Getting your little one to enjoy eating a healthy variety of foods is no easy task. So, to help you out, we’ve curated our top five tips for parents of picky eaters — with a few recipes to get you started on your journey to a more colorful and fun mealtime!
Get them involved
When kids are left out of the prepping process, it’s no wonder that the food in front of them feels foreign! Try letting your kiddos help you pick out meals for the week from a kids’ cookbook, choose the fruits and vegetables at the farmers’ market or grocery store, have a hand in a small garden at home or just help with simple cooking practices like washing and stirring!
Lead by example
Your kids look up to you more than you think they do — so make sure to set a good example by eating with no distractions at mealtime, eating all together instead of at different times when it works and showing that you also enjoy the healthy foods you are wanting them to eat! When you can, also try to have meals and snacks at consistent times each day to ensure your child will be hungry when the next plate comes around.
Make it fun
Cut fruits and vegetables into fun shapes like hearts and stars with cookie cutters, arrange the plate of veggies to resemble a rainbow or even add a smiley face on top of pancakes with berries! The options are endless. Kids are more apt to try something when it looks intriguing, so let yourself have some fun when prepping with all the colors, textures and shapes!
Undercover veggies
Add broccoli, carrots or bell peppers into pasta sauces, casseroles, soups or pizza, spiralized zucchini into pasta or a few leaves of spinach into a delicious smoothie. When you let them explore some of these new foods with some familiar favorites, it’s a little less daunting for their tastebuds.
One step at a time
Let your picky eater ease into the new food with smaller portion sizes. Let them start with just licking, touching or smelling foods before asking them to eat it. You can chop up a small piece of bell pepper and put it on top of a slice of pizza, or even just dip it in their favorite dipping sauce and let them lick the sauce off. Any step is a step — so don’t be afraid to take it slow!
We hope these tips will help you and your picky eater discover the rainbow of delicious foods out there. Try our simple recipes below to make your first colorful meals a breeze.