How can you get extremely picky children to eat healthy foods?

Question

This child only eats:
Chicken nuggets
fries
pizza
chips
pepperoni
brownies
Hershey's chocolate
Reese's cups
sausages
baked potatoes
"chicken salad" minus the celery and onions
ritz crackers
and squeeze cheese
pepsi
gatorade
water
cookie crisp

She's 6 years old. She's in school and takes her lunch (she won't eat school food unless it's chicken nuggets). She won't eat at all if it's something other than what's on that list pretty much.
I've heard of people sneaking fruits and veggies into kids' foods and lots of people disagree with that because it sends the wrong message about what you should eat. But what if it's the only way?

Answer 1

There is cookbook by Jerry Seinfeld's wife (Deceptively Delicious) that hides healthy foods in other foods. All it is is pureeing fruits and vegetables and adding them to different foods. And it's stuff kids would eat, like chicken nuggets and I think there was a brownie recipe.

But I agree, she needs to give her healthier foods. Stop giving her junk. Soda is definitely not good for little girls. Your aunt needs to be strong and not give in when she complains.

Answer 2

I have a son who is twelve and has had just about the same food list as above. I have had him to the doctor numerous times and have even taken him for psychological testing. I tried the with holding method and the going to bed without dinner method. This child went 6 days with just water which the doctor said (he was 5 at the time) was very unhealthy. He suggested a multi vitamin and to try to introduce healthy food periodically. We have tried to make him eat one bite of this or that and he will vomit all over the table or where ever he may be. The doctor has said the acid is worse for him than the not eating. He also stated that this is something that kids grow out of naturally. My husband did the same until he was 15 so I think there are a variety of answers here. You have to figure out what is best for you and your child!!

Sneaking food is however not a cure and just makes your child mistrust you.

Answer 3

It's amazing how much nutrition children get out of eating very little. My daughter has always been a picky eater, and at the age of 18 now, she eats less than your 6 year old and yet her blood work comes up fine. She eats less meat than me (she will only eat chicken, not fried though), yet she has a higher iron level. I must admit, that her stomach suffers because she doesn't get enough fibre in her diet. This is something that I now have control over to some extent. I add this fibre product to foods and drinks (she knows it's there), at least that is one way of helping her. She is mildly autistic and that interferes with her everyday life, including what she will, or should I say, won't eat. She has been classed as anorexic from her paediatrician, but that was 6 months ago, she has just turned 18. I was always worried, but everytime a dietician got involved, they kept telling me "don't worry, over time her body will get the nutrients it needs to stay healthy". I really hated hearing that, but basically, if you force a child to eat, they won't eat it anyway and they will resent you. If you are really concerned, I would not agree with the others about "sneaking" fruits and vegies into the diet, if you are happy to do the extra work and your daughter eats it, then so be it. Eventually she will explore food. I know that I eat a much more varied diet than I did as a child, I eat things now, that totally disgusted me beck then, but I now love. So, hang in there, try what you can, because it is YOU that has to live with your child every day and feel good about how healthy and happy your child is.

Answer 4

First of all don't listen to that last person. Truth is you can offer all the healthy stuff to your kids, and they will not eat it if they don't like it, if they think they wont like it. I naturally like healthy foods but my son got older (hes 2 now) and he will only eat chicken nuggets, peanut butter and jelly, grilled cheese, cereal, oatmeal, cereal bars.

The trick is to sneak the healthy stuff in the stuff she actually likes.

Make sure the chicken nuggets have enough protein (Tyson chicken)

Fries are ok some times, try sweet potato fries. Pizza is not that unhealthy, make sure there's veggies on it. Veggie chips in the health isle have no real nutrition, but there better then potato chips, and taste great. Definitely cut down on the sweets. There ok every now and then (special occasions, holidays) Chicken salad is very good, use light mayo. Try introducing her to real cheese, swiss, cheddar. ect.

I wouldn't give her anymore soda. That's the worst. Doesn't hydrate, only full of sugar and carbs. Gatorade, and water are fine.

I suggest you give her V8 Fusion, it has veggies and fruits in it but tastes like juice. Nutragrain cereal bars are good to. Use whole wheat bread for toast or sandwhiches. (wonder whole wheat bread)



Here'ss a little tip: Don't tell her whats in her food, or that its good for her. Just put it in her reach and let her try it. Always try new foods.

You kids are going to watch you and eat what you eat. Start eating healthy and only keep healthy foods in the house, and they will follow soon.

If your little cousin continues to eat like this, she will end up over weight unhappy and unhealthy. She has a strong chance of getting diabetes as well.

Answer 5

Yeah I was the same way as a child. A lot of children are extremely picky eaters and unfortunately it tends to lean towards the unhealthy side. You might be in luck however..There is a webcast hosted by RealSavvyMoms.com on Tuesday (September 9) that has a question and answer session on everything you'd want to know about feeding your child. Since its a Q & A session I'd recommend joining this webcast and asking your exact question. There will be experts fielding questions apparently so you might find the answers that you are looking for. I'll leave a link for it in the source section.

Answer 6

My kids think they're picky! They've been eating all sorts of things since they were little. If they can eat pizza they can eat a blolognaise(loaded with good veges-slow boiling blends them in) otherwise pizzas off the menu for good. Do the same thing..isolate their favourite foods and find a way too incorporate them into another dish or...the base ingredient is off the menu as well. I have four kids this works.

