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Childhood Development

How to get your picky child to eat

Having a picky eater in the family can make meal times very trying for the whole family. My son was a very picky eater for a few years, and though he's still choosy what he will and won't eat, he's basically grown out of the pickiness.
There are quite a number of things you can do to help make meal times more enjoyable when you have a picky eater. The first thing, is to always offer something you know that they like, especially when you're introducing a new food. This helps make the child feel more comfortable with the meal and not as singled out. Another good tip to try, is to let you child plan one meal a week. Give them healthy options to choose from, but let them pick what the dinner will be. This allows them to feel somewhat in control of their diets.

When you introduce new foods, try implementing the three bite rule. If after three small bites your child still does not like the food, then assume that they really don't like and are not just refusing it because it is something new.
If you are concerned that your child is not getting enough of all four food groups, then take advantage of snack times. Snacks are a great way to make sure kids are getting enough of what they need. If, for example, your child doesn't eat any vegetables at dinner, then perhaps making them a bed time snack with their favorite fruit or vegetables. Or, if you know that you are going to be serving something for dinner that they don't like, make them an afternoon snack that will fill that serving for whatever food group it falls into. Using snacks to help fill those nutritional gaps will not only make you feel better, it will also ensure that your child is eating well through out the day.
Another really important key to keep in mind, is make sure your child sees you trying new things, or even eating food you don't particularly like. I do not care for cooked vegetables, I prefer to eat mine raw, however, there are times when that isn't always possible. My son sees me eat the cooked vegetables, and he knows I don't like them. Eventually he started eating some of his too. I even taught him a few of the tricks I have for eating food I don't really like. For example, I'll mix my vegetables with my rice or potatoes, and I'll eat them first, so that I can enjoy the rest of my meal. I also uses sauces and gravies with my son to help mask the flavors of the items he doesn't like.
I also try to cook things in different ways, and reintroduce them as something new.


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