What to feed a picky toddler

@Cheryl, sometimes it helps to have them choose the meat or veggie at the market. Get them excited about helping in the meal planning and cooking stages and sometimes they’re very eager to try the food. Always allow her to spit it out as toddlers are less likely to put something in their mouth if they know they have to swallow it and will more likely try something if they know that they can spit it back out.

Wow! What a great list and what amazing comments. This is SO helpful. I was afraid that I wasn’t giving my 17-month old little boy enough variety. I guess he’s doing okay.

Here is are some of the things that I give him that I didn’t see above. I hope this helps someone out too!
- Rice Krispies cereal with milk and freeze dried raspberries crumbles mixed in. adds a little sweetness which he loves.
- scrambled egg with spinach and cheese (sometimes I use feta)
- Trader Joes turkey meatball cooked in sodium free marina. I serve with peas and wheat spaghetti.
- brown rice mixed with spinach and diced tomato
- brown rice mixed with beans, tomato and cheese
- 1/2 wheat english muffin with butter and jam
- toasted cinnamon raisin bread with butter

Hi there mamas,

My son who is 22 is pretty picky. But after reading many of the posts I realize there is quite a range of what constitutes picky! He will eat:
- cinn. raisin bagel with cream cheese
- plain yogurt with blueberries or raspberries and granola with a little honey
- wheat bread with peanut butter
- quesadillas with guacamole
- pizza
- raisins
- sometimes a banana, sometimes a bite of an apple

No pasta, no beans, no eggs, very little meat, no soup… If we even offer something that he doesn’t like, he is deeply offended and gets really angry and upset.

However, I stumbled across this website: http://www.ellynsatter.com/ in my searches for help and this is what we are trying now. No pressure, no hiding food, just offering the family meal and letting him decide how much, and whether he will eat it. It’s very hard when we think he may still be hungry, but it’s really his choice. Day 1 was super hard. Day 2 was better. Let’s see how tonight goes!

i also stopped buying applesauce and now buy a babyfood w/ apple as the first food and peas or other veg as 2nd. yup it’s green… but i told her it’s applesauce and showed her the pic. the first case (10 ) was gone in a week.

My girls are picky. The younger one, 18 months, is more adventurous, but her sister, now 3, was at that age. I found something they liked for lunch yesterday! And it wasn’t crackers and peanut butter, which they will always eat. I had been to Trader Joes and bought mini pita pockets. I trimmed off the tops and then put a little tomato sauce and mozzarella inside. Then I grilled them like a grilled cheese to melt the cheese. It was like pizza pockets! Millie (the younger) ate every bite. And Isla, the big, ate all around the edges, which is how she eats anything. I am thinking of other fillings I could do.

Great list of ideas! I make my son different salads using quinoa or brown rice. I will use different types of beans chopped up small and chick peas. I also make different combos with the herbs, spices and veggies. Polenta is also great since it is easy to cook and you can mix in veggies. I use veggie broth to give it some flavor. My son also loves brown rice or whole wheat noodles/pasta with just a bit of olive oil and herbs. You can try all the different shapes!

I’m trying to cook healthy.which is new for me. I’m on a tight budget,I have a picky eater who two. Cooking healthy is little overwhelming if your new to it.I love someone to blog or advise on these things