11/17/2025
If you're a parent of a picky eater, Thanksgiving dinner can be challenging and stressful! Here are some tips to help your child gobble up more new foods: 🍗🥧
1. Do a trial run. Children are more likely to try a new food when they've been exposed to it several times. Serve a practice meal with your kids including many sights and smells of Thanksgiving Day.
2. Experiment with texture. Talk about different textures of foods. Practice manipulating new textures. Can your kiddo poke the new texture with their fork? Can they touch it with their fingers? Smell it? Small steps can lead to tasting new foods!
3. Provide something familiar. Be sure to have at least 1-2 preferred foods on their plate.
4. Get your child involved. Encourage your child to help set the table, wash vegetables, or mix ingredients with you.
5. Serve it up family style! Serving themselves is a form of interaction with the food, increasing the likelihood of later tastes.
6. Enjoy time with family. Your child might be overwhelmed by so many things... Experiencing new smells, the timing of the meal, loud talking, etc. It is a lot to take in, even for us adults! Enjoy the things you can control! Enjoy this time with family. 🧡
More ideas can be found here:
https://enrichmenttherapies.com/thanksgiving-with-a-picky-eater-5-tips-and-tricks/
https://feedinglittles.com/blogs/blog/managing-thanksgiving-with-new-or-selective-eaters
