food suggestions for picky toddlersBefore my son was a toddler, he was a perfect eater––gulping down pureed spinach with the best of them.  But when he turned two, all green foods became instantly poisonous.  So much for my dreams of a child who dined on feta cheese and kate!  Still, lately we realized that we weren’t doing a good job of stretching his food comfort zone and decided to try a few new tricks.

Four easy tactics have made an enormous difference at our house.  We’re expanding his palate, making simple foods, and avoiding the struggle over what to eat.

Here are our recent discoveries:

  1. Limit snacks.  If Roscoe is really hungry at mealtime, he is far more likely to eat a healthy meal.
  2. Serve healthy foods first. We put a plate of edamame or a bowl of lima beans in front of him first while we prepare the rest of our dinner.   Often he’ll work his way well through his appetizer before we get the rest of our meal on the table.
  3. Sauce it up. Somehow everything seems a little more fascinating with a side of red wine vinegar or a blob of mustard.  Letting your child experiment with flavors for dipping is a huge way to market healthy food.
  4. Have fun with presentation. When we ask our son to make a picture with raisins on top of his peanut butter bagel, he forgets that he hates raisins.  Sometimes cutting his quesadilla into triangle makes it suddenly glamorous.

What are your favorite tips for making nutritious food fun for your child?  Please inspire us!  Stay tuned for our upcoming post on meal planning ideas for your little one.