Six Tips for Winning Over Picky Toddlers!

Getting young children to eat a balanced, healthy diet can be a definite challenge. As you are helping your child learn healthy eating habits for life, the foundation of healthy eating outweighs the challenges by far. Nonetheless, it can still be a difficult phase, here are some tips to ease you through this trying time.

Turn off the television, clear toys from the dining table, and implement a “no phone at the table” rule to help everyone focus on the family conversation and their food.

Eat together as a family as often as possible, and eat a variety of healthy foods yourself. You are your child’s best role model, let them see you enjoying healthy foods and they will follow.

Instead, avoid the power struggle by encouraging them to try at least 2 bites of everything on their plate.

Food becomes more approachable with a fun name attached to it, think “pinwheel sandwiches” rather than turkey and cheese rolled up in a tortilla, “pink fish” rather than salmon, or “miniature trees” rather than broccoli.

Encourage them to help you shop for healthy food at the grocery store, then let them help wash and prepare the fruits and vegetables. Being a part of the process makes kids more interested in the end result the on their plate.

Ask questions like: Milk or water with dinner? Purple cup or green cup? Super hero plate or Mickey Mouse plate? This keeps your child feeling like their input matters while still keeping the conversation focused.