There’s nothing more frustrating than watching your picky eater turn her nose up at everything you put in front of her. Don’t lose hope! These tips and tricks can help to ensure that she gets the nutrients she needs, even if it means sneaking them into every meal.
You know those moments when you sit down with a plate of food and suddenly realize you’re starving? Your picky eater also experiences those feelings, but instead of being famished for every meal, she’s only hungry once or twice a day. This can make getting her to eat difficult sometimes.
Split up the Servings
To ensure that your picky eater is getting the nourishment she needs from each meal, try splitting it into multiple servings and hiding it in other foods. For example, you can mix some veggies into mac and cheese or sneak a slice of avocado inside a sandwich with some turkey slices.
This is a fun way to get your picky eater excited about mealtime because she gets to help create her own special creation! Just make sure that the foods you’re hiding veggies in don’t have a strong flavor, which can make it difficult for your picky eater to detect the new additions.
Make Sure They’re Getting Enough Nutrients
If your child is a picky eater, make sure she’s still getting enough iron by sneaking it into her favorite foods. You can do this easily by adding some beef or chicken bouillon to homemade spaghetti sauce or ketchup.
Once your picky eater tastes these foods, she’ll be instantly hooked on the savory flavors and won’t even notice the hidden nutrition! If you’re looking for some other tasty options to sneak in some fiber, fiber gummies are a great way to get more of this nutrient into your child’s diet.
Fruits and Veggies a Problem? Here’s How to handle them
If your picky eater loves fruits and vegetables, congratulations! Your work is done. If your child isn’t quite as enthusiastic about healthy foods yet, try chopping up cauliflower to look like rice or spaghetti noodles to trick her into eating more veggies.
If your picky eater hates vegetables but loves sandwiches, use this opportunity to sneak in some protein by taking a slice of deli meat and rolling it up with a large leaf of lettuce. This is a healthy alternative to traditional sandwich bread, so your picky eater won’t even notice that she’s eating vegetables!
Snack Hacks for Picky Eaters
Instead of using pre-packaged snacks for your picky eater every day, why not try making them yourself? Homemade baked goods are the perfect way to sneak some extra nutrients in, and most picky eaters won’t be able to resist their delicious taste.
If your child has a sweet tooth, you can get even more creative with how you incorporate veggies into her snacks. Grate carrots or zucchini into muffins or use half of an avocado in brownie batter and watch it disappear!
If your picky eater struggles when you introduce snacks before mealtime, make sure to accompany them with a healthy meal or snack. This will prevent her from feeling hungry and cranky when she can’t eat.
Try these tricks to help get your picky eater the nutrients they need in every meal and you’ll both be on your way to a healthier lifestyle.