I often hear parents talking about their children being fussy eaters. Many are frustrated by the fact that their kids are only willing to eat a few foods such as pizza and macaroni. Rather than eating what’s being served, parents feel forced to make a separate meal to appease their picky eaters. When my son first started eating solid foods, I knew I didn’t want to deal battle a fussy eater. So, I made some conscious choices to help make him a more diversified eater. And, these tactics have paid off.
1. Be a good role model
Children love to imitate their parents, and this holds true for eating. My son went through a phase where he only wanted to eat what was on my plate, even if the food on his plate was exactly the same. Therefore, if I wanted my son to eat broccoli or grilled shrimp, I made sure they were on my plate and in my mouth.
2. Use the two-bite rule
I often hear parents tell their children that they have to take “just one bite.” I have found it more effective to have my son take two bites. If he takes just one, his initial reaction is always, “I don’t like it.” However, more than half the time, his opinion is usually changed after the second bite.
3. Be persistent and give it time
It can take weeks for your child to acquire a taste for a new food, especially if that food is texturally different from what they’re used to. My son hated cottage cheese the first seven or eight times he tried. I remained persistent, however, continuing to serve it to him a few times a week and insisting that he take at least two bites each time. While cottage cheese still isn’t one of his top choices, he now eats it without putting up a fight.
4. Allow choices sometimes
Even though my son will devour broccoli and beg for more lobster, he still has his favorite foods that he constantly requests, and they’re usually the stereotypical macaroni, hot dogs, and fruit snacks. While I often make him eat what everyone else is eating, there are times that I let him pick what he wants. Often, he gets to choose his breakfast, and while he usually chooses waffles or Poptarts, it isn’t uncommon for his choice to be oatmeal.
Only in rare instances will I make him a separate meal, and I only do it if he has put forth a good effort at trying the meal everyone else is eating – usually more than two bites of everything. This way, he doesn’t see refusing to eat what’s on the table as a means of getting to eat whatever he wants.
At four, I can honestly say that my son eats a wider variety of foods than many adults that I know. On top of that, it is nice to be able to take him to a restaurant or a relative’s house and not have to worry if he’ll eat what’s being served.
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