Tips For Your Picky Eater

One of the most common frustrations for parents can be their child who just won't try any new foods! It's especially important when you want your child to be getting the nutrients they need to be strong and healthy adults. But explaining that to them might not get you very far! Here are a few tips that will help your child become a well balanced eater.

No complaining This tip is especially important for families with multiple kids! Usually it is one sibling that doesn't like something-and then the others won't try it or decide right away not to like it! We suggest to have a 'Zero Complaints' rule at your table in order for everyone to make their own decisions on what they like or don't like but also for the vibe to stay positive over family dinner! This is also for Mommy and Daddy to stay sane- they are the ones that cooked dinner after a long day at work after all!

Engage them at the grocery store Chances are if you get buy in at the store, you will get buy in at the dinner table! Make the grocery store a learning experience with your little one. Talk about where the food you eat comes from before it gets to the grocery store! Point out the fresh carrots and all of the things you can make with them like candied carrots, carrot muffins, carrot soup... a carrot and fruit smoothie. Then get your child involved in cooking dinner at home. Keeping your child engaged is a huge part of the overall goal of having a well balanced eater.

Whatever you do: stay calm One thing that we have found true is that your child will pick up on how you are feeling. So if you are acting fed up and frustrated, chances are you child will feel and act like that too. Even if you don't feel calm on the outside, pretend to be! It will make the process more enjoyable and also give you the energy to continue because changes in eating take consistency and you need to preserve your energy! Also remember being calm is important to the bigger goal for your family-which is for family dinners to be fun and enjoyable!

Make sure they're hungry! Ever not feel up for that burger joint where your hubby wants to go for date night- but when you are extra hungry you are up for it? The same goes for kids- if your child isn't particularly hungry- chances are they're not going to scarf down the brussels sprouts! We are not saying not to feed your child- we are just saying make sure you haven't given your child a snack within an hour or two of dinner.

Don't demand they eat the entire serving The lesson here is to introduce new foods, help with expanding their curiosity and encourage healthy eating. A great idea is to have the rule- you have to try two bites of everything. If you do, you can have dessert, if you don't- no big deal but no dessert. It's not meant to be a punishment- it's meant to be a reward system with positive reinforcement.

Be creative Does your child just hate the sautéed carrots you make? If you keep giving your child the same exact food, cooked the same exact way it might not be very enticing for them. But why not make try carrot french fries, carrot soup, carrot muffins- we've even added them to mac and cheese recipes! We have found soups are a great way to have your child try a food in a different way.

20 is the magic number According to research done by the Ellyn Satter Institute, "Your child will warm up slowly to unfamiliar foods and may have to be presented with a food 15 or 20 or dozens of times - in as many meals - before he learns to eat it." This statistic should give our parents a little relief that there is hope- just be sure to stay consistent. -

Stay consistent...but also give your kid a break As we all know, staying consistent in your habits is key to reaching any goal. It is important to stay consistent so your child can know what to expect. With that being said it's okay to take a day off once and a while. A great idea is to stay consistent during the school days but on Saturday nights let loose and let your child eat what he or she wants.

Don't underestimate the power of sauces and cheeses Make veggies fun! Want your child to eat the steamed broccoli that you made? Put Ranch Dressing on the side- and viola- delicious! The same goes for cheese. Why not add cheese to melt on top of the broccoli? You don't need to be a gourmet chef to diversity a dish.

Have a garden? Let them help! We have a 'Pizza Garden' at all three Bright Beginnings Preschool locations in Charlottesville and Crozet. They are filled with all sorts of herbs and tomatoes! The kids helped us plant them and we visit them often during the week to check on them, water them and see how they are doing. When the tomatoes and herbs are ready to be picked-our kids pick them! We have 'Pizza Friday' every week that we make in house... and guess where the tomatoes and herbs from the pizza come from?! Our garden of course! Our preschoolers love that they helped make the pizza they eat each week!