How to Deal with Picky Eaters

Meal time can sometimes be a frustrating time for parents of picky eaters. A lot of toddlers go through stages where they eat really well some days and seem really finicky the next. Lots of parents aren't aware of how to deal with picky eaters. I recently took a nutrition class that gave me a few pointers on how to deal with my three picky eaters. What to do and what not to do while dealing with a picky eater.

1. Never force feed your child. Forcing your child to eat or scolding them for not eating can cause eating disorders later on in life. If they aren't hungry and you force them to eat you might be creating a bad habit for them later on in life like overeating or eating for comfort. While you should offer three meals a day it's not uncommon for a toddler to only eat one or two full meals a day.

2. Set a good example. Children mimic their parent's eating habits. You can't expect your child to eat mash potatoes while you eat french fries. They'll notice if you're eating something different from them. Make sure that you set a good example by eating the foods you want them to eat.

3. Offer a wide variety of foods. You can fix meals which include stuff your child might like but make sure to include variety in their meals. Make a meal with two or three foods you know your child may like and two other different foods. Don't limit their food to only stuff you know they like. They'll never learn to try new things if you don't introduce it to them.

4. Don't give up on offering them something they don't like. Young children may like green beans one day and not another. Just because they didn't eat it the last time you fixed it doesn't mean they won't ever eat it again. Keep offering those vegetables, your toddler may surprise you one day and eat them.

5. Don't scold. Don't yell at your child for not eating the way you want them to. Instead keep encouraging them. Encourage them to take a bite of something but don't force them. Tell them, "You don't have to eat if you don't want to."