Fussy eaters can be tricky business! Before sharing my 5 tips for Fussy eaters, let us first know why it is important to tackle fussy eating habits.
” My child is a fussy eater is something ” that I hear quite often in my clinic. Picky eaters not only miss on nutrition but a lot of delicious flavors! Understandably it is also difficult to plan meals and cook for people who are picky. Often healthy foods like green vegetables, salads, fruit, skinless poultry and fish, beans, legumes, and nuts, low-fat dairy, whole grains, are on the “I Don’t Eat this” list of fussy eaters.
Here are 5 tips for Fussy eaters that will have them eating out of your hands!
1. No Catering for different needs
Plan your meals to include at least one item that everyone will enjoy, even if it’s baked beans for the vegetarian or a fruit and yogurt parfait for dessert. After that without making any exceptions, serve a single dinner to the entire family. The habit of cooking separate meals for everyone is time-consuming, and it might take kids a lot longer to develop a taste for new foods.
2. It takes 11 attempts to accept something
It’s typical for kids to be wary of unfamiliar things, even food. According to research, it can take a child up to 11 attempts before they determine they like a new cuisine. Continue to serve broccoli and even let kids play with it or touch it to get a sense for how it might taste in their tongue. Always request one bite from them.
3. Don’t Insist on finishing the food
Encourage kids to stop eating when they are full rather than consuming all the food on their plate. A useful rule to keep in mind is: 1 tablespoon of food per child’s age for each dish (about 2 or 3 dishes). Adults sometimes forget that young children have small bellies. Therefore, we can serve 3 tablespoons of peas, noodles, and chicken to a 3-year-old child. Hence the most important tip for fussy eaters is do not force them to finish everything on their plate and make it a boring task for them.
4. Involve them in shopping for food and cooking
My fourth tip for fussy eaters is simple – make them work for their supper!
If they assisted in its planning or preparation, children are more inclined to try a dish. Giving youngsters the freedom to choose their own vegetables of the grocery store will give them confidence. Children feel proud to share and eat if they are involved in cooking food . Therefore, you can give them age-appropriate chores to do, such stirring, chopping, or measuring out ingredients. This strategy works well with fussy eaters – child or adult: When you ask them to assist with the shopping and cooking then they get more invested in the outcome and more curious about the process then
5. Best Tip for fussy eaters – Plan Smart Snacking
Another great tip for tackling fussy eaters is to serve them healthy food at snack time. Because this is when they are genuinely hungry and will eat anything . Veggies , Fruits and hummus are great snacks ,they provide enough energy and nutrition without making them overeat . Although salty chips, cookies, or even sugary granola bars , gummy “fruit” snacks may feel like a good choice , they are not really healthy. A good time for snacks is 2 hours before their regular meal.
Armed with this arsenal of 5 smart tips for fussy eaters , I am sure your meal times will now be stress free and a time to bond with the family.
(Pics courtesy – Pexels and Canva )
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Zariya Healings.
Good points. I wish I had them when my son was a toddler!
I totally agree about not catering to different needs. Involving them in cooking or even growing food is a good way also. You won’t believe my children would actually eat karela and lauki because they grew them themselves.
I completely agree with these 5 tips. I have followed and still follow these. As a family we eat all the veggies including karela, sarson, laud etc. Sometimes it is how it is cooked and sometimes it is the discipline. Combination of both can help them in being a good eater. The 11 attempts point was new to me.
Those are good tips. I didn’t know it takes 11 prompts before anyone accepts new cuisine and flavours. Grocery shopping is a good idea to introduce kids to new veggies. And yes, for sure making different dishes for everyone at home is an impossible task.
Fussy eaters can be a challenge for mums and these pointers are just apt for new moms. Its going to be very helpful for them.
All 5 tips are perfect and I too agree that we need to make an effort for kids will start loving food after a few attempts and good to involve them while cooking.
Phew! Thank God my kids aren’t fussy eaters. And the simple reason they are not Preeti is because I didnt oblige n cook separate items for them and in my own way i was doing almost all of what u have written about. My funda was ‘take it or leave it’… sounds cruel but that’s what worked. I absolutely agree with all your tips… new mommies should definitely follow them n see the magic. I love your fourth one… hahaha… if they help in making it, they definitely won’t say no to it… this one hit the bull’s eye😀
It’s absolutely the right approach, Kaveri and no it’s not cruel as we are doing it to improve their health and attitude.
My elder one was and still is a fussy eater 🤐. I agree that involving fussy eaters in shopping for food and cooking is a helpful tip. I have seen this result in my younger one. It empowers them, educates them about ingredients, and creates a positive environment for trying new foods. It can lead to increased curiosity and a more adventurous approach to eating. This is a must-read post for all new parents.
quite effective tips. doable and I think effective to handle fuzzy eaters. informative post.
Very well-researched 5 tips for fussy eaters. It is an uphill task if kids r fussy. Thankfully my kids and grandsons were not fussy eaters.
This post is penned for me I swear and I cant thank you enough. I dont know how you read my mind and came up with this informative content.My one is fussy and I am not sorry for that as no kid are same. 11 times acceptance is something very interesting that I got to know from your post and will ensure make atleast this number of attempts to check if he likes it or not. thank you so much for this really important post for me.
Those are great tips. My brother and I were absolute opposites when it came to food as kids. Mom made us grow our own veggies. That helped us develop a taste for food that we initially disliked.
As mothers especially to small kids we often face this problem and these are some helpful tips for us.
Based on my personal experience, fussy eaters comes with age, growth and our kiddos having their own personality and preferences as well. My daughters used to eat anything I gave them but nowadays, one would prefer broccoli than cauliflower and vise-versa. I totally agree on number 1 though. I don’t have enough time and energy to cater to everyone’s preference.
Dealing with fussy eaters can be challenging and requires a lot of patience and planning. You have listed some great points that will be beneficial to mothers facing the mammoth task of feeding their fussy children. I never knew it takes eleven attempts to accept something – a point that I too will bear in mind. A well thought-out post. Thanks for the share. 🙂
I am on this boat for the past 9 years. While my elder one is slowly adapting herself to new tastes, the ordeal is on another level with my younger one. I will try your tips. Fingers crossed.
Some kids are fussy eaters….I was one. Hated veggies as a kid. And I know some parents don’t succumb to pressure and make something so the kid eats.
Wow! These are amazing tips, i didn’t know that it takes only 11attemps to accept the taste of any dish. Though, I keep trying the dish again and again. Also, I am with you that there must not be special or separate food preparation for an individual, what’s cooked and served will be finished by every member of family.
Such good tips you have mentioned. I was never a fussy eater but my cousins have been. I have seen Massi use these tips with them and it has worked.
Wow, these are some fantastic tips. I never knew about the tablespoon measurements for kid’s foods. We have been overfed a lot, I think 🙂 The tip I loved the most was taking fussy eaters for grocery shopping. Yes, let them see and learn what goes into their food.
Agree, dealing with fussy eaters can be challenging. You have shared some valid pointers to help the picky eaters eat well. I feel children often mimic the eating behaviors of those around them. If we set a positive example by demonstrating healthy eating habits and enjoying a diverse range of foods ourselves, that can help too.
These are great tips to handle fussy eating in kids. My kids were in the same phase and following some of these previously helped in making them better at eating
These are great tips. Especially for toddlers. It’s gonna help me. Thanks for this blogposts.
Very practical and sound tips.