Picky Eater Tips and Tricks

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I think it is important to start this Picky Eater Tips and Tricks post with a gentle reminder that everyone has their strengths and weakness. In our house, Baby J is our picky eater, but he is a great sleeper. When he is throwing a fit about food, I just remember that at least he sleeps!

But it is easy to get swept up in the frustrations of a picky eater, especially since their struggle tends to come out at the end of a long day. Also, you’ve taken the time to make a meal or paid for takeout or gone to a restaurant and just want everyone to eat!

My top priority is to avoid turning dinner into a battle zone because I will not win a battle with a stubborn toddler. Avoid huge conflicts and meltdowns with these Picky Eater Tips and Tricks that we have learned over the years.

Ask for Professional Help If Needed

First and foremost, if your child’s picky eating is driving you to your breaking point or you think they have a medical issue causing or related to their picky eating, please have a conversation with their pediatrician. Your medical provider can offer you medical advice, additional tips, or a referral for further care if needed.

Make One Meal for the Family

If you start making your picky eater a separate meal, you are setting a precedent that will confuse and upset them when you decide one day to stop. Also, you are showing any good eaters in the house that by throwing a big enough fit they too can have mac and cheese every night.

There are ways to compromise with your picky eater without making them their own meal.

Use Divided Plates

Using divided plates instead of one large plate where everything touches is huge for our picky eater. We use Re-Play divided plates (made from recycled materials so double win!) for all meals at our house. They come in a variety of fun colors. I advise buying them at Target (here are the ones we have) or Walmart (obsessed with these colors) as Amazon charges more than double what those 2 stores charge for the same plates!

Separate Meal Components

Sometimes all it takes is to divide something into its components for a picky eater to give it a try and maybe even love it!! Baby J will not eat chicken noodle soup in a bowl. But on a divided plate with noodles separate from chicken he eats it all and asks for seconds. It takes less than a minute to use a slotted spoon and divide the noodles and chicken, in turn, he eats the dinner. Compromise.

Offer Condiments

You may be thinking umm what part of picky eater do you not understand, and I get it! These could be things you don’t necessarily categorize as condiments.

Again with my picky eater, Baby J will eat or try more foods if he has tomato sauce on the side to dip them in. Easy fix. Both of my kids eat more veggies if they have hummus to dip them in. Ketchup may also work for your picky eater to dip things into.

Teach Basic Manners

In the words of daycare, as per my kids, “You don’t have to eat it but we have to offer it.” Removing or throwing food that they do not like is not acceptable.

If the problem item is in its own little compartment and not touching or “poisoning” the other food, it needs to stay on the plate. We will sometimes have a “no thank you” compartment on Baby J’s plate if he wants to move things around, but the food needs to stay on the plate.

Give Everything a Try

In our house, we ask that the kids try everything. I am careful to make family-friendly meals without a lot of spice or strong smells that I know would turn them off. I also make sure they like at least two-thirds to three-quarters of the components of each meal. This ensures that they are eating some part of dinner and not going to bed hungry.

Often for Baby J, it is the vegetable side he does not like but he knows that the expectation is that he tries it. Therefore he will try the vegetable each night. Usually, veggies are classified as “poison,” once he tries them but sometimes my cooking gets a vote of confidence such as “just a little bit poison.” Such a love 😉

Be Consistent

We all have days when we are too tired to fight. Mama, I get it. But making a separate meal one day and not the next, or allowing food to be thrown one day and not the next is confusing for everyone. It also sets you back once you have the strength to try and start setting limits again.

Avoid Turning Dinner into a Battle

Yes, I realize I said this in the intro, but it is important. Turning dinner into a battle affects everyone negatively. This includes you, your picky eater, and any other children or spouses.

Dinner may be the most time you spend together all day. It should be a positive time to gather and catch up on everyone’s day. Having it end in tears or yelling is upsetting for everyone and sets a negative tone going into bedtime which never helps.

You’ve Got This!

Picky eaters can absolutely be frustrating but most of the time things do get better. I hope these Picky Eater Tips and Tricks helped you in dealing with the picky eater in your life. Comment below if any of the tips worked for you and your family. I love hearing from you!