{"id":1626,"date":"2016-05-20T03:09:33","date_gmt":"2016-05-20T03:09:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/?p=1626"},"modified":"2017-01-15T04:17:06","modified_gmt":"2017-01-15T04:17:06","slug":"picky-eaters-try-new-foods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/2016\/05\/picky-eaters-try-new-foods\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Cheap & Cheerful Tools for Picky Eaters (to try new foods)"},"content":{"rendered":"

In one of my previous posts we talked about why helping our children eat better<\/a>\u00a0and getting picky eaters to try new foods isn’t just about WHAT<\/strong>\u00a0we serve them.<\/p>\n

It’s also about HOW<\/strong>\u00a0we serve those foods.<\/p>\n

Kids tend to gravitate to certain food groups (or shy away from them). \u00a0Some little ones avoid vegetables or anything green, whereas my daughter was anti-protein for a loooong time.<\/p>\n

As a Certified Nutritionist<\/a>, I knew Sienna’s\u00a0diet\u00a0was lacking nutritionally, so the pressure was on to help her (my\u00a0former picky eater)\u00a0try new foods. \u00a0Especially foods\u00a0that were superior\u00a0sources of\u00a0iron<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It wasn’t until I dug\u00a0into the research\u00a0and earned Certifications in\u00a0Picky Eating\/Problem Feeding\u00a0that I truly<\/em>\u00a0understood why she wasn’t eating well (what I was doing ‘wrong’ in some cases). \u00a0And what it would take to help her eat better (for a child who\u00a0seemed to have NO appetite).<\/p>\n

That’s when meals changed for us.<\/p>\n

Heck, that’s when LIFE changed.<\/p>\n

She was eating happily. \u00a0I wasn’t stressed out. \u00a0And mealtimes were finally calm. \u00a0Dare I say…they were also enjoyable (and still are).<\/p>\n

A transition I never<\/strong>\u00a0thought would happen. \u00a0Sienna was on the extreme side of picky eating and the light at the end of the tunnel was dim. \u00a0Yet, with the right approach, her picky eating started to dissolve. \u00a0Of course, she still has her days. \u00a0Don’t we all! \u00a0 But as a whole, she is a different child.<\/p>\n

While some strategies worked better than others, changing up HOW I served food in the beginning was definitely\u00a0part of the ‘picky eating’ puzzle.<\/p>\n

Let me just say that this blog post isn’t necessarily going to solve every mealtime challenge (there is game plan for that<\/a>). \u00a0However, keeping things fresh at the table is one of many ways to save your sanity at meals in the short-term. \u00a0And maybe even get your little one to FINALLY try a\u00a0green pea:)<\/p>\n

Helping Picky Eaters Try New Foods with Cheap & Cheerful Tools<\/span><\/h3>\n

Our little ones would rather play than sit at the table eating.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Unless we make food fun\u00a0too!<\/p>\n

Here are a few seemingly obvious tools that will put a fun twist on your next meal – without stocking up on new\u00a0kitchen tools.<\/p>\n

In this post, I get down to the basics (and freebies) so you can simply repurpose what you already have sitting in your cupboards. \u00a0Or in my case, in the dishwasher \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Muffin Trays:<\/span> Make it a mini\u00a0buffet<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Picky<\/p>\n

Muffin trays aren’t just for muffins. \u00a0They are an inexpensive and clever\u00a0way to bring food to the table. \u00a0Genius!<\/p>\n

This is one of my favourites tools for snack time and a great way to use up lingering leftovers in the fridge.<\/p>\n

Many picky eaters prefer to keep foods separate, and using a muffin tin ensures that different\u00a0foods are compartmentalized.\u00a0\u00a0 I would recommend getting a six slot muffin tray\u00a0for simplicity (easier to fill 6 vs. 12) and choose foods that vary in colour.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 Try yogurt, veggie sticks, chopped egg, blueberries, roasted chickpeas, olives (you’d be surprised how many kids like olives).\u00a0 Anything goes here.<\/p>\n

If you are feeding more than one kiddo, fill a few\u00a0holes with different dips<\/strong> (red pepper hummus, beet puree, yogurt dip, guacaomole, salsa, etc) along side veggies or crackers\u00a0for dipping. \u00a0 Include foods your little one might not usually eat with\u00a0others he\/she does eat. \u00a0Witnessing their little buddies snack\u00a0away could give them the motivation to try something new.<\/p>\n

You could always use ice cube trays instead<\/strong> – you just have more holes\u00a0to fill:)<\/p>\n

BONUS TIP:<\/strong>\u00a0 Condiments are\u00a0a great transitionary tool for helping kids try new foods<\/a>\u00a0and is one of the effective strategies I talk about in my\u00a0upcoming FREE Picky Eating 101 Webinar<\/a><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0I show\u00a0parents (with or without picky eaters) the best ways to improve their\u00a0child’s willingness to try new food, with research-backed strategies that do work – and ones\u00a0you can use right away.<\/p>\n

