Thanksgiving and Picky Eaters

When we think about Thanksgiving, who doesn’t think of the dishes that make our holiday table extra special? Those dishes that we may only serve a few times a year. But if you have a picky eater in your house, Thanksgiving can be stressful for both you and your child. Here are some tips to help engage your picky eater in the meal, ensure they have something they are willing to eat, and maybe try a new food or two.

• Involve your child in the meal preparation. Maybe they help set the table, measure ingredients, add a sprinkle of this or a shake of that. When involving your child in the kitchen, remember safety first! Watch out for sharp knives, hot stoves/dishes etc.

• Ensure you have 1-2 items that you know your child will eat. This could be a simple as a bread roll, a favorite fruit or familiar vegetable. Having some familiar foods can help put your child at ease about the unfamiliar dishes on the table.

• Offer 1-2 novel foods that you think your child might enjoy. If they are open to trying something new, give your child a small serving to taste. They can always ask for more if they enjoy it, but may feel overwhelmed if given a large portion.

• Once it’s on their plate, leave it up to them to try it or not. Pressuring a child to eat something can create negative feelings around trying any new foods in the future.

• Give your child the option to say ‘no thanks’. You don’t want to make mealtime something that you and your child battle over.

• At the end of the day, if your picky eater doesn’t try anything new, that’s OK. It’s just one meal. Keep on providing opportunities and encourage your child to try new foods. Making it safe to say ‘no’ and keeping mealtimes positive will go a long way towards encouraging your child to experiment!