Picky eaters… if you have one, you understand my frustration. Are they eating well-balanced enough to keep them healthy? What will you cook tonight that they will eat? Are they going to turn into a chicken nugget?
With a special needs child, these questions can intensify because not only is your child a picky eater but they have a whole new level of sensitivities. Textures, flavors, colors… I truly do not understand it all. But, I do have a way to help me deal with it.
- I don’t shy away from fixing new recipes. As a matter of fact, we rarely eat the same thing twice. Unless it is hot-spicy, I always put a little on the childrens’ plates.
- We practice the “Eeewwww! I don’t like that” rule. If you do not like the way a food looks, do not make rude comments. It is on your plate but you do not have to taste it unless you say something ugly about it.
- “Would you like ranch dressing with that?” No kidding, I have been known to offer ranch, sour cream, ketchup, mild salsa or peanut butter as dip to encourage the children to try new things. The result? The children love raw vegetables! They still will not eat cooked vegetables, but I am not complaining.
- I put something I know the children will eat along-side the things I know they will not eat. This does not mean I fix them a completely different meal. I am not a short-order cook. However, I might put cheese and crackers, raw carrots or a boiled egg on the plate so they do not leave hungry.
- No dinner? No snacks. On the nights when they children do not try the foods on their plates, they do not get a bedtime snack. If they are truly hungry, I cannot bring myself to send them to bed hungry but I only offer them saltine crackers and water.
- Occasionally, I will put everything on the table and let the children pick what goes on their plates. I probably should do this more often than I do. One rule applies… if you ask for it, if you put it on your plate, you will eat it.
- The children track their progress with the Taste Tester chart. I created this chart, laminated it, and allow the children to mark off what they eat. Not only is this a great teaching tool to train the children how to make well-balanced choices, it teaches colors and food groups. When the charts are completed, they get a ticket for our store. You can download this chart for free HERE.
I would love to know… what do you do to encourage your picky eater to try new things?
Additional resources:
Take the Fight Out of Food: How to Prevent and Solve Your Child’s Eating Problems
Food Chaining: The Proven 6-Step Plan to Stop Picky Eating, Solve Feeding Problems, and Expand Your Childs Diet
Behavior Tickets
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