Woohoo, it is Your Kid’s Table 2nd Blogiversary! Admittedly, I am a little late with this. I technically had my first post go live on April 10th 2012, but things have been a little hectic around here- more so than usual. I’m excited to share with all of you regulars that we are expecting our third baby this September. As with my other two pregnancy’s I’ve been painfully sick up until recently! This should be exciting news for those of you with wee ones as well, because I will surely be inspired to be bringing more baby/toddler related posts and recipes.
It is hard to believe that two years has passed. I am so grateful for those of you that have found your way here and followed along. Your kind comments and participation here and on facebook and pinterest is truly appreciated. I have some big plans for the next year and more ideas than ever to share with you. Stay tuned I’m hoping for some big announcements!
Of course, I’ve been reminiscing a bit about everything that I’ve written here and what Your Kid’s Table has evolved to be today. It dawned on me that I’ve never pulled all of the picky eating posts together for you in one place. Well, other than the article index in the menu bar up there, which I created for my one year anniversary and includes ALL of the articles I’ve ever posted. This year I thought it might be helpful if I organized all 33 of the picky eater articles, put them into different categories, and gave them some descriptions, when necessary. The categories and individual articles are also listed in order of importance.
The Best Articles for Getting Started
When Has Picky Eating Gone Too Far? – This is the first stop. It is important to determine how severe your child’s “pickiness” is. This article has a simple checklist to help you take out the guess work.
Getting Your “Picky” Eater to Explore New Foods – This post describes the basics of how I get kids to ultimately eat more variety.
Picky Eater Tip: Expand on What Your Kid is Already Eating – This strategy is just as important as the one above. It is the cornerstone of all my feeding therapy in my own home and other’s.
5 Reasons Kids Refuse to Eat – Parents are often confused about why their child is so picky. Here I describe the 5 most common reasons, which can help you determine how to better help your child.
Help for Infants and Toddlers: Early Intervention – If your child is under 3 and you are suspecting that their problem is more severe (see the first article listed) and you live in the USA, then your state is required to provide a free evaluation. Some states will do this for kids under 5.
*I didn’t include it in this list but Basic Steps to Improve Eating in the menu bar also has some important strategies to get you started.
The Nitty Gritty
Common Mistakes Parents Make: How to Start Good Eating Habits from the Beginning – Even if it is “too late” to start from the beginning, many of these habits can be reversed over time. These are some of the basic foundational elements to have in place to ensure the best eating possible.
Try and Try at least 12 Times – A description of the importance of exposing your child to food multiple times and in multiple ways.
How to Get Your Kid to Eat Vegetables {Part 1}
Getting Your Kid to Eat Veggies {Part 2}
How to Get Your Kid to Eat More Meat
Making Meals Positive: Part 1– These are some of my first articles – please ignore the quality of the pictures (I’d like to think I’ve gotten better at that) – but the idea of keeping meals a positive experience is crucial for progress in eating new foods.
Making Meals Positive: Part 2
Making Meals Positive: Part 3
Another Tool in Your Box
How Meal Planning Can Help Picky Eaters – Sometimes I don’t think people here want to hear this strategy, but I promise if you give meal planning a decent try, it will be well worth it. It can make all the difference for a picky eater.
Tips for Picky Eaters: {Serving Meals Family Style} – Hmm, this is another one I think people want to ignore sometimes because it can mean a few more dishes. However, I have seen this make a huge difference time and again. Click through to read about other’s success’.
Easy Feeding Tips from My Table to Yours – One of my most popular posts, I describe what dinner on an average night looks like at my house and how I navigate through it with a picky eater in tow.
Picky Eater Tip: Put it on a Stick – Quick tip for using toothpicks and spears.
Picky Eater Kids- FunBites Review – A cool tool designed by the parents of a picky eater that cuts food easily into a variety of shapes. It may surprise you to learn the benefits of these bite sized shapes.
FunBites Halloween for Picky Eaters and Toddlers – Some specific inspiration for creating fun kid themed plates – that aren’t too complicated! Some of the designs can be used year round.
Grate It: A Twist on Veggies and Fruits for Your Baby, Toddler, or Big Kid – How and why grating fruits and veggies could win your kiddo over.
Turn off the TV
Recipes and More
Below is a list of recipes that I’ve shared on YKT, but there is much more in these posts other than the recipe. In every one, I share how I got my kids through some of the foods they were avoiding using specific strategies and examples. Plus, all the recipes have nutrition in mind!
Not-Spicy Asian Peanut Sauce for Kids
Cooking with Your Kid: Quiche Made Your Way
Cooking with Your Kid: Paella with Roasted Red Pepper
5 Things You Shouldn’t Say to Your Kid During Meals – Using the right language about food and during mealtimes can make all the difference with your kids.