Answer 7

Getting kids to consume healthy is already a task on its own. And if you have youngsters growing up in two different households with two specific philosophies about food, well I ought to say the project is giant. Having said that, i'd describe the answer for the situation with one word: psychology. You will have to set your goal to convince the mother and the kids that eating healthy is "what's quality for them". How do you apply psychology to the mother and the children desires to be carried out in special ways though. But you ought to convince the kids AND the mum. With out the help of the mummy environmental and cultural pressures would possible make it difficult to stop consuming junk meals. Learn how to convince the mum: tell the mom how healthy meals is primary for the kids benefit. For instance dietary fiber make sure adequate progress, and good vitamin helps help mind progress. Beneath you're going to find a Harvard hyperlink on the significance of healthful habits on mind development. Hold in mind that it can be now not most effective important WHAT YOU SAY, but also how you SAY IT (i.E psychology). For example pronouncing: "every year increasingly schools are encouraging healthful eating" is extra productive than pronouncing "a significant percentage of children this present day have had eating habits". The crisis with the 2d statement is that it encourages conformity!! The point is to be descriptive and depend on a norm (constructive or bad) that drives the factor house. Methods to persuade the kids: in short, for kids healthful ingredients have to be made enjoyable to consume!! We do that in keeping with taste and presentation. You can make animal watching snacks or good presented fruit salads. Under I additionally include two hyperlinks with recipes :)

Answer 8

shes 6 - you take away all of that junk and ONLY give her healthy foods. Maybe the occasional junk after she's eaten healthy for awhile. She may refuse at first but i wouldnt give her anything else but water. Healthy food or nothing. She will eat it soon enough! May sound harsh but.. you cant let a 6 year old run you...

Answer 9

EEK! You've stuffed your child's growing body with JUNK! Not only is it junk, meaning she's not getting the important vitamins and minerals now that will affect her forever, but she's getting toxins and preservatives and who knows what else! SHAME ON YOU!



OK, now that I've scolded you, here's what you do.



Empty your cupboards and fridge of all junk. Yep. All of it. Your kid is addicted and I suspect you are, too.



Buy fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts (not salted or coated in junk) for snacks. Real cheese - not cheese slices or from a can. Other healthy foods.



Let your child snack on a piece of fruit and some nuts. That's it.



She drinks water or milk. That's it.



You don't "treat" her or yourself with junk food or candy. In time, once she's eating healthy food, now and again is OK, but not now.



You serve her small portions of veggies - if she doesn't like them, REALLY small portions. Tell her she doesn't have to like it, she just has to eat it - and be nice. Firm, but nice. Let her sit there until she's eaten it.



Be prepared for a fight for several days. Don't scream. Just hold your place as the mom and insist she eat it or sit there.



I've had parents thank me for getting their kids to eat foods they don't like - and the kids always want to come back for dinner at my place, so this system works.



Good luck!

Answer 10

My brother is 7 and hes really picky too. We usually try to mix foods like apples and peanut butter, he actually eats a lot of things with peanut butter. You could try that

Answer 11

Do not serve any of those foods.



Do not EVER hide vegetables in your child's food.



Sure you can add veg to dishes like meatloaf and meatballs that lend themselves to it but you must serve whole identifiable vegetables to your child.



Your child will not starve.



She's six so she will hang in for awhile without eating. Understand that this is a test. If you fail it, poor eating habits are going to be the very least of your worries.



Serve healthy food. Do not serve anything else. Don't make her eat but don't give her ANYTHING from the list of foods she currently eats.

Answer 12

Sneaking sends the wrong message? Feeding a child that junk you listed is sending the wrong message. If a child does not have access to junk foods..then there is no other option but to eat healthy food that is served.

Answer 13

By the time I was six, I either ate dinner or went to bed - no TV, no dessert.



The only way I got out of eating spinach or lima beans was to throw up. I hated lamb, too but it didn't make me throw up..



My mother was a nurse and had good nutritional meals.



Dinner or bed. The choice is yours. After a few days of that, kids usually come around.



T

Answer 14

Getting teenagers to eat healthful is already a undertaking by employing itself. And once you have teenagers starting to be up in 2 distinctive families with 2 distinctive philosophies approximately nutrients, nicely i ought to assert the undertaking is substantial. nonetheless, i could describe the answer for the area with one be conscious: psychology. you ought to set your purpose to convince the mother and the youngsters that ingesting healthful is "what's terrific for them". How do you word psychology to the mother and the youngsters desires to be executed in distinctive methods nevertheless. yet you are able to desire to convince the youngsters AND the mother. without the help of the mother environmental and cultural pressures might make it no longer straight forward to give up ingesting junk nutrients. the thank you to convince the mother: tell the mother how healthful nutrients is substantial for the youngsters earnings. to illustrate nutritional fiber determine sufficient boost, and good nutrients facilitates help innovations progression. below you will hit upon a Harvard link on the cost of healthful conduct on innovations progression. do no longer forget that it is not in straight forward terms substantial WHAT you're saying, yet additionally the style you're saying IT (i.e psychology). to illustrate asserting: "each 365 days further and extra colleges are encouraging healthful ingesting" is extra effective than asserting "a brilliant share of youngsters in recent times have had ingesting conduct". the issue with the 2d assertion is that it encourages conformity!! the element is to be descriptive and count number on a norm (advantageous or unfavorable) that drives the element abode. the thank you to convince the youngsters: in short, for toddlers healthful nutrients might desire to be made exciting to eat!! We try this in accordance to flavor and presentation. you are able to make animal looking snacks or nicely presented fruit salads. below I additionally incorporate 2 hyperlinks with recipes :)

Answer 15

Your child is only 6 years old. She has no way to obtain her own food, so she'll eat what you give her. If you want her to eat healthy foods, stop offering the unhealthy foods and only offer healthy foods. She'll eat them when she's hungry enough.