HOW TO HANDLE PICKY EATERS

If you have a picky eater on your hand, try these tips the next time they refuse to eat their veggies:

1. Let Them Go Hungry

You kids are not going to die if they skip dinner one night, so if they say they don’t want what you cooked for dinner, don’t try and please them. Put your foot down and let them know that they can either eat what the rest of the family will have or they can skip the meal. Usually parents don’t like to do this because they think that their kids will starve, but really, they won’t. But definitely try some of the other tips before you go this route.

2. Stop Giving Them Options

Usually when kids say no to a meal, mom is right back in the kitchen whipping them up something that they like. Stop doing that because you’ll just foster their picky eating habits even more. Take into account what your child likes when cooking, but don’t give up on a new recipe just because your kid won’t like it. You rule the kitchen and not them!

3. Add New Flavor

Just because your kids are used to something one way, doesn’t mean you can’t spice it up a bit and use new flavors. Since children normally start off with bland food because they have delicate taste buds, parents are afraid of spicing things up. That shouldn’t be the case. Instead, add seasoning to things in moderation. Your child will definitely take notice and will most likely enjoy the new tastes.

4. Hide The Veggies

Kids and veggies don’t mix well. Maybe it’s because they’re healthy or maybe it’s because of the way they’re made (see the previous tip). Whatever it is, getting kids to eat their veggies can be pretty hard. But it doesn’t have to be, especially if you hide them in whatever you’re cooking. Add some veggies to your meatloaf or cut them very small and add to their mac and cheese! Your kids won’t even know that they’re eating them once they taste the food.

5. Make Them Taste It

Some parents go by the one bite rule, which makes kids at least try the food before they rule out if they like it or not. This way, they can at taste it and not write it off just because of the way it looks. They just might like it! So before you dismiss them from the dinner table, make it a rule that they at least have to try one bite.