Want to make the most out of mealtime with your kid and have them eating well and trying new foods? I thought so. Check out these 7 insider tips to try today…

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Who doesn’t love some down-right simple hacks to get your kid eating different food, and to decrease any stress you’re having at meals with your child? Over the last year, we started sharing some powerful tips on Instagram, and our followers kept asking for more.

These graphics and quick tips are easy. But, they’re also powerful. We’ve loved reading the comments about kids trying new foods and parents relief that dinnertime went smoothly for once. 

So, we realized we needed to share the best of these simple tips and hacks with YOU too, although you should come hang out with us on Insta too because we have more tips and tricks up our sleeves to share.

Will These Tips Work for Picky Eaters? Even, REALLY Picky Eaters? 

As an occupational therapist specializing in feeding, I’ll be the first to tell you that even 7 really good picky eating tips won’t fix all your picky eating woes. But, they can help your child start to feel more comfortable around new and different foods. When you use them consistently, they may learn to eat and enjoy more food! 

I really get how disheartening and hopeless it can be when your child only eats a few foods. That’s well beyond the average picky eater that doesn’t like broccoli or lasagna.

Yet, progress is possible even with the pickiest of eaters, these tips will absolutely be beneficial for them.

7 Things to Try at Dinner to Get Your Kid Eating More

One thing I know is that parents aren’t taught a lot about feeding their kids. As a result, your left to figure out for yourself the best way to encourage your child to eat more. Often relying on your own experiences of your parents feeding you.

Totally understandable since such little information is shared with parents. Because of that, it’s easy to slip into habits and routines that actually can make your child’s eating worse. Or, at least not help it very much.

These 7 tips are designed to show you what to try instead…

Tip #1: Instead of asking your child to eat, try describing it’s texture and flavor!

It seems so frustrating when your child won’t try a food, especially when they’re picky and only eat a few foods. What’s wrong with asking “Can you try it?” 

This simple question puts a lot of pressure on a child. They’re likely nervous about tasting the food and then they feel like they’re under a microscope, which means they’re less likely to try it.

Many kids will often happily take the opportunity to say “no” as well!

Instead of asking them to try a food, describe the texture and taste. If they’re nervous about the chicken nuggets, but they like other types of bread and crunchy foods, draw a connection for them by saying, “The chicken nuggets are crunchy on the outside like crackers, but have a flavor similar to bread.”  

They may not immediately eat it, but now you’ve given them something constructive to think about. You’ve given them information that will likely help them try a bite without you having to ask.

Tips #2: Instead of rewarding with candy or dessert, try serving it no matter what

I know this might sound crazy, but we know from Ellyn Satter’s research that rewarding or bribing with candy or treats only teaches kids to desire and prefer the treats and candy more! Instead, level the playing field. Equalize dessert by serving it no matter what!

Keep in mind that you don’t have to serve dessert every night either. If you feel like your child is just going to wait for dessert, let them know it’s not an every night thing, so they shouldn’t count on it.

Read more tips for serving dessert to picky eaters in How to Handle Dessert with Picky Eaters.

Tip #3: Instead of letting your child have a snack before a meal, try redirecting them

Dinner is an hour away and your child is whining and throwing a fit because they’re starving. Not surprising, since they didn’t each much of the snack you provided 2 hours ago. You can’t stand the whining, so you give them a handful of crackers to hold them over. Seems innocent enough, but even a small amount of food can wreck their appetite.

Your child’s stomach is only the size of their fist, it doesn’t take much to fill it. And, a lot of kids, picky eater or not, will not eat unless they feel hungry.  As adults, we eat when somebody gives us food. Kids often won’t do that.

Instead, give them some water and redirect them. The water will help fill up their belly enough to hold them over, but it won’t ruin their appetite. Milk or even juice can ruin an appetite though. Reassure them that dinner/lunch or whatever meal they’re waiting for is coming soon, then get them involved in an activity or the whining will likely continue.

