Kid Friendly Meals for Picky Eaters
4 ways to get picky eaters to try new foods, plus our most popular kid-friendly recipes to encourage adventurous eating! Sponsored by Picky Eaters.
“Yuck!”
“I don’t like that!”
Do you hear any of these things from your kids at mealtime? Do you wish your kids would try new foods? Eat more vegetables?
It’s totally normal for kids to go through the so-called “picky eating” phase. It’s one of the ways that kids practice exerting a little bit of control in their own lives.
That doesn’t mean it’s fun to deal with or that we want to excuse conflict at meal time!
The good news is that there are things we can do as parents to help guide our kids past picky eating and teach them to become what we call “adventurous eaters.”
Food is delicious, it is nourishment..it should be fun!
We’ll even share some of our favorite healthy recipes for picky eaters that kids are sure to love!
How to get Picky Eaters to Try New Foods
These are the tricks we use in our house to help our kids become adventurous eaters! Ok, they’re not really “tricks,” but they work!
1. Model Positive Eating Habits
Parents are kids number one role model and who they look to when making their own choices. If you’re a picky eater, you child is more likely to become one too!
At mealtimes, set the example that you want your kids to follow: eating vegetables, talking about food in positive terms, and trying new things…just to name a few ideas.
2. Make Meal Time Fun
As my two year old would say, forks are “boorrrrriinnnng!”
So we switched it up and added Picky Eaters to our routine!
What are Picky Eaters?
Picky Eaters are kid-friendly utensils that are kind of a cross between forks and toothpicks. They’re ergonomically designed to fit in a child’s small hand and be easy enough for a toddler to use. Plus, with a variety cute characters and a rainbow of colors, they’re FUN!
Honestly, I was a little skeptical that Picky Eaters would make that much of a difference, but my kids LOVED them immediately. In fact, my 6-year-old and 2-year-old had very serious negotiations about who got to use which character.
Now at meal and snack times, my kids always reach for their Picky Eaters! And I’ve noticed something really cool happening…
One of my kids’ favorite snacks is potato chips. Well, chips don’t work with Picky Eaters! So instead my kids started asking for snacks that they can pick up using their Picky Eaters, such as apples and bananas.
Yep, my kids started asking for fruit instead of chips…all because of Picky Eaters! If that’s not a selling point, I don’t know what is! My mama heart was so happy to hear “Bananas please!”
Another thing I love about Picky Eaters is that when you purchase them, you’re supporting a small business. Designed by two moms to make mealtimes fun and stress-free, Picky Eaters are made right here in the USA!
Picky Eaters are kid-safe, BPA-free, and have met stringent consumer safety standards. They have earned a Children’s Product Certificate by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Click here to shop Picky Eaters and make mealtimes fun in your home! Use code SOCCERMOM to save 15% on your first order!
3. Encourage Kids to Develop Their Own Tastes
We have a rule in our house: it’s ok to not like the taste of something, but you can only decide that if you’ve actually tried said food item.
Think about it, nobody likes every single food! There are a few foods I just don’t like, such as chicken livers. There are also a few foods that I didn’t like as a kid that I enjoy as an adult: asparagus, mushrooms, and coffee, just to name a few.
It’s ok and completely natural if kids don’t like everything.
What we want to focus on instead is the adventure of trying new foods and deciding what we love. Trying new foods can be fun!
4. Eat the Rainbow!
And by that, I mean offer a variety of different foods. The more color and more variety in our meals, the more nutrients we provide to our bodies.
If you’re looking for ideas to shake up snack time or get kids to finish their dinners, I’ve created a list below with some of our favorite recipes that picky eaters will love.
25 Kid Friendly Recipes for Picky Eaters
Below are some of our family’s favorite tried and tested recipes, from breakfast to snacks to easy dinner ideas. Click on the links below each photo for the full recipe directions.
Mini Ham Star Sandwiches — Simple star cutouts make lunch time special!
Under the Sea Snacks with Fruit — Whip up a quick healthy snack that’s exciting to eat!
Unicorn Pancakes — Make breakfast magical with these rainbow pancakes!
Pizza Muffins — A fun mess-free way to eat one of kids’ favorite foods!
Pizza Pasta Bake — Another tasty way to enjoy pizza (and it’s easy to make!)
Homemade Fruit Roll Ups — Only 2 ingredients and no added sugar!
Korean Meatballs — Made with hidden veggies and a sweet soy glaze.
Sandwich Lollipops — A special “spin” on the usual school lunch!
Soccer Bento Lunch — Soccer fans will love this themed lunch idea with fruit, yogurt, and protein!
Strawberry Ladybugs — Who wouldn’t love these cute little “bugs?!”
Mexican Pizza — An easy 10-minute copycat recipe of the fast food favorite!
Cinnamon Apples — A super easy side dish that makes ordinary apples taste extraordinary! One of my kids’ favorites!
Carne Guisada — A Tex-Mex version of beef stew with so much flavor and lots of potatoes (my kids fav “veggie!”)
Teriyaki Chicken and Rice — A one-pot meal that the whole family will love…perfect busy weeknights!
Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs — Easy and cheesy and guaranteed to please the most picky of palates!
Air Fryer Fish Sticks — An easy meal that the entire family can enjoy together. Keto-friendly as a bonus for the grown-ups!
Stovetop Salmon — Salmon is actually my kids’ favorite protein…when you use this foolproof method to cook it, you’ll see why!
Cheerio Balls — Always a hit at snack time and easy to make a big batch in advance!
Healthy Green Gummies — Made with “green” juice and packed with nutrients…and they taste amazing!
Peanut Butter Granola Bars — A yummy combo of peanut butter and chocolate, made with whole grains and gluten free!
Gluten Free Cornbread Muffins — Shaped like corn on the cob!
Cauliflower Nuggets — A sneaky and delicious way to add more veggies!
Ginger Ale Glazed Carrots — Only 2 ingredients and never any leftovers!
Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes — A side dish that always gets rave reviews! Easier than ever to make!
Do you have any tips that you use to get your kids to try new foods? I’d love to hear them! Share your ideas in the comments below!
Click here to shop Picky Eaters and make mealtimes fun in your home! Use code SOCCERMOM to save 15% on your first order!
- Homemade Cosmic Brownies - January 15, 2025
- Heart Shaped Cookie Cake - January 10, 2025
- Mini Heart-Shaped Pizzas - January 9, 2025
