How to Prevent Picky Eaters

I had a whole list of things that I was going to do or make myself when I was pregnant. Things like making my own diaper wipes and using cloth diapers. Crazy, right? I had great intentions, but I still ended up buying my diapers and wipes. However, one decision that I followed through with was making my own baby food. I am so glad that I stuck with this decision. I am almost certain that this is the number one reason our daughter is not a picky eater. Let’s take a look at all of the tips to help keep your child from becoming a picky eater!

Fresh Food

This is the first point because I believe it is the most important. Our daughter has never had store-bought baby food. I made sure to buy fresh fruits or veggies and make her food myself. Sure, it is easy to make your own baby food when you are home, but what happens when you go back to work?

It’s actually not a hard, time-consuming process like you may think. For your baby’s first foods, it is just a matter of blending up a vegetable or fruit for them. Our daughter’s first food was avocado. It is a great first food for babies. It is nutrient-dense and contains healthy fats that they need for brain development. Plus, it is one of the easiest baby foods to make. You just scoop it out, mash it with a fork, and it is ready for baby to try! Bananas are another great first food. Avocados and bananas are very easy to pack and take with you. This way baby will have food if you are eating out or at someone else’s house.

You can store extra food in ice cube trays. These are the perfect portion size for babies that are just beginning to eat solid foods. You can learn more about that here.

Prep

Just like how you would meal prep for yourself, you should meal prep for your baby. It does not take a lot of time to steam some veggies or blend some fruit. If your child is old enough, give them smaller portions of whatever meat you are cooking for yourself that week. I suggest only seasoning with a small amount of salt until your child is used to the food. Then you can start experimenting with different seasonings to see what they like best.

No Sugary Drinks

The best drinks for your child is water and milk (if they are under two). Other drinks like juice or sweet tea have too much added sugar. There are juices that have no added sugars, but they still have a lot of natural sugars. This can be bad for your child’s teeth and can make them picky eaters. Children also do not need any drinks with caffeine. It is best to only let your child drink water when they are not having milk. Read about all the benefits of water for your child here.

Stay Away from Sweets

Our child did not have any added sugars until her first birthday. I let her try a cupcake on her birthday, and she only got a small portion of the cupcake. The amount of added sugar that she gets is still very limited. She usually only gets special treats on special occasions, such as holidays, and she only gets a small amount. Also, she does not get things like snack cakes or any packaged candy. If I give her something with added sugar then it is usually something homemade.

However, it is not just the added sugars that can cause your child to be a picky eater. Foods like sweet potatoes can cause them to not want to try more bland foods. I suggest starting with the foods that you think they will not like. For example, steam some carrots, mash them up, and let your child have this food for a week. They can get used to the flavors and textures within the week. You will also be able to see if they have any allergies to the food.

Limit Frozen Foods

Foods like fish sticks, chicken nuggets, and corn-dogs are tempting because they can be a quick meal. However, these foods can also be making your child a picky eater. Your child will not get the nutrition that they need out of these foods. Research quick healthy meals for your family. There are plenty out there that require very little time and will be more nutritional for everyone.

Keep These Foods Out of the House

I think that this is the second most important tip behind making fresh baby food. If your child knows that there are snack cakes in the pantry, then they will want the snack cakes. A simple way to solve this is to not have anything like that in the house. Common foods that people keep at home are sweets, snack cakes, mac-n-cheese, fish sticks, and chicken nuggets.

We do not keep anything like this in the house. Our daughter knows that the food placed on the table is her only option. It also helps that we have never given her the snack cakes/frozen foods. If you have given these foods to your child, you can still change. It may take more work, but eventually, your child will realize that those foods are no longer an option. Then they will begin trying new things.

Final Tips

It requires a lot of effort on you to try to keep your child from being a picky eater. I promise you it is worth it. A lot of the time, parents want to choose what is convenient because our lives can get so hectic. Trust me, I understand. But, this is one area where you have to be consistent. When I do not want to deal with a mess in the kitchen, I will find a healthy crock-pot recipe. Crock-pots limit mess. They also allow you to “set it and forget it.” It is a great option when you do not want to be in the kitchen.

No Fast Food

When I do not want to make a mess in the kitchen OR use my crock-pot, then we will go out to eat. We just make sure that it is a place that has healthy options for our daughter. These include foods like steamed veggies and baked chicken. We absolutely do not let our daughter eat at fast food places like McDonald’s or Burger King. Fast food can also make your child a picky eater and usually lacks a lot of nutrition that your child needs.

Inform Family and Friends

Essentially, if it is something that you struggle staying away from yourself, then your child should probably not be allowed to eat it. We are controlling what our child eats until she is old enough to make those decisions herself. Then, hopefully, she will be making healthier choices with her food because that is what she is used to. We are also the only ones allowed to give her “special treats.” Make sure family and friends understand that they are not allowed to give your child any foods without your permission. This way you do not have to worry about your child getting foods that will spoil their appetite if you have to leave them with someone.

Be Consistent

I hope these tips will help you if you have a picky eater. If you start your child out eating fresh foods and limiting sugar intake then you will have a much easier time keeping them from becoming a picky eater. If you currently have a picky eater now, and they are used to the sugar/frozen food, do not give up hope. Slowly start removing these items from your home and replace them with healthier, homemade meals. The most important thing is to BE CONSISTENT.

Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss my post on the best baby food recipes for your child’s first year.