Family Eating: Dealing With the Picky Eater

By , SparkPeople Blogger
This is the third in a series about eating healthy as a family and the challenges that can come along with it. Click here to read the first blog entry in this series.

Growing up, mealtime was often a source of stress for my mom. She always liked to experiment with new (and sometimes very unusual) recipes. My dad's nickname was (and still is) the "human garbage disposal" because there are only a small handful of foods he wouldn't eat. He was always willing to try something new, but my sister and I were a different story. When she cooked an unfamiliar dish, we'd take one look at the plate and say "I'm not trying that." Or we'd need a detailed explanation of every ingredient before we'd let the food touch our lips. Now that I cook for a family of my own, I can see how frustrating that was for my mom.

Since cooking a different meal for each person isn't a long-term solution, what can you do to appease the picky eaters in your home? How can you create meals that the whole family will eat and enjoy? Especially with kids, it takes time and patience when introducing new foods. If they don't like sweet potatoes the first time you offer them, try again. Maybe the next time you prepare them in a slightly different way: mashed instead of sliced, or mixed with apples and cranberries instead of plain. Try not to get frustrated or force them to try it, because that can end up being a negative situation for everyone.

Also consider serving dips or sauces on the side with some foods. For instance, your teenager might be the only one in the family who doesn't like plain carrots. But if you serve them with hummus for dipping, she'll eat them. That way you're not creating multiple dishes, but just easy variations on the one dish you're serving.

A lot of times it's fear of the unknown that causes people to resist trying new foods. In my home we try to use the "just take one bite" rule. If you take a bite and decide you don't want to eat it, at least you tried. I will admit, I've also been known to sneak ingredients into my dishes. For example, my daughter would never eat a plain chicken breast because she says she doesn’t like chicken. But if I make a casserole with chicken in it, she'll gobble it up without thinking twice. So again, preparation can be the key.

How do you deal with picky eaters in your household? What kinds of strategies have been effective for you? Share your tips here!