For younger kids, act really excited about something they can play with or do with you. Once their mind is on something else, and they’ve had that water, they can usually handle waiting. For older kids, offer choices or have some special activities tucked away for when this moment arises!

Tips #4: Instead of serving a casserole, try serving buffet style

Casseroles are so tough for kids with all the mixed ingredients! But, that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy them. As you cook, keep some of the ingredients separate, and serve them alongside of the casserole. Kids are way more likely to take some plain noodles and some crumbled meat on the side than eat a piece of lasagna where it’s all mixed together! 

Learn 2 other ways to serve casseroles in How to Get Kids to Eat Casseroles and Mixed Foods

Tip #5: Instead of asking, “Do you like it?”, try describing the texture

It seems like a simple question, “Do you like it?”  But, it’s something I never ask kids, especially picky eaters, because it gives them the chance to say: “no”, which they likely will say. Asking this question puts the ball totally in your child’s court and they know it. They will take the opportunity to take control of the situation, feel some sense of control, and then never eat it again.

It doesn’t matter if your child likes it or not. More importantly, they don’t even know if they like it or not, if they’ve only had it 1-2 times. Remember, kids need to try food many times before they know if they like it or not.

And, picky eaters usually need even more exposures because they’re often sensitive to flavors and textures. Repeated exposure has to happen before they can get used to the texture and taste of the peanuts. After they’ve chewed and swallowed it 20 times, then they might really know if they like it.

But, they’re also kids, and their tastes and preferences can definitely change over time.

When you ask your child if they like it or not, it sort of closes the door. They start to put all foods into two categories: like and don’t like. And, it’s really hard to move a food out of the “don’t like” category, into the “like” category.

Instead, describe the food, which not only gives you something else to say, but helps them understand the food their unwilling to try. Even better is if you can relate it to something they usually eat!

Tip #6: Instead of cooked veggies, try frozen

This one works particularly well with peas, as long as your child doesn’t refuse cold foods, which some picky eaters do. The frozen pea is nearly tasteless and texture less. It’s like a smooth tiny little ice cube, yet it has all the nutrition!

I like to pull out a small bowl of frozen peas when I’m cooking dinner and the kids are hovering in the kitchen. I don’t say much about them, unless they don’t notice them, then I might say, “Check out those peas, they’re very cold. Some people eat them that way, they taste like little ice cubes.”  

You can try frozen corn, and anything else your child is interested in. Frozen fruits like blueberries and mango can work really well too!

Tip #7: Instead of the clean plate club, try serving food family style

The clean plate club is an old school strategy parents use to get their kids to eat all the food on their plate. Unfortunately, now we know that teaches kids to ignore their natural body signs that they’re full and overeat. Those habits become ingrained and can last a lifetime! 

Not to mention that we often put way to much food on our kid’s plates because we want them to eat as much as possible.

When we give our kids a sense of control by serving foods family style, this gives them a chance to interact with the food and take as small of a serving as they want. They can always get more food if they need it, but aren’t overwhelmed by a large portion.

If you’re overwhelmed at the thought of serving food family style with all the extra dishes, you can leave it in the pots and bring those right to the table, or put the food in storage containers so the leftovers can go right into the fridge afterwards!

Get Some Meal Ideas for Picky Eaters

You have some easy things to start working on, but you might need some food ideas for your picky eater too. Want to get a couple pages of meals that were specifically designed for picky eaters? Click the link below to get it right in your inbox!

Click here to get the Picky Eater Meal Ideas Printable 

More Tips for Feeding Kids

How to Get Kids to Eat Healthy When They Won’t Eat Anything But Junk Food

7 Questions From Parents of Picky Eaters: Answered by a Feeding Therapist

5 Reasons Kids Refuse to Eat

How to Prevent Siblings From Becoming Picky Eaters, Too

Alisha Grogan is a licensed occupational therapist and founder of Your Kid’s Table. She has over 15 years experience with expertise in sensory processing and feeding development in babies, toddlers, and children. Alisha also has 3 boys of her own at home. Learn more about her here.