Mini Chicken Burgers and Picky Eater Tips

When our son, Solomon, was little, his picky eating drove me to tears. He seemed to have little interest in eating at all, and when he did eat, it seemed like all he wanted were the same five or six foods. Sometimes I would feel sorry for myself because I -- who loved to cook and enjoyed food so much -- was blessed with a child who would prefer drinking milk or water all day to eating just about anything. How things change! I can hardly believe that my formerly finicky (albeit well-hydrated) plate-picker is now one of the most adventurous eaters I know.

Solomon has developed a taste for Japanese, Indian, Mexican, and so many other cuisines, and, at age 13, never hesitates to try something new, often boosting flavors by sprinkling his dinner with freshly ground pepper or hot sauce. Over the last 12 years as a cookbook author, food writer, and parent, I've talked to so many moms and dads who are at their wits ends with their own stubborn eaters. I've developed some suggestions, based on my own experiences, research, and advice from many other parents, that can help parents raise children who are healthy, open-minded eaters:

1. Cook with your kids. They're more likely to eat foods that they've helped create. The meal will also seem a little less mysterious if they see and have some control over exactly what goes into it.

2. Try to sit down to meals as a family. Your children will be more likely to eat what the rest of the family is eating when you sit together.

3. Cut down on (or drop) snacks and juice between meals. Kids are unlikely to try new foods or eat much at all if they're not hungry when they sit down at the table. If they do need snacks between meals, make sure they're healthy ones.

4. Consider the one bite to be polite rule to encourage kids to try new foods. Remember to shower them with praise if they eat more than one bite, and give them positive feedback for being brave enough to try a new food.

5. Give your children opportunities to eat around other kids (especially older ones). Kids are often more willing to try new foods in social settings when everyone else is doing it.

6. Keep a list of new foods your picky eater has been willing to try. Every time they try a new healthy food without rejecting it, make a big deal of adding it to the list!

7. Keep offering new foods even if your son or daughter didn't like them in the past. Taste buds mature and children sometimes need multiple exposures to new foods. If they still don't like it, say something positive like, "That's okay, your taste buds are still maturing, so maybe you'll like it when you're older."

8. Make new foods fun or funny. My husband, Andrew, got Solomon and Celia to eat green beans by telling them that if they ate one for each finger, they would be able to push him over with their strong fingers and they did! 

9. Tell your kids why it's important to eat healthy or growing foods. We often talk about what part of the body each food benefits-- broccoli and other green foods help our bones grow strong, carrots help us see better, and beans are good for our muscles. Our bodies need good fuel, not junky food, to keep us healthy and going strong.

10. Keep it positive, and don't push too hard. Kids won't starve themselves. I remember my pediatrician saying that kids seem to survive some days on air. If you get into a power struggle with your children over food, they're likely to win and a lot of the pleasure is also drained out of sharing meals. Your picky eaters are likely to gobble up these delicious mini-burgers suggested by our friend Mark Spindel. They're so versatile -- the basic recipe is delicious, or you can give them an Indian flavor by adding curry powder or an Asian flavor by adding a little ginger and soy or teriyaki sauce. You may enjoy them with Alice's Seasoned Baked French Fries. 

What are your best suggestions for coping with picky eaters? Please share your advice for other parents here!