My kids are three and seven, and they actually are good eaters.
I personally love to try any kind of food from Asian to Indian (sub continent and Native) to Italian and Greek.
My kids may not choose the most exciting dish on the menu, but they've been watching me closely all these years and I think someday they will follow suit.
Getting my kids to eat isn't our number one issue to work on at my house, but we still have challenges.
My seven year old daughter Lena is allergic to eggs and cannot eat most cakes, cookies, and casseroles.
She has learned to be skeptical of any food with lots of ingredients for fear that eggs have somehow creeped into the recipe, and I can hardly blame her.
My three year old Jalen's stubbornness isn't limited to just food, he has strong opinions about all of the decisions made for or about him in his little life! Most kids have strong opinions about their food.
Kids often prefer simple foods and they like foods to be served the same way each time.
It is very normal for a child to have strong feelings about the cut of the crust in the peanut butter and jelly sandwich or the manner in which the spaghetti and the sauce are combined, if they are to be combined at all.
Of course you should speak with your doctor if you are concerned about your child's nutritional needs.
If you are having run-of-the-meal, picky-eater problems, this article can help! What isn't OK is when kids get conditioned to consuming junk foods, sweets, and sodas.
Simply don't give them these items except on very special occasions.
Discourage your child's school, grandparents, daycare, church, or parents of playmates from offering these options.
(Send them the link to this article and see if they get the hint!) Start a trend at birthday parties and Halloween by giving stickers, pencils, and other non food items out as treats.
By all means use the conventional methods of getting your kids to try new and healthy foods.
Be a choo-choo, be an airplane, be a motor boat.
Bribe your child with dessert if she'll just eat her beans.
Don't let her go play with the other kids until she at least tries the chicken.
I don't see anything wrong with these methods if they are working for your family.
If you need to bring out the big guns on occasion, read on! I describe my kids as smart and imaginative, and just a tiny bit stubborn and sneaky.
If your kids are like mine, you may have to play dirty (in a caring way) when it comes to helping them expand their culinary horizons.
Here are some of my most unusual and best ideas: 1.
Create a deficiency.
A sure fire way to get kids to completely ignore their new breakfast cereal tomorrow morning is to fill the bowl completely up to the top of the rim.
The look on her face will say, "oh heck no!" Instead try giving her just a spoonful to start with.
It's less overwhelming.
The child is more likely to give a food positive reviews if she doesn't have to commit to eating a large quantity to start with.
Getting just a little portion makes her curious about whether or not more is available should she decide she wants more.
You can give the child more when the time is right, usually as soon as she decides she likes the food.
2.
Call it a chicken nugget.
Did you know that there are hundreds of varieties of chicken nuggets? I occasionally cut up some chicken breasts and either bake or grill them on the stove in my kitchen.
They are an easy sell to my kids because I refer to them as chicken nuggets.
The grilled chicken from the church's dinner on the grounds: you can call that chicken nuggets as well.
Grandpa's BBQ pork chops: chicken nuggets.
Chinese sweet and sour chicken? You got it, Chinese chicken nuggets! Kids are accustomed to certain categories of foods.
If they can't sort what they are being served into simple categories like chicken nuggets, pizza, biscuits, and green beans, they panic.
Help them by providing them with categories.
Disclaimer: Kids are gullible, not stupid.
Don't wear this one out! 3.
Make it more valuable by stealing it.
Here is how this works: You serve your child a single spear of asparagus, but you have serious doubts about how you will ever get him to try it.
Wait until he is obviously looking, but pretend that you are being sneaky.
Take a small nibble of his food.
Enjoy it! Work it! When your child catches you in the act of stealing his food, pretend to be embarrassed and defensive.
Apologize.
You simply couldn't help it because you are simply addicted to asparagus.
For your grand finale, beg for just one more bite.
You just need one little fix.
If you have any acting skills at all, your little one will fall for this hook, line, and sinker and will achieve your ultimate goal of your child trying asparagus.
4.
Associate it with super powers.
My mother is a pro at this.
When she's convincing the kids to eat their foods, she exaggerates just a little bit.
Eating your green beans will make your eyes glow.
Milk goes right to your bones and makes you strong.
Pasta gives you enough energy to make you run fast.
The kids love this and often ask her, "What will happen if I eat this, Gramma?" 5.
When in doubt, add ketchup.
This is your last resort.
Keep plenty of ketchup in your cabinets.
Do not run out under any circumstances.
Once your child has refused a dish, offer a side of ketchup for dipping.
Do this even for foods that you wouldn't think of as being served with ketchup.
Be mindful, of course that ketchup adds sugar, salt, and calories to foods that aren't the best for kids' diets.
Look for low-sodium, non fructose, calcium infused varieties of ketchup if doing so eases your conscious.
Remember the song "Love Can Build a Bridge," the nineties country charts hit performed by the Judd's? Well ketchup can build a bridge between your child's heart and nutritious foods.