Every parent wants their children to eat a healthy diet, but many kids can be extremely picky. Toddlers who are just starting to eat normal foods may go through unpredictable cycles where their tastes seem to change at random. Below are a few tips for getting your picky toddlers to eat, both at home and while they’re at day care.

How to Get Your Toddler to Eat

1. Be Patient

You can’t force your children to eat, but having them continuously refuse new food can be exhausting. However, don’t give up after one attempt, since you might have to catch your child in the right mood. You may have to offer your child a new food item a dozen times before they’ll decide to try it.

2. Let Your Child Help With Meal Prep

Your child may be more invested in everyone enjoying a meal if they had a hand in creating it. Depending on their age, you may let them help choose items in the grocery store, like selecting vegetables for a soup. You can also let them clean or measure ingredients while you’re cooking to get them involved.

3. Make Fun Food Presentations

Children are more likely to try new foods if they seem fun and look more like toys. Try cutting food into unique shapes with cookie cutters, or make a creative display using other dishes or even food-safe toys. These little tricks could make your child’s dinner plate look like something they want to engage with.

4. Mix Food Together

Children often resist any unfamiliar food, whether or not they might like it. Mixing things they haven’t tried yet with their favorite foods can make it easier for them to try new things. Even if you don’t mix the ingredients together, simply having something familiar on the plate will increase the chances your kid will give the new dish a chance.

5. Don’t Negotiate or Offer Bribes

Many frustrated parents resort to negotiating or offering bribes to get their child to try new food. While this approach might sometimes work in the short term, it can make children less likely to experiment with new food in the future. Instead of offering extra dessert or TV time, simply put the food away and try again next time.

If you’re looking for a dedicated day care center that will provide an encouraging, nurturing environment for your child, trust the experts at Tiny World Child Care. At their day care locations in Brookline and Newtonville, they pride themselves on encouraging bilingual education and providing the mental stimulation children need. To schedule a tour of a day care center today, visit their website or call (617) 916-9218 to reach their Newtonville location. To speak with someone in Brookline, call (617) 232-0115.