Happy Friday: Picky Eater No More
Sent from reader, Melissa:
The attached is a picture of my nephew, Jack, who’s a bit of a picky eater. He’s not willing to try new foods we know he will like so my mom (his grandmother) thought of something very clever. From Thanksgiving until Christmas, Jack has to try to write 30 food items he likes on his “Things I Like to Eat” poster. Over the past few weeks, Jack has been willing to try new things he thought he hated but found out they belong on his poster instead. It’s been fun and it’s opened his eyes to new foods. So far he’s up to 21 new items, just a few more to go! I thought this was a neat way to encourage parents who are having a hard time with their picky eaters as well.
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aww!! he is adorable and what a great way to try new things!!
What an awesome idea!!!
Thats a great idea…….I don’t think I could use it on my husband though! lol
That was my first thought, my hubby could live off hamburgers, pizza & chips lol
Mine too 🙂 Easy to cook for, lol!
Sadly, my husband would gladly eat Fruit Loops and peanut butter & jelly sandwiches day in and day out if I let him.
that is an awesome idea..i think i am gonna try this with my dd..
What an awesome idea!! I swear, the list of foods my kid will eat can be counted on both hands! Thanks!
ooooooh you sneaky grandma you. What a great way to introduce new foods to a picky eater.
LOL Thanks for the laugh Rena! 😉
VERY good idea!! i am totally going to try this with my 3 y.o. – Thank you 🙂
clever!
What a great idea! You can see his taste buds evolving on this list–from corn dogs, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets to green beans, sweet potatoes, and coconut. I just might have to try this with my toddler. Thanks for the idea!
I don’t think it would work with the 2 picky eaters in our house b/c they always act like they are going to barf if they try something new.
Thats a very clever idea! I wonder if there are any hints on how to make my six year old son obey me. =/
That’s a neat idea. Luckily my kids aren’t picky. I make them at least taste everything, and I have to abide by that same *gulp* principal (thinking about greens yuck!) but usually if I like it so do they!!
I’m going to talk to my son’s OT to see if she thinks this would help with his eating issues or not…I think it’s a great idea! My son has a sensory processing disorder so meal time is a stressful time for everyone. He has his 5 “safe” foods…I guess we could start by writing those down on the list, huh? Then as he adds foods we can add them to the list. Thanks for posting this!
I am in the same situation as you! My son has a sensory processing disorder as well and meal times are hetic. Good luck, I’m going to try this as well.
Same here, my 3 yr old has SPD-only likes hard/crumchy foods combine that with reflux-not fun! But as he is getting older I think something like this my help somewhat. Good luck with your picky eaters!
Wish I could use this with my 6 yr old! He will NOT try new things. He says he doesn’t like them even though he has never eaten them. *sigh* I think a lot of his is a texture thing.
My kiddo is the same way…it gets really frustrating. I even had his doctor tell me not to let him eat unless he’ll eat whatever we’re having, but then he seriously just won’t eat. He’s sooo stubborn!
OMG!! Love this idea! I have to use this on my 9YO Daughter and 6 YO son!!
I love this idea! My 11 year old son is a picky eater (quite a shock after having a ‘try everything’ kid!). I want to try this with him. Thanks for thinking to post this.
What a great idea!! I am a picky eater, but don’t want my son to be. I love charts too!
good for him! and grandma! I am a bit of a picky eater! Might have to try it with myself! haha, and put a reward at the end!! (I get a manicure when I fill it up, hahaha) I’ve lived in NC for 20 years and I still can’t make myself try pimento cheese, so Jack is braver then me!
Pimento Cheese is delicious, on Food Network Triple D was at a place that put a spin on Pimento Cheese and it’s better than the original, look it up you may like it.
Thank you for sharing! This is a great idea! I am going to try this with my 7 yr old son… who is verrrry picky.
Haha! If I didn’t like what was being served in my household growing up, I didn’t eat! All of us kids are not picky eaters because of that.
That is the way it is in our house too. My husband cooks, there is no such thing as picky.
This is awesome! I’m planning a 31 day challenge for January to help parents teach their kids to be good eaters- I think I’ll need to reference this idea!!! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Love this great idea and what a cutie. My two little grandsons live with us and are not allowed by their parents to be picky eaters. If they complain about something new that they have to try, their parents make them eat more of it than just the intended trial bites. Surprisingly after a few times of serving it they start liking and asking for it. This little guy seems to be getting an idea of how many foods actually taste good and having fun doing it.
Thanx for one more idea to deal with this problem. My son is on lower percentile and he didn’t get a ounce since last 8-9 months… I was so depressed with all that.. just then I read ur post.
Thanx.
