Picky Eaters!

Imagine this: You just got home from a long tiresome day of work. You prepare a nice home-cooked meal, well-balanced and nutritious. Your loved ones all come in to the dining room, sit at the dinner table and you all indulge in a complaint-free meal! Life couldn’t get any sweeter. Unfortunately, the scenario sounds more like a Hallmark made-for-TV moment.

I can’t think of a single family who doesn’t have at least one picky eater. Whether you don’t like broccoli or you don’t like bananas, we have seven sure-fire solutions to help you and your family to gastronomic greatness. Just keep reading to get the scoop!

No bargaining.

Convincing Tyler to eat his cauliflower and carrots by suggesting he’ll get the best dessert afterwards isn’t the most effective way to get down those veggies. Don’t feel bad, we’ve all done it. But believe it or not, this method actually works against you and leaves your kids with an impression that eating right always yields a reward.

Don’t go cold turkey.

Completely cutting out sweets also can work against you, so think moderation versus isolation.  Completely cutting sweets from your children’s diet will only help them overindulge when the chance comes. Help yourself out by offering small portions or thinking within reason when it comes to sweets.

Be patient with new foods.

Learning new things for children can be tough, so just imagine learning about this new weird-shaped, funny-smelling food. Give kids time and lots of encouragement. Don’t force it on them and don’t give up!

Eat at the table, not the TV.

Eating at the table gives parents not only a chance to catch up on what’s new, but also the opportunity to observe kids’ eating habits and what foods they push around and which ones they tackle first—and then to talk to them about it. Also, sitting in front of the TV is distracting. Kids caught up in their favorite show may not notice how much or how little they’re eating, so avoid the distracted dining if you can.

 Eat with color.

Foods that lack color usually lack nutrients, so have a little fun. Talk to your kids about the fun colors the veggies and other foods have. There is life outside of pizza—the kids just haven’t found it yet.

Stick to the schedule.

Kids love routine. As a matter of fact, building a routine gives them structure and helps them feel less bombarded when new things come into play. Especially with matters like food. If you have a healthy snack schedule, or want to make one, incorporate the food groups and stick to it. According to the American Heart Association, kids that have routine eating schedules only eat when they are fed during those normal food times. So don’t push the envelope, just stick to the script.

And Finally,

Be a great role model.

The best way to encourage your children is to lead by example. Odds are, if they see you doing it, moving it or even eating it, they are going to want to be just like you. So encourage your children and lead by example. More than likely, your kids will follow suit.

Jessica Samuel is a native of St. Louis and current Kansas City resident. She’s a freelance journalist and photographer.