Tips for Raising Picky Eaters

Key Insights:

• Unfamiliarity can deter children from eating. Building habits and routine around mealtime can help establish familiarity with eating and trying new foods.
• We all eat with our eyes, as they say! Making food colorful and fun can go a long way.
• Mixing familiar and preferred foods with new foods can encourage toddlers to explore.
• Talking about exploring new foods with your children could get them excited about trying new things
• Integrating unfamiliar foods into strong-flavored dishes is always an option.

Keep a Schedule

Having a mealtime schedule set and sticking to those times for each meal and snack daily can help your little one get used to eating at these periods and develop a good habit. If they’re snacking throughout the day, they may not be hungry for mealtime, or decide not to eat during mealtime expecting to fill up on snacks later. It’s all about setting clear expectations and doing your best to stick to the plan. As mealtime approaches, try to keep activities calming, as a little pre-meal quiet can help with focus.

Get Creative with Presentation

Some say you eat with your eyes first, so let’s find ways to get your little one interested in what’s on their plate! 

• Bright and Colorful Foods: Arrange a rainbow of fruits and veggies to make meals visually appealing.
• Fun Shapes: Use cookie cutters to create playful shapes with sandwiches, fruits, and veggies.
• Creative Plating: Make faces, animals, or scenes on the plate using different food items.
• Themed Meals: Incorporate your child’s favorite characters or themes into meal presentation.
• Exciting Containers: Serve dips and snacks in colorful silicone baking cups or small fun bowls.

Talk About It

Sit with your toddler and have some fun exploring what’s on their plate. Rather than focusing on a food’s flavor, talk about its shape, smell, and texture. This can help inspire interest and curiosity in the food as well as being a great time to teach your child about food, how it’s prepared, and where it comes from.

Create Balanced Plates

Creating balanced plates for your toddler is about more than just nutrition; it's also about introducing a variety of flavors and textures in a way that is enjoyable and approachable. Start by including a mix of sweet, savory, and mild flavors, and pair them with a range of textures like crunchy veggies, tender meats, and smooth grains. Introduce these new elements gradually, mixing them with familiar favorites to help your child feel more comfortable. This can create an exciting journey of discovery at every meal!

Pair Newbies with Oldies

Toddlers are often very curious about anything new, but sometimes too much newness causes hesitation. It can help to introduce new foods with familiar foods that your child already loves. For example, if your toddler loves spaghetti and tomato sauce, you might try to introduce a small amount of peas, carrots, and/or zucchini within the sauce. That way if your child doesn’t like plain peas and carrots, they could still have a point of reference of liking peas and carrots mixed in sauce.

Sneak ‘Em In

There are always ways to sneak in unfamiliar foods! For example, you can add a small amount of spinach or kale to a smoothie where the flavor is dominated by fruits like strawberries and bananas. You can also top cereals and toasts with fruit, or mix grated veggies into pastas and soups.

Explore Supplemental Nutritional Drinks

To compliment your toddler’s diet, it can help to explore options for nutritional drinks such as Enfagrow or vitamins and supplements for toddlers. Your pediatrician is the right person to ask about your toddler’s specific nutritional needs, and it’s always good to discuss any concerns about nutritional gaps that might need to be addressed with them and what adjustments could be made to your toddler’s diet.

Get More Tips and Support with Enfamil Family Beginnings^®!

As a member of Enfamil Family Beginnings^® you'll discover a treasure trove of expert advice, fun meal ideas, and creative tips to help your picky eater enjoy balanced plates. From colorful recipes to playful presentation techniques, we provide everything you need to turn eating into a delightful adventure. Plus, enjoy exclusive offers and rewards, making it easy to give your little one the best nutrition while you save on Enfamil products. Join today and transform mealtime into a happy, stress-free experience for both you and your toddler!