Food ideas for picky babies

Picky Baby Food Ideas

Has your baby been rejecting food at mealtime? If so, you’re not alone. Babies often have highly discerning tastes that may come off as “picky eating.”

Image by Stephen Andrews

The term ‘picky eater’ is often used disapprovingly by parents and caregivers to describe a variety of eating behaviors. Some caregivers have expectations of how much food needs to be consumed by their little one, and label their child ‘picky’ if less food is eaten.

It’s a completely normal behavior for your baby as you help them discover new food flavors and textures. Trying out different foods and textures can help you find what they will eat during these phases.

When picky eating and jags begin

Picky eating often shows up around a year of age but may happen sooner. Your baby’s appetite and food intake varies by meal and/or by day. Today’s favorite food is rejected tomorrow, and the preference for only one or two foods, commonly known as food jags, may begin.

Other caregivers experience food jags with their child, where only one or two foods are acceptable and this may be called ‘picky eating.’ Sometimes toddlers just want to be active, and sitting in the highchair keeps them from their preferred play which earns them the ‘picky’ emblem.

Remember that these eating patterns are normal. Your child’s food intake needs depend on their level of physical activity and what their body needs. It’s important to continue monitoring their weight and ask their pediatrician if you have any concerns.

The best defense is to introduce a variety of tastes at a young age to acclimate the developing palate toward adventurous eating.

How you can help baby picky eaters

The most important thing you can do when you perceive your child as being a picky eater is to continue to offer a variety of healthy meals on a regular schedule. The selection of foods offered should also include previously rejected foods.

It’s important to remember that your baby is being introduced to a variety of flavors and developing tastes, and it’s perfectly normal if a food is not immediately accepted.

Things to avoid with baby picky eaters

The worst thing that caregivers can do for themselves and their children is to make food and mealtime a battleground. Mealtimes are meant to be pleasant, and forcing your little one to eat can actually cause him or her to become pickier and eat less.

Likewise, avoid bargaining with your child to take one more bite. They will quickly learn how to negotiate bites of food if the reward is dessert. That is a losing proposition for you both. Also avoid unhealthy options for the sake of getting them to eat as this can cause them to not develop a taste for healthier options.

Accept that your child will eat when they are hungry and they will decide how much is enough. This may be easier said than done. However, if you can stay the course rather than following your toddler around, hoping he will take a bite of something (or anything) you will find yourself in a better place.

Food ideas for a picky eater

Texture and flavor variety

As you’re introducing your baby to solids, they may still prefer purees or liquids alongside or entirely at times. It can be useful to find what soft solid food textures your baby prefers such as banana versus sweet potato or a soft crisp.
It can be useful to introduce your baby to one-ingredient solids for 3-5 days. This can help them get familiar with the new foods and allow enough time for them to try it and see if it’s a flavor they really do not like. If they don’t eat enough of the new food, be sure to supplement their meal with their favorite food puree pouch or other meal you’ll know they’ll eat.

Some food flavors and textures to try:

Banana cut into small pieces
Chicken chopped finely
Pasta well-cooked beyond requiring chewing
Potato cooked and cut into small pieces
Scrambled eggs cut into bite-size pieces

Test food temperatures

Sometimes babies prefer certain flavors warm and others cold. Your baby may also take to overall warmer foods more than cold or vice versa. It can also depend on their environment temperature. For example, you may want to cool them down on a hot day.

As you’re introducing new flavors and textures, be sure to experiment with food temperature as well to feel out their preferences. This can help you with the success of them taking to current and future foods you try out.

Get your baby’s preferred food staples delivered to your door

Picky eaters will often have a handful of consistent foods that they will eat regularly with no qualms. You just have to discover which ones those are and then keep them on hand to ensure they are eating enough while you help them explore new foods to expand their palette.

You can skip the grocery line and get a wide variety of flavors and textures in convenient baby food pouches sent to your home.

From fruits and veggies to protein-packed foods and dairy-free options, you can find flavors baby will love. And you’ll know that you’re feeding them high-quality ingredients as all Sprout’s foods are organic & non-GMO with no concentrates or preservatives. Discover your little one’s new favorite foods today!

