Pro tips for parents for tackling mealtime with a picky eater.

It would be great if every child liked all the food and drinks you prepare for them! In real life, kids may not like all of the things that you cook for them. Below, we share some tips on how to ‘smuggle’ healthy, nutritious fruits and vegetables into everyday eating. These tips won’t guarantee that your child will eat everything, but parents may be able to make eaters more willing to eat a variety of things.

Don’t establish the habit of making a whole new meal for picky eaters.

Parents worry that their children won’t eat unless they make food that children specifically like. Instead, we recommend that every meal includes 1-2 things your child likes. For example: Chicken finger AND green beans. Pizza WITH fresh cherry tomatoes baked on top.

Blend or add the good stuff as you cook.

Riced cauliflower blends in with white rice and doesn’t add a taste. It can also be browned with turkey or beef meat for chili or spaghetti. Apples can be chopped like onions and added for a tangy or sweet taste.

Use fruits and vegetables that LOOK like what kids like.

Zucchinni noddles and spaghetti squash look and feel like regular noodles when cooked to have a similar texture as pasta. Sandwiches can be made with pieces of lettuce instead of bread.

Which tip will you try first? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned for more advice on navigating picky eaters!