How to Get a Picky Preschooler to Eat

Picky eating is a leftover from the ̶0;caveman̶1; days, when people̵7;s taste buds were adverse to sour or bitter foods -- it was the body̵7;s natural defense against eating poisonous foods like certain berries or plants, according to Kids Eat Right. Unfortunately, your kid gets stuck with this same reflex, and a picky eater is born. While your preschooler might reject certain foods on his first try, he can defy nature and learn to accept foods that don̵7;t fit in the preferred sweet or salty categories.

Instructions

    • 1

      Model good eating habits for your preschooler. Some parents don̵7;t realize they pass their own food issues to their children; if you scrunch up your nose or show disgust when eating a particular food, your preschooler sees that behavior and will likely imitate it, according to Zero to Three. If you model good eating habits, such as eating a range of foods or saying, ̶0;Mmm, this tastes delicious!̶1; your preschooler is more likely to also try that variety of food.

    • 2

      Don̵7;t give in to ̶0;food jags,̶1; or times when your preschooler will eat only one or two foods. You are in charge of what goes on your child̵7;s plate. You can acquiesce by giving your preschooler the desired chicken nuggets after he tries the apple on his plate first.

    • 3

      Mix your preschooler̵7;s favorite foods with a new food. Try a small portion of the new food, so it doesn̵7;t seem like an insurmountable goal to finish the portion. KidsHealth suggests starting with a couple of tablespoons

    • 4

      Let your preschooler help you prepare food for meals. Touching or smelling food first often helps children get comfortable with the idea of eating it, according to Zero to Three.

    • 5

      Let your preschooler have fun with his food. The old adage ̶0;Don̵7;t play with your food̶1; has no place in the world of a picky eater. Offer finger foods or make faces on a plate with fruits and vegetables. Offer dips like yogurt to persuade your child to eat new foods.

    • 6

      Choose appropriate phrases when talking to your preschooler about eating. Try a phrase like ̶0;This apple is so crunchy!̶1; to encourage your preschooler to eat. Avoid saying things like ̶0;Eat one more bite before you go finish your homework,̶1; ̶0;I̵7;ll be upset if you don̵7;t finish your plate,̶1; or ̶0;That broccoli wasn̵7;t so bad, now was it?̶1; because these phrases tend to give your child negative feelings about eating. Say things like ̶0;Do you like those peas?̶1; or ̶0;Next time, do you want to try them raw instead of cooked?̶1; to let your preschooler make her own choices or feel like she has some control.

    • 7

      Keep trying new foods. You might have to offer your preschooler foods 10 to 15 times before he will try it. Just because your preschooler refused green beans on your first try doesn̵7;t mean he won̵7;t love them later. According to PBS Parents, it is normal for children ages 2 to 5 to be ̶0;neophobic,̶1; or afraid of trying new things.

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