My first child did NOT prepare me for having an extremely picky second baby. She was and still is a dream to feed. She always ate fruits, veggies, proteins etc. and never really went through a "picky stage". So when my son was born and started eating solids, I never pictured it being difficult. Boy was I wrong!!!!
I introduced solids when he was around 6 months old and went for the Baby Led Weaning approach (with some purees) and things started off great. He basically ate everything I made and liked it. Avocados, bananas, green beans, peas, squash, tuna, chicken, beef, pasta.....you name it, he liked it. Things were going great until he got the stomach flu at 11 months and since then it's been a challenge. All of the foods he used to like, he now looks at like they are some kind of alien and refuses to touch. We're basically living on carbs and fruit and as frustrating as it is, I've learned to embrace it and just let it go! Because at the end of the day, I believe "fed is best". So here some ways I've learned to handle "picky eaters".
1. Don't stress.
As parents, it's hard not to stress about our kids especially when it comes to nutrition but when you take the pressure off, it actually is easier. Kids feel tension, they know when we're upset and if they sense we are frustrated with their eating habits, you can bet they won't cooperate anyway. They won't starve so take a deep breath and relax. Maybe your toddler would only eat cheerios tonight? No big deal. Maybe they will try something new tomorrow. You're still a great mom regardless of what your child eats.
2. Smoothies will become your best friend.
Or at least they have in our house. This is one way I can sneak a bunch of nutritious foods in. Spinach, avocado, fruits, seeds, veggies, whatever you can think of, through that shit in there! Experiment with different combinations. Sometimes I make them thicker and they pretend it's ice cream...mom win!
3. Offer healthier options first.
Ok I know what you're probably rolling your eyes at this one because I used to too, but hear me out. I thought this would never work but my toddler has actually been really receptive to this. Instead of giving him a cookie when he asks for it, I offer one of his favourite fruits first. "First let's have 6 blueberries and then you can have a cookie" It doesn't have to be a crazy amount and I've found that by counting he "gets it" better.
4. Put snack trays out and make food fun.
I've found that making snack trays with a variety of different options increases the chances they will try new things. I do a few things that I know he likes and add something new that I hope he will try. Sometimes he does and sometimes he doesn't but by offering new things repeatedly it increases the chances that one day he will. Cut food into fun shapes, or make kabobs. In my experience, kids will eat just about anything if you put it on a skewer or if its in the shape of Mickey Mouse.
5. Let them pick something at the store.
Last week while grocery shopping he asked for a fruit tray. One of those pre-made ones from the store with cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple and strawberries (the only thing I knew he liked for sure). We brought it home and he sat down with the tray and tried each thing! He didn't end up liking all of them but at least he tried and we can add honeydew melon to our list of "likes".
6. Don't compare kids.
This can be a tough one especially if you have friends or family who don't have picky eaters. You might have a friend or family member who's child eats everything (and that's great!) but just remember that all kids are different. They do things on their own terms and on their own timeline. As adults, we have our list of likes and dislikes; kids are the same way. Don't ever feel like a shitty mom just because your child isn't eating a gourmet meal every day. Have patience and most likely your child won't be a picky eater forever. This too shall pass!
These are some things that worked for us on our journey with picky eating. If you're dealing with picky eaters, know that you're not alone.
xoxo
Shawna