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40+ Toddler Meals for Picky Eaters

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How many times have I heard a parent or daycare provider say my toddler won’t eat anything? More times than I can count. These toddler meals for picky eaters can help!

How do I get my fussy toddler to eat? What can I feed my picky 2-year-old for dinner? Do kids outgrow picky eating? Are these all questions you’re asking yourself? If so, you’re in the right place. I have been feeding picky toddlers in my home daycare for decades and these are my tried and true tips!

Some of my kid’s favorite foods include cheese and crackers, ham sandwiches, nachos, cheese quesadillas, taco soup, sausage biscuits, pasta, and vegetable beef soup.

What do you do when your child refuses to eat?

There are many seasons when a child’s appetite will go up or down. During the toddler years, it seems like kids don’t eat anything, but there are a few things to remember here. First, remember that milk and juice are food and if a child is drinking a lot, they may be full from that and not feel hungry.

Second, think about what a child-sized portion actually is. It’s just a tablespoon or two, check out how much your child should be eating here.

The number one thing to NOT do when your child doesn’t want to eat is to make a big deal out of it. Asking, begging, cajoling, feeling emotional, and nagging a child to eat all cause the child to feel anxious about eating. You can offer food, but if a child doesn’t want to eat, let it go. They will eat when they are hungry. Here are some ideas to help your child eat healthier.

Make sure you are not giving junk food snacks between meals. A piece of fruit or cheese could be available but if your child really likes crackers and knows you will give them some later if they don’t eat lunch, they may be waiting for that or chips or candy. So, waiting until mealtime is important.

Toddler meals

Toddlers do go through times when they are less hungry. When they begin to hit a growth spurt, they will get a bigger appetite. They will also go through periods where they don’t want certain things such as meat. That’s okay too, just offer other sources of protein such as nuts, seeds, cheese, yogurt, beans, etc.

Trying to force a child to eat will definitely backfire. Make sure you are calm and patient with this process. If you’re worried about a child’s nutrition, there are ways to hide small amounts of healthy food in your meals. You can check them out by clicking the highlighted link.

Check out zero to hero nutrition: how to actually get kids to eat healthy food for even more tips on getting picky toddlers to eat real food.

Foods for picky toddlers

Think about the simple tastes of a toddler when planning something they might eat. It doesn’t have to be complicated and kids usually prefer simpler tastes. Think about cheese and crackers, ham sandwiches, cheese sticks, fresh cut-up fruit, fresh vegetables that are soft such as cucumbers or zucchini, plain pasta with just butter and salt and pepper, or something like that. You can also add canned tuna or chicken to pasta to give them some protein.

Young kids don’t like a lot of complicated flavors. They usually don’t prefer strong herbs or lots of complexity. They would rather have plain mac and cheese than a big pasta casserole full of yummy goodness. You can feed them simple meals without just doing corn dogs and frozen fries.

Toddler food recipes

If your kid’s only fries, try making oven fries. Cut the potatoes like fries and then roast them in the oven at 400 with plenty of salt, pepper, and olive oil.

Pizza is a GREAT way to get kids to enjoy some veggies. I love to add green powder under the sauce and hide shredded squash under the cheese. If you use yellow squash, it’s undetectable. These pizza cups are great too, every kid loves them! These Air Fryer Pizza Wontons are super easy and kids love them too. It’s like having pizza rolls but without all the chemicals in the frozen ones.

It doesn’t change the taste, but if you have a child that eats no veggies ever, this can help soothe your momma heart about them getting a few. Another great place to add veggies is spaghetti sauce and sweet bread like banana bread or this amazing peach bread.

What can I give my picky toddler to eat?

Most vegetables taste better roasted. I love to roast a big sheet pan of veggies for my kids, especially if they are new to veggies. It helps them learn to like them early. We do broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, green beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash like butternut, zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, and so much more. This broccoli rice casserole full of chicken and cheesy goodness is a great choice!

I’ve even seen people roast beets, radishes, and turnips this way. That’s a big no thanks for me. But you might like it. These are the very few vegetables that I just do not like no matter how hard I try.

Another great way to make veggies taste good is stir-frying. You use super high heat, a little oil, and stir them fast. It gives them a nice crispness that many people prefer.