\"free<\/a><\/p>\n

Toothpicks: <\/span>Let them pick away\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Picky<\/p>\n

The benefits of\u00a0these\u00a0simple and inexpensive sticks are far reaching.<\/p>\n

First off, they make eating fun<\/strong> for kids.\u00a0 Being able to\u00a0poke foods\u00a0on their plate with something other than a\u00a0fork (boring) goes a long way with kids who would rather be playing. \u00a0They are easier to maneuver by poking or stabbing a food to pick it up vs. having to scoop or properly place a fork.<\/p>\n

Secondly,\u00a0the structure of a toothpick (being long and thin) does a better job at placing foods closer to the back molars where they\u00a0have better control of chewing<\/strong>. \u00a0When Sienna turned two years old (or at least an age where I could trust that she wouldn’t poke herself) I started to put\u00a0small pieces of proteins like fish, meat, eggs, and other foods she had difficulty chewing on toothpicks. \u00a0Toothpicks or cocktail forks are beneficial for\u00a0children with oral motor\u00a0deficits (who aren’t able\u00a0to move their mouth or tongue in the appropriate way for chewing foods).<\/p>\n

Skewers:<\/span> Put their meal on a stick<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Picky<\/p>\n

Grab a few skewers and thread on some bite-sized pieces of chicken or salmon with\u00a0grilled peppers and sweet potatoes.\u00a0 For dessert or a snack, try a fruit kebab<\/strong> with melon, berries, grapes, mango\u00a0intermingled with cubes of avocado.\u00a0\u00a0 Not only are they visually appealing especially when alternating\u00a0different coloured foods, but they are fun to eat.\u00a0\u00a0Just keep a close eye on your kiddo to ensure no one gets injured in the process.<\/p>\n

For the older kiddos, why not have them decide what goes on their kebab. \u00a0And for everyone, take the “dip tip” I provided earlier and offer a side of their favourite condiment or sauce to dip their meal on a stick.<\/p>\n

Straws<\/strong>:<\/span>\u00a0 Get them slurping or\u00a0sucking\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\"IMG_2449\"<\/h3>\n

I almost cried the first time Sienna asked for a green smoothie (and green juice). \u00a0As you can tell from the photo, I was sneaking a peek of her sipping away because I couldn’t believe it was really happening. \u00a0I would love to tell you that her mom’s\u00a0aptitude for nutrition is rubbing off at the ripe age of 3, but that would be a lie. \u00a0Her interest\u00a0in these\u00a0mom\/nutritionist-approved juices was\u00a0driven by two things: \u00a0(1) the vibrancy and colour of the drink. Green is fun and more appetizing\u00a0then the greyish or brownish smoothies I whip up in my Vitamix. \u00a0And (2) the straw.<\/p>\n

There’s just something about that stick with a hole running through it. \u00a0Kid’s love them. \u00a0And in some cases, parents love them too for the mess-free drinking (sometimes) and their ability to get more liquids into their kids<\/strong>. \u00a0As well as some smoothies that pack a nutrient punch with veggies, etc.<\/p>\n

The best part: \u00a0straws don’t have to be\u00a0limited to beverages alone. \u00a0Throw one into their bowl of soup<\/strong> and let them slurp away.<\/p>\n

What type of straw doesn’t really matter, but there are options: \u00a0stainless steel (which we use at home), glass (but be\u00a0careful with kids), plain old plastic variety, or\u00a0BPA-free acrylic ones<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n

I absolutely love writing posts like this\u00a0because what I’ve shared isn’t rocket science. \u00a0It’s all simple stuff you can try at home at your next meal. \u00a0Even more rewarding is that this ‘simple stuff’ works and knowing there will be a little guy or gal somewhere who decide to take their FIRST\u00a0sip or nibble of a new food because of this.<\/p>\n

I’m super passionate about this stuff (can you tell!) and wanted to share the REALLY good stuff in a webinar.<\/p>\n

If you’re just as passionate and could use\u00a0some game-changing\u00a0tips for your next meal<\/strong>,\u00a0join me in this FREE 60-minute webinar<\/a>. \u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0I show\u00a0parents (with or without picky eaters) how\u00a0to improve their\u00a0child’s willingness to try new food. \u00a0All research-backed and evidenced-based strategies that you’re going to love.<\/p>\n

You can learn more and register here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Webinar<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In one of my previous posts we talked about why helping our children eat better\u00a0and getting picky eaters to try new foods isn’t just about WHAT\u00a0we serve them. It’s also about HOW\u00a0we serve those foods. Kids tend to gravitate to certain food groups (or shy away from them). \u00a0Some little ones avoid vegetables or anything […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1884,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[97,20],"tags":[160,17,28],"yoast_head":"\n4 Cheap & Cheerful Tools for Picky Eaters (to try new foods)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking for ways to help your little guy or gal try new foods? 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