Girl eating

Exploring Food: How to Explore New Food with Preschoolers

Do any of the statements below remind you of your mealtime with kids?

  • "How many peas do I need to eat?"
  • "Ew. I don't want to try that."
  • "Is there anything else to eat?"

Because you want your child to grow healthy and strong, your child's picky eating can be cause for concern. Studies show that most children do not consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, and picky eaters tend to shy away from vegetables, so that concern is understandable. Fortunately for most parents, a child's picky eating is temporary. If you don't make it a big deal, it will end before school age. Try the following tips to help deal with your child's picky eating behavior in a positive way. Check the ones that work for you and your child.

Get Creative

  • Add fruits and veggies to foods they already like
  • Mix blueberries and oats into pancakes
  • Add sliced fruit to your child's favorite cereal
  • Serve shredded veggies over rice or whole wheat pasta
  • Make smoothies with fresh or frozen strawberries, a banana, and low-fat yogurt

Stock Up on Healthy Choices

  • Buy healthy fruits, veggies, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.
  • Keep healthy foods where they're easy for your kids to see.

Limit "Junk Food" in Your Home

Limit the number of foods high in fat and added sugar that you bring into your home.

Try New Foods

Forcing your child to eat certain foods will only cause stress for you and your child.

  • Serve a few fruits and veggies at mealtimes. Offer choices, for example, "Would you like broccoli or cauliflower for dinner?"
  • Let your kids try small portions of new foods that you enjoy. Give them a small taste at first and be patient with them. When they develop a taste for more types of foods, it's easier to plan family meals.
  • Give options for snacks, suggest snap peas, sliced bell peppers, cucumbers, kiwi, or blueberries.
  • Offer only one new food at a time. Serve something that you know your child likes along with the new food. Offering more new foods all at once could be too much for your child.
  • Offer new foods many times. Sometimes, new foods take time. Kids don't always take to new foods right away. It may take several tries for a child to accept a new food.
  • Serve the same foods for the whole family. Avoid being a "short-order cook," making a different meal for your child.

Enjoy Each Other While Eating Family Meals Together

Talk about fun and happy things. If meals are times for family arguments, your child may learn unhealthy attitudes toward food.

eat together

Lead by Example

  • Be a good role model. As a parent, you are your child's most important role model - especially when it comes to making healthy choices. They learn by watching you!
  • Eat with your child. If you eat healthy and try new foods, your child will, too.

Make Healthy Food Fun to Eat

  • Cut baked chicken, low-fat cheese, and veggies into bite-size pieces. Let kids "dip" these pieces into dunking sauces. Try hummus, low-fat ranch dressing, salsa, ketchup, or mustard.
  • Cut food into fun and easy shapes with cookie cutters.
  • Give your kids the ingredients to "build" their own healthy salad, taco, or pizza. Name the food after your child, eg. "Susan's Specialty Salad".

Let Kids Help with Meals and Snacks

Have your kids prepare meals and snacks with you. Children are more likely to eat food that they help make.

Let them help:
  • Make the shopping list
  • Pick out food at the grocery store
  • Wash produce
  • Slice, mix, bake, or cook food (as age-appropriate)

References

USDA. (2018, March 1). Healthy Tips for Picky Eaters. Retrieved from www.choosemyplate.gov

NHLBI. (n.d.). We Can! Parent Tips: Picky Eaters. Retrieved from www.nhlbi.nih.gov.

We Can! Parent Tips: Picky Eaters. Retrieved July 25, 2019

Lindsay, A. 2020, Healthy Tips For Picky Eaters, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, IP
Printable    Version    (PDF)

Learn more about the author(s)

Annie Lindsay
Annie Lindsay
 

Also of Interest:

 
A person helping another through something difficult.
Healthy Steps to Freedom: Gender- Responsive Education Program
Currently, women’s involvement in the correctional system and in substance use disorders (SUD) treatment centers is rapidly outpacing men. Since many applied programs are based on gender-neutral services, designed for men. Gender-responsive education and treatment calls for an em...
 Lindsay, A. 2021, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Brochure
Colorful Roll
Help your preschooler learn their fruits and vegetables with this fun and interactive game.
 Lindsay, A. 2020, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno
Exploring Foods
This game guides your preschooler in exploring new foods using their 5 senses!
 Lindsay, A. 2020, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno
Food Relay Game
Help your preschooler learn the difference between a fruit and vegetable in this fun and interactive relay game.
 Lindsay, A. 2020, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno
signiture
Healthy Kids Resource Center - Policies, Procedures & Partners
Find links to Federal and State policies and regulations
 Lindsay, A. and Taylor, S. 2020, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno
 

Associated Programs

two boys holding a large wedge of watermelon

Healthy Kids - Nutrition Toolbox

This toolbox covers tips to increase children's overall levels of health and gives information pertaining to changing health habits.

Kids and leader dancing with colored scarves in a classroom

Healthy Kids Resource Center

A one-stop shop for evidence-based research, resources, curricula, activities and materials that focus on obesity prevention for teachers and parents of young children. It is designed to educate parents and teachers as well as provide the tools needed to teach young children how to live a healthy lifestyle.