getty Images
