How to Feed a Finicky Toddler

Toddlers are notoriously picky when it comes to mealtimes. To make matters worse, they also have a reputation for being stubborn and headstrong. If you find yourself at war with your little one at dinnertime, you may need to rethink your approach. Making foods more interactive and being just as stubborn as your toddler can help expose her to new foods -- and expand her menu choices.

Things You'll Need

  • Muffin tin
  • Ice cube tray
  • Small cups

Instructions

    • 1

      Offer your toddler a "nibble tray," suggests Ask Dr. Sears. Instead of insisting your toddler eat one type of food, offer a full array of snacks on which he can nibble. Try adding a handful of cereal, soft, bite-sized fruit, cooked pasta, crackers and steamed, bite-sized vegetables in the wells of an ice cube tray or muffin tin. Your picky eater may be more willing to try a new food if it's surrounded by things he likes.

    • 2

      Ask your toddler to help you prepare the meal or snack. When you get your little one involved with pouring and stirring, she may be more likely to try the fruits of her labors, suggests Zero to Three. Just make sure to keep sharp tools -- like knives and cheese graters -- far out of her reach.

    • 3

      Encourage your toddler to interact with and even "play" with his food. If you offer various sauces for dipping or allow your little one to eat with his hands, some of the food may actually make its way to his mouth while he plays.

    • 4

      Change the way in which you prepare the food. Your child may dislike the texture, rather than the taste, of certain food. A child who hates cooked peas may love them raw -- just cut them in half to reduce a choking hazard. Experiment with different preparation methods to see what your toddler prefers and take texture preferences into account.

    • 5

      Try new foods several times, even if your picky toddler turns his nose up at a new food now, suggests KidsHealth. Toddlers are creatures of habit, so it may be the unfamiliarity of a new food that has your little one begging for pancakes instead. Try introducing a new food with an old favorite several times so your child becomes more acquainted with it -- you may find that, after 10 or 15 times, a food he hated becomes a new favorite.

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