Moms Talk: Living With a Picky Eater

Question: What should you do if your kid is a picky eater?

Child: "I think (insert despised food stuff) is gross!"

Mom: "Have you tried it before?"

Child: "No but it looks gross. I know I don't like it."

Mom: "Well why don't you give it a taste before you decide. You might like it."

Pinching the end of his or her nose between forefinger and thumb, with a grimace, the fork closes in closer to a mouth that is closed tightly in rejection to the very idea of allowing the approaching, foreign food entry. This is a regular occurrence for a picky eater.

How many of us parents have had this dialogue, almost verbatim? Most? Yes, that's what I thought. Most parents can attest to their young ones exhibiting at least one dietary hang-up, whether it be texture, green stuff, vegetables, etc. Kids can be picky eaters, so what's a mother to do?

I know back when I was a kid, parents stuck by the old motto, "Clean your plate." But now pediatricians recommend against the tactic. It can cause negative associations with the item of food or eating itself. So rather than force our kids to eat things they don't like, here are a few suggestions that can help to introduce variety in a child's diet.

1. Try, try and try again. So your son or daughter doesn't like anything green? Well, keep trying new varieties of all things green. He/she may discover that they love peas although they abhor broccoli, green beans, lettuce and peppers.

2. Prepare it differently. I have a child who loves carrots but won't eat them if they are steamed. And once upon a time, eating one asparagus spear was a chore, then one day I began to sauté them in olive oil, pepper and a dash of sesame oil. Viola! A new favorite. Add cheese to the broccoli, slice, dice, sauté, steam, bake - heck you can even fry  it or hide it in an entree favorite like pizza.

3. Make it fun! You can use cookie cutters to cut shapes into their whole wheat sandwiches filled with cucumbers, lettuce and tomato add a healthy side choice like an apple or a slice of string cheese and lunch can be fun. Cream cheese and turkey roll-ups made with tortillas add a nifty decorative pick (for those large enough to appreciate it without poking themselves) or make their pb&j sandwiches on Hawaiian sweet rolls for a little hand sized options.

 4. "(Insert favorite role models name here) loves tomatoes!" As silly as it sounds, our children's role models and peers can sway their opinions. My son loves Elmo. If Elmo loves broccoli, it must be good, or so he figures.

 5. Lastly, don't stress it. Even if you're kiddo hates a specific food or group, there are always healthy alternatives that compensate for that item. The struggle for control is unnecessary and easily avoidable. Encourage good eating habits by practicing them yourself and always make healthy options available.