The Secret To Make Your Picky Eater Not Be So Picky

I am a mother of four children that can and will be very picky eaters if I let them. I have put together a few ideas that might help someone out when they are going through the same thing. One of the ideas that I have learned through my experience is that if I involve the child or children in the preparation process that they have a better chance of eating it. Sometimes that means a bigger mess and more time, but in the end if they eat the meal then it is worth it.
When they get to see what foods go into the meal and the time that it takes, I do not here as much complaining. I pick a meal and have one of my children help me. Some times the help can consist of preparation, or clean up. I sometimes let them help me also with deciding what we are going to have. Even though I have three boys I have decided that I am not going to be one of those moms that is always in the kitchen. From the start I have told my children that this is not a restaurant and that we eat what is on the table or they do not eat. That might seem harsh to some but it has worked for us.
Another idea that we do is that they have to try everything. If they do not like it after a couple of bites then they do not have to eat it. My kids have learned to like some things after a while or they find that they like it prepared a different way. Most of the time they prefer fresh over cooked, or canned. During the summer there is not a problem but in the winter it gets to be a little bit harder. I have learned to bring in a variety of different items into our meals. The internet is a great place to look up different recipes or ideas of how to prepare different foods.
When we sit down and dish up our plates, we try not to over serve our kids. Our portion sizes have grown so much in the last few years. I believe that this adds to our weight problems and our food concerns. Most kids will eat till they are full, and if we make them eat everything on there plate that is teaching them to eat even after they are full. If they want more of a certain item they can have it as long as they have tried everything on there plate. I have one son that will eat all of the meat and want more. He has to try the veggies and potatoes or what ever we are having first then he can have seconds.
Another idea is that if I let them have a lot of juice or soda or snacks to close to dinner, they will not eat. When they come home from school we have a snack clean it up and then work on homework. Then they have time to play while I get dinner ready. That does not stop them from asking, “When is dinner?” or “I am hungry now.” It does help with after school hunger pains.
These few ideas have not solved all of our worries but it has helped. It makes meal time easier on me, and then I can more fully enjoy the family time together.