Why You Should Let Your Baby or Toddler Get Messy Eating
Relax You Are Doing A Good Job – A little pep talk for when you feel like you are doing everything wrong.
I know many of you have found your way here in desperation, exhaustion… completely at the end of your rope. Please know that you are not alone and that it can get better, a lot better. At a minimum, I hope all of the information here gives you some ideas to make some simple changes that work for your family and can ultimately give you some peace of mind.
Follow along with an email subscription (see the right sidebar) so you don’t miss any new articles to help your picky eater!
My girlfiends nine-year-old boy refuses to eat anything but couscous with milk and lots of sugar or anything that comes in a shiny package and makes crunchy crispy sounds as he eats with his mouth wide open; yes gross haha.
Well not unsurprisingly he had a sickly look to him and as a teacher of physical education I noticed his body was extremely weak without any muscle definition whatsoever.
Now he eats fairly well and is looking healthy and muscular. All his family are commenting on the improvement.
This is how we did it;
1) Emergency Tactical Mix. Hot milk plus sugar and chocolate powder and a a raw egg. (The latter added in a covert action far from his sight) All blended together and any foam removed… We later had to add some of that powdered cereals baby food to explain away any different texture.
This within a month resulted in filling out his face and rosy cheeks.
2) getting him to help buy the ingredients and cook the food. This participation motivated him to eat the food he helped prepare. (To date no cut fingers…).
3) Giving him small easy to eat portions and and getting all family and friends to clap hands and cheer when he cleaned his plate. (note: I said small portions). You should see his beaming smile at all the positive attention. Sometimes we pretend to forget to applaud and it is funny how he tries to remind us.
4) Make the meal times a fun family affair. We play the twenty questions game and everytime he eats (and swallows) a spoondfull he gets to ask another question. He also helps lay the table and make it look chique. He especialy loves a candle lit dinner though he spends most of the time finding innovative ways to blow out the candle then relights it.
Well these tips worked for us and now we found this site and are going to try some of the ideas found here.
Bon apetite!
Firstly, thank you for all these great resources! We came across your site about a month ago when looking for ideas to help our 2 year old picky eater (at that point he ate plain pasta, broccoli, olives and most kinds of meat). Following your principles he’s doing really well – he loves cooking with us, will now have a host of fruits and veggies and has started accepting sauces mixed in to his foods (rather than just as a dip). Had him weighed today, and he’s really accelerated in the past month or so! I do have a few questions…
– any tips for encouraging spoon/forkfuls of different textures? He’ll only eat one food type in each mouthful.
– he’s a real plodder…any ways to speed up mealtimes? He’ll usually take around an hour!
– how do you feel about ‘liquid calories’? Should we be aiming for all foods to be physically eaten, or do you also do smoothies etc?
Thanks so much!
That’s great Nat!!! Those are some really amazing changes, you guys are doing so well! Pat yourself on the back, heck give yourself a hug. These are great questions. First, liquid calories are fine, but if you do a smoothie make sure it is part of a meal. Second, the long term goal should be to get meals down to 30 minutes. You can start by decreasing in 5 minute increments. If he is dilly dallying at the time, just give him some gentle prompts to take another bite. Also, if he isn’t strapped into a booster seat or high chair I would do that. It will help cut down on distractions. Lastly, mixed textures are really hard. I would start by making a side with two things mixed together (i.e. rice with peas). Have him help you prepare so that he can see what you are mixing together. As he tolerates these simple foods being mixed together build up to other foods being mixed in. I hope that helps!
Great idea, I will give that a go! Thanks for answering my questions 🙂
Love this, please write more!!! I have 3 kids that struggle with sensory issues, one son swallows green beans & orange bites whole, sneaks to dump food & would prefer not to ever eat!!
Hi! I just came across your site and am excited! I am a 0-3 service coordinator and am always looking for new resources for families and strategies to help with IFSP writing too. I’ve shared with my colleagues as well. I’ve recently begun a blog as well about my experiences that questions families have in early intervention. http://www.thefrequentlyaskedmama.com
Thank you so much! That is great, I will be stopping by:)
sometimes we forget how hard this can all be for a small child. Thanks for this insightful post. We have not had to move countries, but my kids do attend an immersion school.
fun Activities for Kids
You are so welcome! Thanks for the kind comment:)
Wow – what a lot of resources for parents of picky eaters in one place. I look forward to reading all of your articles. You might also be interested in my site – I blog about all things picky eating… Great to come across someone else passionate about such an important topic!
solving picky eating