My 9 y is 48 lbs. Hasn’t gained a pound in over 12months. She has some food allergies (peanuts, soy, fresh fruit), and is a self-proclaimed vegetarian. She gets so little protein in her diet, and as a vegetarian with soy and peanut allergies, we’re kinda stuck. She drinks milk, and eats go-gurts, but that’s it. She won’t even try foods placed near her. Her limitations are causing stress in our family. I know this might sound like “rich-people’s problems” but we’re really struggling. I’ll try this idea and welcome anyone else ideas.
I love this chart idea! My 7 year old is super picky (diagnosed oral SPD when 3), was bottom of the growth chart and has allergies. We had a chart that worked for us. He would get 7 check marks and he would get the bricks from one step of a Lego set. He didn’t know what set he was making either. We allowed licks at the beginning for some foods because I was so desperate. I was thrilled when he licked a green bean. Now he will eat 2 green beans. Good luck, I’ve been there.
Jodi, Your problem does not sound like “rich-people’s problems.” It sounds very real, and I’m sure that it’s very stressful. I would highly suggest the book: What’s Eating Your Child?: The Hidden Connection Between Food and Your Child’s Well Being, by Kelly Dorfman. I started reading it in Barnes and Noble a few weeks ago and couldn’t put it down. She has some great strategies for extreme picky eating and also talks about the connection between food allergies/ food sensitivities and picky eating. Good Luck!
Thanks for the book suggestion. I just put in on hold at the library!
Thanks for the support. I’m going to get the book you mentioned.
Quinoa is a high protein grain that is similar to rice in that it will take the flavor of whatever it’s cooked with (as long as it’s well rinsed before cooking). It looks a lot like couscous when cooked. Maybe that would be a way to get her some more protein.
What a clever grandma! Love this idea
Thats smart! My son is the pickiest eater.. I will have to try this when hes older.
Heather, I’m guessing that maybe you have a toddler? 2/3 year old? Some straggles that may help: 1. Serve very small portions “just one” of whatever it is that is new or that he normally won’t eat. 2. Give everyone at the table “just one” or “just one bite,” build up excitement about everyone trying it and do “One, two, three, try it!” or do “cheers,” (we did this the other night with green beans) then everyone tries it proclaiming, “yum!!” 3. When he rejects it or says says he doesn’t want it, ignore it and try a different tactic, “Show two green beans: “Do you want this one, or this one?” If that doesn’t work, “Oh look, this one is a baby one… you can have this one!” 4.Try a different location (on someone’s lap), in another seat, off of a different plate, or with a different utensil (my sister got her daughter to try turkey by putting it on a toothpick.) 5. Use positive peer pressure (have a friend, older cousin, etc. try to get him to eat something… talk it up, etc.)
This is a great idea! My son is 2 1/2yrs old and wont eat much of anything! We have problems getting him to try new stuff, but also problems with just getting him to eat period. The things I and he knows he likes he won’t eat. Its become a bit of a power struggle, he wants control. We usually end up ‘winning’. But maybe something like this will give him a visual as to what it is he’s doing and he’ll see it as fun and interesting instead of just another thing mommy and daddy are making him do.
My son was a very picky eater. He was so thin, it scared me. He would only eat veggies, ranch and chicken nuggets (one or two). I found that he would try new things and eat more if I served smaller amounts and cubed them very small. As he got older, he told me he had a sensation when he ate that felt like food was stuck in his throat. He is 18 now and a healthy weight.
what an awesome idea and what a precious young man! That photo has to be saved so one day his kids can see that and 🙂
My son is really picky too and he had a sensory issue when he was a baby. Now he is 3 years old and he eats pretty healthy and is a normal weight. He’s still picky but he eats protein, fruits, veggies, meats, etc. I’ll tell you all what worked for him: DAYCARE!! Yeah, that’s right. He goes there half day Monday through Friday and he sees all the other kids (who are his friends) eating breakfast and lunch and enjoying their food. So, he tries new foods there and then we try to incorporate whatever he liked at daycare into our diet at home. So, I recommend all picky kids eat a meal at a daycare 5 days a week (for our son it is breakfast and lunch). He will see and experience normal eating behavior and good table manners. It’s helped our family so much. I had read a lot of books and learned for help online and tried so many things. This is the one thing that has worked for him.
I have a picky eater too…and I have found that smoothies work great for my son. I through in carrots and greens in with the fruit in small amounts and he never knows otherwise.
I just bought the family fun cookbook from an Amazon seller a few days ago (The book was a penny, shipping was $3). It healthy recipes for kids. I am going to let my picky 3 year old pick out what to make for dinner from the recipes. Hopefully that will get her more interested to eat dinner.
That’s a great idea Katie!