Why Won’t My Child Eat What I Cook?

Posted by on Mar 17, 2021 in Health Blog | Comments Off on Why Won’t My Child Eat What I Cook?

 
 
 
 

One challenge that many parents face is getting their kids to eat what they cook. Let’s face it, if macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets were healthy, most of us would just stop the constant battle and just make those two things every night. But because we want to raise healthy, strong kids, making home cooked meals and getting them to eat those meals is important.

 
 
I am lucky that my son, who is now 5, loves fruits and veggies. However, they must be raw. He wants nothing to do with a cooked vegetable or fruit. This is ok with me as there are a ton of nutrients in raw fruits and veggies. When it comes to main courses, we are finally able to get him to branch out a little it. But for years I would ask him to just taste what I made and he would say no, cry and if for some reason I actually got a bite in his mouth, he would spit it right out.
 

One night we were at our friend’s house. They have a little girl who my son is friends with. For dinner they served steak, green beans and potatoes. I had a can of chef Boyardee in my purse, as he had refused to even touch a piece of steak when I made it, Tonight was different. Their daughter got so excited about dinner, that my son actually tried it. He now loves steak. He even tried the green beans and decided he did not like them, but I was thrilled that he at least he tried them. So, I realized that meant to me that when we modeled how good things were, it did not really phase him, but when one of his friends did, he was excited to try them it.

 
After the experience at my friend’s house, I realized that there were certain things I could say that would entice him to try different foods. I would say things like “Izzy(his friend) loves Salmon and eats it all the time,” or you used to love sweet potatoes when you were a baby, These types of statements really peak his interest and he then actually tries different foods with an open mind.
 

I have now moved on from the statements above to just telling him that this is what I made for dinner and he needs to try it and then we can discuss something else. I also let him know that if he doesn’t try it, there is not after dinner snack or treat. It has taken five years, but he is now willing to try almost anything, and I am happy to make him something else if he does not like it.

 

For most kids, the struggle is getting them to try new foods. If you can get them to try things, it will open their palates and minds to many new foods. Try to find ways to motivate them instead of forcing them. Here are some tips that may help you with your picky eater:

 

Eat together as a family – This means everyone sits together, media is turned off and ideally everyone is eating the same thing

 

Have your child help you cook– Most kids want to taste what they have made

 

Make the plate fun – Try to serve them multi colored carrots, purple potatoes, green and red grapes, green and red apples. Cut their sandwiches into fun shapes. Arrange the food into a happy face, or train

 

Take you kids shopping – Take your kids to the store with you and let them think they are helping you pick out the dinner ingredients

 

Top it, dip it or carve it – Carve veggies into fun shapes, serve dinner with different sauces, top your chicken with some cheese, add salsa to eggs and tacos, put peanut butter on celery and apple slices

 

Don’t give up – Even if your child won’t eat something once, it does not mean they will not ever eat it. Kids tastes ae evolving, so be patient and try, try again

 

Get Creative – Instead of just serving a bowl of cereal and milk, add fruit to the top. Add small cut up veggies to your marinara sauce, soups or homemade pizza

 

Set an Example – Show your kids that you like healthy nutritious foods by eating them yourself and talk about why they are important

 

Motivating phrasing -kids don’t always resonate with the term healthy. Dr. Sear’s Health and Wellness institute suggests using phrases like brainy breakfasts and grow foods. And they love it when you tell them it will give them muscles!

Parents certainly have their struggles trying to raise, happy, healthy little humans,. However, when these struggles arise, knowing there are many tips to help, should give you peace of mind while trying to overcome them. There are many tips to help make each struggle easier to overcome. So remember, when it comes to feeding your child healthy, nutritious foods that they are not willing to try, using a little creativity, patience, perseverance and the tips above, should make your mealtimes easier.