If we are not exposing our kids to different foods, or at least supporting their curiosity to try different foods, what will they be eating as an adult? I truly hope it is more than just chicken fingers.
And yes, there are times when I am concerned that we are raising a whole generation of chicken finger kids.
What to do about it? What about picky eaters?
It is so much easier to open a box and heat something up. I get it. You are busy, and cooking takes planning, never mind trying to expand your child's food tastes. I had a picky eater. At one point Brian ate, yogurt, apples and dried pasta and that was pretty much it. (and yes you read that correctly - DRIED PASTA). It has taken a long time, but for the most part Brian will try new foods and he now eats more variety than the average kid. What did I do, besides pull my hair out and worry constantly that he wouldn't grow and would be malnourished?
I exposed him to different food... repetitiously
Honestly I don't think there is a single answer, a fix it, but I can share what has worked for me and this works with adults too.
- Ask! Find out what it is about a certain food that the child doesn't like. Is it taste, texture, color, smell.
- Introduce one or two new things at time, in small portions (like a bite or two).
- Keep having the food show up every week, every other week, once a month, what works for your family. Remember all those baby books that told you to expose your child to a new food ten times before expecting your child to like it? Well this still applies and it may take twenty times.
- Don't make new food a big deal, both on your part or your kid's. Bargaining, promising, threatening, yelling don't work. If your kid doesn't want to eat, don't make him/her. Let them explore on their own. Sometimes just looking at that weird stuff on their plate is enough.
- Try preparing the food different ways. Raw, steamed, grilled, stir fry - present it different ways.
- Keep talking to your child. Ask them periodically why they don't like it.
