Home > Cooking for Kids > Picky Eaters

Picky Eaters

By: Elizabeth Hinds - Updated: 30 Apr 2010 | comments*Discuss
 
Picky Eaters

Most children seem to go through the phase of being a picky eater, and if your child is there now then you have our sympathy!

You’re probably wondering how long your child can go without becoming malnourished, or whether it can be doing him any good to live solely on baked beans. Be assured that children have an innate sense of what they need and that, despite all your anxieties, they will grow up into healthy young people.

You’d probably be surprised if you considered their diet over a week or two. Although on a day to day basis, it may seem erratic, it’s likely to be reasonably balanced over a longer period.There are lots of reasons for children becoming picky eaters; it’s not done to spite you, however you may feel that on occasion! And it’s not because you’re a dreadful cook!

Partly it’s to do with becoming characters in their own right, having their own likes and dislikes – and some will be genuine; it’s also their curiosity and their desire to be somewhere else rather than in the high-chair; and it’s the size of their tummies!

Little and often is the key, but there are some dos and don’ts too.

  • Do make mealtime a pleasurable experience. Be relaxed.
  • Don’t force food on your child. Try the ‘one spoonful, now another’ approach but when baby is adamant, give up.
  • Do stick to a routine: children like the familiar.
  • Don’t give up on trying new tastes – yes, that contradicts the previous one but children are contrary!
  • Do give children some choice over what they will eat.
  • But don’t let yourself become Head Chef having to cook three or four different meals to suit everyone.
  • Do provide both sit-down meals and in-between snacks.
  • Don’t worry! Your child won’t starve!
Getting Food into Your Picky Eater
Buffet
Buy a plastic tray with individual compartments. In each compartment put a different finger food. Leave the tray where your child can reach it so that as he’s running around, he can stop and help himself when he feels peckish.

Leave it easily accessible but cover it with a t-towel to keep flies off. Don’t leave the tray out too long though especially if it’s warm weather.

Include:

  • Apple slices (dip in lemon juice to stop browning or spread with soft cheese or peanut butter)
  • Seedless grapes
  • Celery sticks
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Raisins
  • Cheese chunks
  • Hard-boiled eggs, quartered
  • Unsweetened cereal (hoops or shapes)
  • Carrot sticks
  • Olives (stones removed)
  • Pita bread pieces
You can vary the ingredients depending on your child’s age and likes.

Offer dips with finger foods:

  • Cottage cheese
  • Guacamole (see recipe below)
  • Hummus (see recipe below)
  • Peanut butter
  • Fruit puree
  • Yogurt
Guacamole
What you need:
  • 3 ripe avocados
  • 1 ripe tomato
  • ½ small onion
  • 1 tablespoon fresh coriander, chopped
  • 1½ tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic
What you do:

Cut the avocados in half and remove the stones. Scoop out the flesh and put it in a blender along with the rest of the ingredients. Whiz it together to make smooth dip.

Simple Hummus
What you need:

  • 1 tin chick peas
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
What you do:

Drain the chick peas reserving the liquid. Add 3 tablespoons of it to a blender along with the other ingredients. Whiz until smooth.

Smoothies
Another way to get nutrients, especially vitamins, into kids who don’t want to sit still is to make smoothies they can drink as they're passing.

Mango Smoothie
What you need:

  • 1 ripe mango
  • ¾ cup milk
  • ¼ cup natural yogurt
What you do:

Peel the mango, cut it in half and remove the stone. Chop the flesh into chunks and put it with the milk and yogurt in the blender. Whiz until smooth.

Very Fruity Smoothie
What you need:

  • 2 bananas
  • 1 orange
  • 2 kiwis
  • 10-12 strawberries
  • ½ cup blueberries
  • 1-2 cups orange juice
What you do:

Peel the bananas, orange and kiwi and cut into chunks. Toss them in the blender with the other ingredients. Whiz until smooth.

Related Articles in the 'Cooking for Kids' Category...
Share Your Story, Join the Discussion or Seek Advice..
Why not be the first to leave a comment for discussion, ask for advice or share your story...

If you'd like to ask a question one of our experts (workload permitting) or a helpful reader hopefully can help you... We also love comments and interesting stories

Title:
(never shown)
Firstname:
(never shown)
Surname:
(never shown)
Email:
(never shown)
Nickname:
(shown)
Comment:
Validate:
Enter word:
Topics
Comments
  • Pakistan
    Re: Teaching Kids Food Hygiene
    This website rules ok so always use this website!
    25 March 2017
  • eygpt
    Re: Teaching Kids Food Hygiene
    love it Find kids cooking recipes that are easy, quick and cheap. Search for fun recipes for cooking with kids including kids…
    29 January 2015
  • mohammed
    Re: Foraged Feasts: Autumn and Winter
    i like this advertisement. i will learn more out of this
    27 November 2014
  • Dilly Dora :}
    Re: Main Meals for Kids
    This is a brill website as I have made the Tommy Pasta and The Fishy Dishy. It is lush although not enough for me and the family
    15 December 2013
  • DISNEYangle
    Re: Teaching Kids Where Food Comes From
    I like this website it helps alot with my children homework
    9 December 2012
  • Carol
    Re: Baking Bread With Kids
    This doesn’t deal with involving the kids. When the dough is ready for kneading is a good time to bring them in as they’ll enjoy pounding…
    27 September 2012
  • seam
    Re: Teaching Kids Food Hygiene
    micro organisms stick because they are little think that can go on the kitchen {even the ass}
    25 September 2012
  • Chris
    Re: Cookies and Biscuits
    For a really delicious variation on the oaty cookies, add raisins. I had oatmeal and raisin cookies in the US and they're delicious. Plus, in…
    6 June 2012
  • beth
    Re: Kitchen Safety for Kids
    All the information is very useful because I love cooking. Thank you so much. It would be so useful for my brother.
    27 May 2012
  • Nicky
    Re: Pizzas and Toppings
    Wow pizza turned out great I'm going to use this recipe all the time I don't think I'm ever going to buy a take away again !
    21 May 2011