Practical Tips for Parenting a Picky Eater: Reduce Stress and Food Waste

Parenting a Picky Eater: Practical Tips to Reduce Stress and Food Waste

You know the scene: you’re at a restaurant or a friend’s house, watching someone else’s kids happily devour artichokes, clams, or even just a turkey sandwich. Meanwhile, your child is sitting with a plate full of food, nibbling on buttered noodles...again.

Parenting a picky eater can feel frustrating and exhausting, both logistically and emotionally. Preparing meals that are repeatedly rejected is hard. While our picky eating class dives deep into understanding why kids are picky and how to expand their palates, here we’ll focus on practical strategies to help reduce food waste and manage the stress of mealtime.

Why Picky Eaters Waste Food

• Offering variety is key to expanding your child’s palate, but it often leads to uneaten food.
• Expert Insight: Karen Williams, a Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in feeding therapy, explains, “Parents of picky eaters are told to offer variety, but if the picky eater only eats their favorites, there will be some waste with the food they didn’t eat.”
• The Takeaway: Even if food goes untouched, offering variety is still the right approach—don’t give up!

5 Ways to Reduce Food Waste from Picky Eaters

1. Serve Small Portions:

   • Start with a tablespoon-sized portion to minimize waste.
   • Offer more if your child shows interest.

2. Repurpose Leftovers:

   • Add untouched food back to family leftovers.
   • Incorporate uneaten items into other meals (e.g., chop veggies into a soup or stir-fry).

3. Recycle Meals:

   • Reintroduce leftovers or premade items the next day for exposure.
   • Avoid cooking entirely new dishes your child may not eat.

4. Compost:

   • Use uneaten food to start or contribute to a compost bin.
   • Transform wasted food into something useful for your garden or community.

5. Change Your Perspective:

   • Accept that picky eating is a universal phase for toddlers.
   • Remind yourself that this phase will likely pass in time.

Managing Stress Around Picky Eating

Picky eating can cramp your kitchen style, make eating out a hassle, and add the chore of dealing with untouched food. It’s natural to feel frustrated, but remember:

• Kids Need Time to Learn:

  • Eating well is a skill, and some kids take longer to develop it.

• Focus on Parenting, Not Perfection:

  • Shift your mindset to prioritize your role as a parent over the mealtime battles.

• Seek Support if Needed:

  • Karen reminds parents, “There is a community of specialists to support you (and your child) as you learn to find joy in eating as a family.”

You’ve Got This!

Dealing with a picky eater is a challenge, but it doesn’t have to dominate your mealtime experience. By offering variety, using practical strategies to reduce waste, and seeking help when needed, you’re creating the foundation for your child to develop a healthy relationship with food over time.

Remember, parents: you’re doing great!

Nurtured Nest provides self-paced online learning for parents on our unique learning platform. Learn more about our courses here.