Members' Tips: Fussy Eaters

Tips

boy with food There's nothing quite so irritating as putting all your efforts into cooking something tasty only for your children to look at it like it's something the cat sicked up.
Happily Raisingkids members have been sharing their experiences and issues relating to family cooking with other parents on our Back To The Table forum.
Here are some of their tried-and-tested ways of dealing with fussy eaters.

Something New

"When you put their meals down, put something onthat you know they like, along with stuff they are likely to eat and then a small amount of something new - no pressure to eat any of it. Social eating is better for this too. If your child is used to eating alone sitting and eating with family will make a big difference."

Thanks to Raisingkids' member pollylolly

Get Involved

"Involve them in preparing their meals. My daughter and son are great for eating whatever they are given but youngest daughter is a nightmare! Let them try free samples in shops, etc. My youngest daughter likes chicken nuggets, hot dogs, olives, couscous, roast meat and crunchy roast potatoes, amongst other things."

Raisingkids' member brycat

Green Eggs

"My best weapon in the fight against refusing to try food is Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. I read it so many times to the boys that they practically know it by heart and I always make a big deal about how silly the Grumpy Grouch was saying that he didn't like it when he did. Now every time one of them refuses to try something I just call them a Grumpy Grouch and they usually laugh and try it."

Thanks to Raisingkids' member IL2SR

Help Yourself

"Every now and then I do a dinner 'buffet'. Instead of plating up a meal I put assorted dishes in the middle of the table and let them help themselves. They tend to eat more this way than if I do plate it up for them? It tends to feel a bit more relaxed this way as well, they can't really see how much they are eating but at the same time they fill themselves up with the good stuff without realising it."

Thanks to Raisingkids' member sammio

All For One

"Always eat together up a table as a family. Cook whatever you want to every night and put it on front of them. If they eat it - great, if they don't, they go hungry. They will eat when they are hungry, and if you only let them have what you have prepared you know it wil be something healthy when they do decide to eat! At no point offer them anything other than what you have prepared (this means all day every day!)"

Thanks to Raisingkids' member nickyjl

For more handy hints and tips - or to share your food favourites with other parents - click here for our Back To The Table forum.