Tips for Picky Eaters

Here are some tips for picky eaters of all ages, and if you scroll down a bit you will find tips on how to deal with children who fuss at meal times.

I know, we don't all love healthy food. There are plenty of adults and children who can't stand salads for example. Who wants to eat that slippery stuff when there are tastier alternatives out there? 

But since you are here, you know that eating that cold slippery green stuff is important. But how to do this if it's a struggle? Maybe a lot of food makes you feel sick? Especially the fresh kind that you know you should be having on a daily basis. 

Before forcing yourself to eat something your taste buds and body doesn't agree with, check that you don't have any food allergies that are the cause of this. And if the fussy eater is your child, check that she doesn't.

Some Effective Tips for Picky Eaters. Toddlers and school-aged children And why not adults too

1. Become more disciplined when it comes to eating. Make sure you get the good stuff in you every day, but no need to eat it like it is. Make it taste better by adding spices and your favorite sauces and dressings.

2. Add chopped greens, green powders, berry powders, seeds and dried fruit (like the nutritious Goji berry)  in yummy things you bake at home, maybe a cake or pancakes or any kind of cookies. Also add to your oatmeal or mashed potatoes. A little nettle powder or freeze dried coconut powder in your mashed potatoes will most often go unnoticed.

3. Or juice it up! That is always a great solution. Go out there and get yourself a juicer so you can start right away. 

Parenting a Picky Eater
- Children with Sensitive Taste Buds

Tips for Picky Eaters and their Caregivers

When dealing with fussy eaters, those on a vegan diet, glutn-free diet or no specific diet at all, the key is to have a positive attitude and to stay calm with no attachment to the outcome.

Sounds difficult?

Well, hopefully you'll get some inspiration by reading this article.

Some children are so picky when it comes to food that there are only a few dishes they will actually eat.

One boy I know of who is 10 years old will only eat pizzas and hamburgers for dinner.

And he only drinks orange juice, never anything else - except water I assume.

In extreme cases like that, some big changes needs to take place. And it won't be easy. The whole family should start doing something about what they eat.

And maybe even seek some professional help.

But thankfully most of the time it's not so bad, but it is annoying, right? You wonder when its going to get better.

You spend time making food every day but your child doesn't like it. She complains. You feel disappointed. It happens, right?

If she doesn't eat, why not eat it yourself! In front of her. Then another day, offer it to her again. And again.
After some time you can let her know how good you feel because you have been eating so healthy lately.
Tell her how much more you con get done at work, how you aren't tired in the middle of the day anymore. This might make her want to eat what you eat.

- Tips for Picky Eaters and their Parents - 
BUT WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THE FUSSY EATERS?

Make sure you don't see it as failing when you don't get her to eat. Getting upset will only make things much worse and meal times will become something unpleasant... and that will make her picky habits worse.

The solution here is to let her be.

What?

Yes. Just don't give her fussy habits so much attention anymore. What's that? I don't like it!  Okay. I'm not hungry!  Okay.

Your child will have to have some food sooner or later anyway, right?

I do understand that it might be inconvenient for you to have a hungry child in the house when everyone has already eaten, but it seriously is important to try to keep a relaxed attitude about it. And not to make her feel guilty when she finally says she is hungry.

More Tips for Picky Eaters

You can search for some healthy recipes for picky eaters. There are great ones out there.

It's good to keep in mind that food is supposed to be something positive, something that gives us energy. Not something to have a power struggle over.

With all kinds of eating disorders becoming more and more common in older children these days, this is an important thing to start to think about now when you can still do something about it.

She had no dinner and now she is hungry...

No worries. Together you can make a healthy snack that is filling enough.

Or, what you could do is, have a selection of healthy food, like lots of different types of vegetables and fruits and she can choose which one you should use to make a snack for her. Then at least you know she has had something healthy that day.

And besides, when the mood has been lifted at the dinner table and the pressure is off, it won't take very long before your child will start eating at least a little bit more during meal times again.

Me with one of the kids in a family of five that I've helped.

No bribing or punishing - just let her be and let take her time.

Another idea would be to not keep a lot of sweet things and unhealthy food at home.

Then they won't have too much other food to fill up on.

You would probably be surprised at how much junk some people keep in their homes.

I've visited so many homes when working as a family worker, and I've seen kitchen cabinets full of stuff...

bags of candy, chocolate boxes, all kinds of junk cereals, candy, cake, muffins, juice boxes, crackers, lots of cookies (this is a popular one), canned soups...

Another little tip would be make the dinner table look really nice, buy some flowers, candles or nice table decorations.

You could also find some fun tableware from somewhere. That might make coming to sit down at the table a bit more fun!

More fun tips GETTING KIDS TO EAT HEALTHY

NAME THE DISH YOU ARE MAKING

Always when making something you think your little one might not want to eat, like a salad or a soup, add one ingredient you know your child loves and name the dish after that ingredient. i just now made a salad and added three avocados because I know Benji likes them so much. Soon I will go to his room and tell him to come and eat avocado salad.

MAKE IT INTO A GAME!

Breakfast at 'Grand Hotel'
Here is an idea for getting kids to eat healthy I got from my lovely sister!

My son is visiting her right now and this is what she did: she prepared a really healthy breakfast for him and then told him that he is invited to eat breakfast at the Grand Hotel and pretended she as the waiter!

She presented the breakfast to him like this:

'Breakfast at Grand Hotel: Nordic Oatmeal with Raspberries, fruit carpaccio and green tea with liquorice. All served with golden spoons, of course'. Who could resist that?

SHARE NUTRITION FACTS
Here and there, tell your child a few interesting nutrition facts about the food you are trying to get her to eat.
Like for example that eating kale is good for the muscles and helps you sleep better at night too, because of the magnesium in it.
But be careful, don't over do it, just give her the facts without expecting anything from her. Because it could backfire... and the decision is supposed to be her's anyway.

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