Parents . . . You Are Not Alone

I am here with you.

I was in the thick of it when it came to getting my picky eaters to eat wholesome snacks and meals. Ya’ll, that’s where the food art comes in though! Make it visually appealing. When it’s cute, fun, and light, sensory kids are more apt to eat it or at minimum take a sample taste. What we want is to eradicate the stress, anxiety, and sensory overload that may arise when picky eaters are confronted with new foods.  

See, there’s a difference between food confrontation, which can be rude versus food introduction, which errs on the side of politeness. Hence the need for the children’s book: Rude  Food. Most folk don’t wish for confrontations. The same applies to picky eaters, particularly when it comes to new foods.  

Now for example, picky eaters may feel the need to please their parent when confronted with a new food to try. Ever stop your kid as they’re passing through the kitchen while you’re cooking with a quick “Here, try this!” You are excited for them to taste whatever deliciousness  (according to you) you’ve whipped up. They hesitate and study said food resting in the ladle. Remember that worry and anxiety I previously mentioned? That’s what starts to happen along  with intimidation, although not intentional from your end. The last thing that we want is for them to start thinking, they don’t really care about us! 

We must ease on down the road with it. We’ve got to remember that we’re here to encourage and support our picky eaters. Ease into food introductions by allowing your picky eaters to  interact with the food. The best way for this to occur is for your picky eater to join you in the  kitchen for some food-making fun. You are creating memories that they will fondly reflect upon.  They’ll be saying things like, remember the time we made that bunny-face pancake with the  fruit? So let’s let them be great with their palate-pleasing plates. Also, mad points if you picked up on those MJ references.