Question

When my boys were younger, I had to constantly change the serving plates or utensils to keep them interested in the food. Each plate had a diffe... see more

When my boys were younger, I had to constantly change the serving plates or utensils to keep them interested in the food. Each plate had a different super hero. All boys want to be superheroes and to be a superhero, they had to finish their food!

So - you might not like this response - but - no such thing as a picky toddler, there are just parents not willing to "deal" - old school upbrin... see more

So - you might not like this response - but - no such thing as a picky toddler, there are just parents not willing to "deal" - old school upbringing, but here's what works. Our rule as kids got older (have 3) was they had to try a bite, then they could decide if they didn't like it. Period. That was a rule and it was enforced. Beyond that, if they didn't eat, they didn't eat. Even as toddlers, I ate veggies, etc., my kids ate veggies, etc. and now my 1 year old granddaughter eats everything. NEVER give a toddler a lot of choices. Just fix dinner, feed them (or let them feed themselves) and if they don't eat, then they don't get anything else. Again, PERIOD. If they are hungry they will eat. No snacks, no dessert, no chicken fingers while the rest of the family eats something else. Put food in front of them if they can feed themselves. Let them make a mess (to a degree) and NEVER make a big deal of it. Remember, you're the adult. You are in charge. After they eat if you want to give them a little dessert of snack or drink as a reward, fine, but you're the parent. This goes for raising them in all aspects of their lives. Kids grow up having lots of friends. What they need from you is a Mom/Dad and someone who loves them enough to say NO!
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I think this area is complicated, as "picky" means different things to different people. Is the child picky because he won't eat what the family... see more

I think this area is complicated, as "picky" means different things to different people. Is the child picky because he won't eat what the family is eating? Picky because he has a limited palate of favorite foods? Picky because he won't eat vegetables?

Each situation requires a slightly different approach. In general, though, the most effective strategy is to eat family meals together, not pressure kids to eat, model good eating habits, offer a variety of foods, and always have at least 1 or 2 foods on the table that kids like.

Food should not be a punishment or a reward. When I say always have 2 foods on the table you know kids will like, those foods can be raw carrots and bread. If the children fill up on those foods, so be it. It won't kill them. Some children take longer to develop a broad palate. Remember, you are teaching kids lifelong eating habits -- habits that will stay with them for the next 60, 70, 80 or 90 years. If they don't eat broccoli the first 4 or 5 or even 10 years. Is it such a big deal?

One bite rules make food a battle - imagine if you were told you had to eat fried grasshoppers - just one bite - and that they were good for you. Not exactly going to make you a lifelong lover of grasshoppers. Though one-bite rules can seem to work in the short run, they only make food a battlefield and create "good foods" and "bad foods" in kids' minds.

Likewise, desserts should never be taken away or used as a reward. If you serve to dessert, serve everyone. If you don't serve dessert, don't use it as a bribe for eating other foods.

I have an extremely 'picky' toddler. He started it when he was only 10months old, I realized that calling him "picky" was a negative way of look... see more

I have an extremely 'picky' toddler. He started it when he was only 10months old, I realized that calling him "picky" was a negative way of looking at it, I started saying "selective" eater. He eats what he wants and we can't and shouldn't force him - way easier said than done!! But regardless of how stressed I am about this, I've to constantly remind myself that he won't starve himself, and, our responsibility as parents is to offer him nutritious foods. But only he can decide how much and what he eats. (You can bring a horse to the water, but you can't force them to drink.) As expected, he is on the lighter side, but he is healthy and happy, and at the end of the day, that's what's important.

Cute shapes helps! Cut sandwiches, pancakes, waffles, and pizza into various shapes using cookie cutters. I find that this methods helps to teas... see more

Cute shapes helps! Cut sandwiches, pancakes, waffles, and pizza into various shapes using cookie cutters. I find that this methods helps to tease their appetite and also teach them about shapes.

I answered on your page under comments...but my suggestion was bright colored foods, different textures....some of each on the high chair tray..... see more

I answered on your page under comments...but my suggestion was bright colored foods, different textures....some of each on the high chair tray...peas, carrots, tomatoes,,crunch of celery..then jello cubes...fun 7 interesting for them at toddler age!