Don’t forget that kids are more likely to try something they are used to. And it takes 11 times of exposure to become a familiar food. So, don’t give up. Just keep eating and enjoying and modeling good eating habits.

For quick and easy dinners that are healthy, check this post out.

My kids LOVE my cucumber salad and beg for it. They eat it by the quart. It’s sliced cucumbers, thinly sliced onions, dill, salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar. It’s a fan favorite at little sprouts. I would never think a kid would eat that. But they do.

I love it and made it for myself. They kept begging for it until I had to make 4 large cucumbers at a time so they all got enough.

There is hardly anything that all the kids love, so remember to offer choices. We usually have 4-6 choices of fruits and veggies on our table every lunch. I just say you have to pick at least two and ask what they want.

They don’t have to eat two here, but food program rules dictate that two have to be on their plates, so I say pick two. I usually have one fruit and the rest are freshly sliced cucumbers, carrots, sugar snap peas, cooked frozen corn, cucumber salad, roasted broccoli, roasted cauliflower, cooked frozen mixed vegetables, or peas, or something like that.

If you have very young toddlers who don’t have many teeth or are just starting out eating, just microwave or steam those raw veggies for a few minutes so they are easier to bite and chew for their toddler meals.

You’d be surprised at the volume of fresh fruits and vegetables my kids consume at a meal. These kids are lumberjacks. But they all go through times and phases where they eat less or hardly eat. I know this happens, so I don’t worry about it.

Tips for feeding picky toddlers

Here are a few more tips for feeding picky toddlers on the regular. First, keeping a routine makes mealtimes more predictable thus more comfortable for kids. Don’t make separate toddler meals for kids, cook one meal, and eat peacefully.

Make the mealtime pleasant, not stressful. Have pleasant conversation, smile, and enjoy your food. Mealtime is the best time of the day to connect with your family.

More great ways to help kids want to eat is to let them help prepare the meal. Kids can put food on a serving plate, set the table, choose side dishes, stir, measure, dump, and do all kinds of fun things. Even more than cooking is growing food. If you have a garden, let kids get involved in tending it. You’ll be surprised at how much it affects what kids want to try.

At mealtime turn off the screens. TV, tablets, computers, and phones are huge distractions from eating. Let it be a time to disconnect from those things and connect with each other.

Don’t fear that kids will starve. It’s hard not to worry, but kids feel your fear and they will be less likely to loosen up. They WILL eat when they are hungry. It’s okay. And don’t forget, some kids have sensory disorders or other medical issues that make certain things unappealing.

It’s all a process. If you notice your child hardly eats anything AND they haven’t gained any weight in over 6 months, you might want to ask their doctor. Otherwise, stay the course and it will probably even out.

Lastly, don’t offer sweets as a reward. You’ll get dessert if you eat your broccoli. That doesn’t help build healthy habits in the long run. And don’t potato pay them, Ore-Ida. Blech. That commercial makes me so mad. Way to sell some future eating disorders. America’s most trusted potato, not anymore. It’s a horrible practice, just don’t.

Toddler food ideas

Now let’s get those toddler food ideas to make your life more pleasant and get your kids to finally eat.

Toddler breakfast ideas

Breakfast can be simple things like flavored oatmeal or cream of wheat with some fruit or fruit and nuts. It can also be a fruit and granola yogurt parfait. Anything toddlers can pick up with their hands for toddler meals like bacon, sausage, dry cereal, fruit slices, pancakes, French toast sticks, waffles, or cheese cubes would make a great breakfast. These healthier blueberry muffins for toddlers are a great kid pleaser.

Kids usually love scrambled eggs. Some of them even like boiled eggs, so that’s a great thing to try. I love to make breakfast casseroles, frittatas or quiches. If your kids would go for something like that, go for it. My kid’s favorite way to eat eggs is just scrambled eggs with some shredded cheddar cheese mixed in at the end. We call it cheesy eggs and it’s a winner here.

If the link is highlighted, you can click on the recipe.

Boiled eggs-I just put a dozen eggs in cold water and a generous sprinkling of salt on the burner. I set the timer for 25 minutes and the burner on high and they turn out perfectly every time. If I do less than a dozen, they usually get overdone. You may have to adjust for your stove as well.

