for thought

with kids’ picky eating habits. One dad talked in detail about how awful it was to prepare and feed his daughter meals and then, while filling her dinner plate, he turned to her and said, "Honey, don't worry, you don't have to eat that awful spinach! Spinach is yucky!" Hmm…you can't lament your child being a picky eater, and in the next breath complain about what is being served to you! Not everyone is adventurous with food, but kids are always watching and listening. Be an example, be patient, and be the eater you want your child to be. Don’t create your very own picky eater.

Minimize Distractions

This is a bigger deal than most think. Turn off the television and other electronic gadgets during meals. This will help your child focus on eating and maybe even eliminate the all-too-common, ‘I’m full,’ statement as an excuse to leave the table for something better.

Nip The Snacking

Eating out of boredom has so many negative effects. Consider keeping a bowl of fruit or ‘anytime’ food on the table or counter. Let kids know if they ‘need’ to have something between or after meals, they are welcome to the ‘unlimited’ food bowl.

don't offer dessert as a reward

Withholding dessert sends the message that dessert is the best food, which might only increase your child's desire for sweets. You might select one or two nights a week as dessert nights and skip dessert the rest of the week, or redefine dessert as fruit, yogurt, or other healthy choices.

Be Consistent

In our house we all sit at the table until everyone is done eating. Allowing kids to leave the table sends the message that this time together is not important, it does not encourage healthy eating habits, and it creates a general unsettled atmosphere—everything dinnertime shouldn't be.

Also, don’t leave their half-eaten meal ‘for later.’ I can't tell you how many times I have said, "I am sorry you don't want to eat this, but it's what's for dinner." Occasionally, this leads to a dinnerless night for the stubborn non-eater. Even if the child just sits there without eating, well, at least she is observing family time by watching everyone else eat, and she is being exposed to different food. Mealtime is mealtime, so don’t be afraid to say it and stick to it.

As parents, I think we can all agree we’ve ‘been there, done that’ when it comes to dealing with mealtime madness and picky palates. As frustrating as it can be and as helpless as you might feel, remember, nearly every kid fusses about food at some stage and while most eating habits won’t change overnight, it doesn’t mean you have to dread dinnertime. Consider these strategies to help avoid power struggles and save your sanity. Keep the faith and keep cookin’!

Kari’s passion for food, family, and fun has been with her since her upbringing on the shores of Big Floyd Lake near Detroit Lakes, MN. She earned a Secondary Education degree in Social Studies and English from Concordia College. Although determined to leave the area upon graduation, she instead fell in love with a globetrotting area native, and has lived in the F-M area for 18 years. Kari and her husband, Brent, have spent many long winters perfecting Thai recipes with their three children and eager taste-testers, Gunnar [13], Ava [10], and Ella [5]. Kari takes great pride in her career of stay-at-home mom, which has allowed her to cultivate her love for food and provide imaginative and healthy meals for her family. Just don’t ask her kids about meals that they have labeled “Kari’s Creations!”