When it comes to picky eating, we’ve all been there as a mom. Infants and young children question any and every food we hand them at meal time, but they don’t think twice about putting a handful of dirt or play dough in their mouths.
You can still give your children the nutrition they need without the struggle. Make meal time easier with Poppy Clementine’s simple tips.
Start Early: If you are the mommy of a newborn or infant, start introducing healthy foods early. While a can of baby food may say “Veggie Melody” it does not mean it is the best thing for your baby. Look at the labels of your baby food to make sure your child is getting real food, not chemically processed vegetables with tons of sodium. A good rule for fruit and vegetable baby food is that if you will not eat it, then why expect your child to eat it.
Simply put, if the jar of mashed peas taste foreign and gross to you, then the chances of your child liking peas in the future is lessened. The best thing to do is to make your own baby food by steaming vegetables and mushing them in a food processor or blender. This is a lot healthier for your baby and gets their taste buds accustomed to what real vegetables taste like. Organic and natural baby food can be used as well, for busy moms on the go.
Hide It and Disguise It: Even if you didn’t get your child use to vegetables from an early start, there is still hope. The last thing you want to do is to drench vegetables in fattening butter or ranch dressing. Instead, get creative with cooking. There are several great books available that include yummy recipes that are secretly pumped with vegetables. You can process several healthy items, such as meat, vegetables, and beans and hide them in pastas, casseroles, and baked goods.
Try this easy smoothie for mornings and snacks:
- In a blender, add one cup raw baby spinach, one cup milk, 6 ounces of vanilla yogurt, 1 medium banana, and 1 cup blueberries. (Vanilla soy or almond milk can be substituted for the dairy in this recipe)
- Mix together until smooth
This smoothie turns a cool purple color and the spinach taste is undetectable – even you might question whether you put it in or not.
Prepping for Success: Let your children help you prepare meals. Even just having your child pick which side dish to include with the meal might spur them to eat more at dinner time. By helping just a little bit with the meal preparation, they feel accomplished and proud of the food – making them more apt to take a bite or two.
Fun Eating Ware: Sometimes a fun plate can help picky eaters eat more. Try a personalized plate, such as the adorable “Hula Girl” Personalized Plate or the “Monkey Face” Personalized Plate. There has also been a lot of buzz on child chopsticks. Kids will have so much fun at mealtime that they will forget that they hate broccoli.
Picky eaters can spoil a delicious dinner quickly. Don’t allow your child’s bad mood to ruin family time. Set strict boundaries, such as no leaving the table until everyone has finished, or no snacks after dinner. Remember, no meal is worth fighting over, but you should only have to make one meal per mealtime – you aren’t a short order cook!
Share with us – How do you get your child to eat the healthy stuff?

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