Cheesy eggs
Scrambled eggs
Egg casserole
Frittata
Quiche
Egg in a nest
Sausage biscuits
Pancakes
Waffles
French toast sticks
Breakfast pizza-cook some crumbled sausage and some scrambled eggs. Find a crust, either pizza crust premade, make your own, use a tortilla, a bagel or an English muffin. You can spread it with pizza sauce if you like or make a hollandaise sauce. I go without sauce when I make it. Then sprinkle on cooked sausage and eggs, you could also add some cooked spinach or mushrooms, whatever your kids like to eat. Top with some shredded cheddar cheese and bake in a 350 oven until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Peanut butter and apples
Yogurt parfaits
Toast
Berries
Sliced fruit

Toddler lunch ideas and dinner ideas

Homemade chicken nuggets-simply take some boneless skinless chicken breast and cut it into chunks. Beat one egg with a splash of water and salt and pepper. In another bowl, add flour and salt and pepper. Roll the chicken chunks in the egg mixture and then in the flour. You can either bake these in the oven on 350 until done through or put a little olive oil in a skillet and brown them that way. They cook super-fast too.
Cheese quesadillas
Chicken quesadillas
Ham or turkey sandwich
Grilled cheese
Soups-Soups are always a favorite with my kids. They make this vegetable beef soup all the time and love it, but I haven’t found much I can’t put in soup and they will love it. They love to slurp the juice.
Spaghetti
Sloppy joes using spaghetti sauce on buns
Nachos-pile up whatever toppings you like on your chips, cover in shredded cheddar or cheese of your choice, and then bake in the oven until cheese is bubbly.
Tacos
Bean burritos-This is a lifelong favorite toddler meal of so many of my daycare kids.

Easy toddler meals

Cold plate-chunks of meats and cheeses on a plate with some raw fruits and veggies
Peanut butter and banana tortillas
Fried rice-cook some rice or use leftover. Heat a skillet up super-hot and toss in some meat. Could be small pieces of chicken, pork chops, steak, whatever you have around (you can even use canned chicken if you like) Right before you add the meat, put in a few tablespoons of oil. Next, toss in some chopped onion and garlic, stir and cook. Next add some cut up veggies, carrots or celery. Cook a few minutes more. Add some chopped up tender veggies such as broccoli, spinach, kale, cauliflower, peas, asparagus, cabbage, whatever you have that your kids like. Toss and stir a few minutes more with plenty of salt and pepper and even add soy sauce if your kids like that. Super quick easy meal.

A favorite meat for picky eaters at Little Sprouts has always been kid-friendly chicken. Check this out for ideas!

Pulled pork sandwiches-toss a pork roast in the crock pot before bed with some bbq rub or just salt and pepper. Cook all night and in the morning shred with two forks. Put back in the crock pot with some ranch seasoning mix or bbq sauce depending on what flavor you want. Serve on a bun
Meatballs
Meatloaf
Tuna Casserole
Homemade Mac and Cheese
Hot pockets
Empanadas
Pizza bagels, English muffin pizzas, tortilla pizzas or regular pizza-use your crust of choice, you can make homemade pizza dough or buy premade crusts. Check out this pizza recipe for ideas.
Pasta
Beef soup for toddlers
Chicken and rice-Put two cups of white rice in a casserole dish with 4 cups of chicken stock, some salt pepper and thyme or whatever herb you like. You can even use a packet of ranch seasoning mix. Place seasoned chicken thighs or breasts on top and cover with foil. Bake at 375 for an hour and check chicken for doneness. Remove foil and bake until chicken is crispy and rice is done.
Chili
Hamburgers or cheeseburgers

For more picky eating help, check these out:

Healthy Snacks for Picky Eaters
Healthy Breakfast Recipes for Picky Eaters
Healthy Dinner Recipes for Picky Eaters
Top 10 Healthy Meals for Picky Eaters
Meatless Meals for Picky Eaters
Getting Picky Kids to Eat Healthy with Hidden Vegetables
Quick and easy dinner ideas that are healthy

For more lunch ideas for daycare, breakfast ideas for daycare, and snack ideas for daycare, check out these posts.

And if you’re just looking for a quick dinner idea for kids, check this out.

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