05/24/2022
Got a picky eater in your home? One of my favorite things to do with these kids is geting them into the kitchen and involved in the process! Depending on their age, your child might just be watching you, they can dump ingredients into a bowl, they can stir, they can fetch things from a cabinet...the possibilities are endless!
1. Most picky eaters have some level of anxiety with foods. They do not trust that what they eat will be enjoyable or familiar, so they turn it down. Maybe they have been tricked in the past and told it's "just spaghetti" when really it was "just spaghetti with small bites of broccoli hidden in the tomato sauce." When they are involved in the kitchen and see how the food is being created, they can relax knowing there's no sneaky mystery ingredients going into their meal.
2. Before a child can eat a new food, they typically need to get comfortable with it in other ways - they need to be OK with seeing the food, smelling it, touching it, mixing it with a spoon, scooping it into a bowl. Cooking is a natural and functional way to practice all of these skills!
3. How many times gas your picky eater said "yuck, I am not eating that!" In response to what is for dinner. Ok, well what if we responded "you don't have to eat it, but help me make it! This will be a snack for me/your brother/grandma." Your child will think "Oh ok! I don't have to eat it? Great! Now I can just focus on having fun!"
4. Kids love structure and being in charge. So many times a day, choices are made for them. Wear this, go here, eat that, sleep now. So when they are given a chance to take control they love it! "Should we add the peanut butter or jelly first?" "Should we add yellow or white cheese?"
Do you find these tips helpful? Like, share and comment below!
