Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Children's nutrition: 10 tips for picky eaters

Children's nutrition doesn't have to be frustrating. Consider these strategies to avoid power struggles and help the picky eater in your family eat a balanced diet.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Has your preschooler refused to eat anything other than peanut butter sandwiches for the past two days? Or would your toddler rather play than eat anything at all?

If children's nutrition is a sore topic in your household, you're not alone. Many parents worry about what their children eat — and don't eat. However, most kids get plenty of variety and nutrition in their diets over the course of a week. Until your child's food preferences mature, consider these tips for preventing mealtime battles.

1. Respect your child's appetite — or lack of one

Young children tend to eat only when they're hungry. If your child isn't hungry, don't force a meal or snack. Likewise, don't bribe or force your child to clean his or her plate. This may only ignite — or reinforce — a power struggle over food.

2. Stick to the routine

Serve meals and snacks at about the same times every day. Nix juice, milk and snacks for at least one hour before meals. If your child comes to the table hungry, he or she may be more motivated to eat.

3. Be patient with new foods

Young children often touch or smell new foods, and may even put tiny bits in their mouths and then take them back out again. Your child may need repeated exposure to a new food before he or she takes the first bite. Encourage your child by talking about a food's color, shape, aroma and texture — not whether it tastes good.

4. Make it fun

Serve broccoli and other veggies with a favorite dip or sauce. Cut foods into various shapes with cookie cutters. Offer breakfast foods for dinner.

5. Recruit your child's help

At the grocery store, ask your child to help you select fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods. Don't buy anything that you don't want your child to eat. At home, encourage your child to help you rinse veggies, stir batter or set the table.

Next page
(1 of 2)
References
  1. Ten do's for dealing with a picky eater. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3033903. Accessed April 21, 2009.
  2. The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition. The use and misuse of fruit juice in pediatrics. Pediatrics. 2001;107:1210.
  3. Start with small portions. U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://mypyramid.gov/preschoolers/HealthyHabits/portions.html. Accessed April 21, 2009.
  4. Follow a meal and snack schedule. U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://mypyramid.gov/preschoolers/HealthyHabits/mealsnackschedule.html. Accessed April 21, 2009.
  5. Help them know when they've had enough. U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://mypyramid.gov/preschoolers/HealthyHabits/whentheyvehadenough.html. Accessed April 21, 2009.
  6. Parenting corner Q&A: Nutrition. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_WhatsToEat.htm. Accessed May 18, 2009.
  7. Cathey M, et al. Picky eating: A toddler's approach to mealtime. Pediatric Nursing. 2004;30:101
  8. Nelson J (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 20, 2009.

HQ01107

Aug. 8, 2009

© 1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Reliable tools for healthier lives," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Text Size: smaller largerlarger