Handling Picky Eaters at Thanksgiving
A Recipe for Success

Parents of picky eaters can find the Thanksgiving holidays challenging.

“To avoid unnecessary struggles at the holiday table, don’t force children to try new foods,” said Mark Gilger, director of gastrointestinal procedures at Texas Children’s and associate professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. “Whether you’re cooking the meal or going to a relative’s home for dinner, it’s good to be prepared. Making familiar food choices available for your children can prevent them from becoming cranky.”

Allowing picky eaters to assist in Thanksgiving meal preparations is another good way to avoid unnecessary tension at the dining-room table. Younger children can assist by rinsing raw vegetables, stirring muffin or bread mixes, and preparing baking sheets for dinner rolls. Older children can be given more complicated tasks, such as measuring ingredients and cutting fruits and vegetables.

“When a child prepares part of the meal, he or she has ownership and becomes curious about the taste,” said Gilger. “For example, a child is much more likely to try some creamed asparagus if he or she has helped to stir the sauce.”

Gilger provides these tips for dealing with picky eaters, not just at Thanksgiving, but all year round:

• Serve small portions. Cut food into small bites to fit small mouths.
• Make food look more appetizing by including a variety of colors.
• Try different ways to prepare the same food – mix unpopular foods in with favorites.
• Invite children to accompany you to the grocery store. Vegetables and fruits may become more appealing when kids have the chance to make selections themselves.
• Avoid making issues about your food preferences. Eat with your children, and be a role model for good nutrition.

E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/11_15_02/page_23.html