10 Helpful tips for parents of Picky Eaters
We at POOW The Food Hero have developed a tool for parents struggling to get their children to eat. The app is intended for children aged 2-5 who are picky eaters, have food refusal, selective eating disorder (ARFID), food phobia, or an overall problem with eating.
Through close and ongoing dialogue with parents throughout Sweden who deal with this on a daily basis, we have put together a list of tips for parents when their child refuses to eat.
1. Try, Try & Try again
A child needs to try each taste at least 7-8 times before they get used to it and can determine if they like the taste or not. Let the child feel and squeeze the food to get familiar with the consistency, smell, and ultimately the taste.
2. Keep it light and playful
Teach the child about nutrition and diet in a playful way. This creates awareness in the child about what a plate can contain. Through the nutrition game in our app, the child follows POOW to the store and then puts together a meal containing protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates.
3. Bring your child to the Supermarket
In the app, you can choose from a variety of dishes uniquely created for families with children. In the app, you tick off the ingredients you have at home, and then a shopping list is created. This is a perfect opportunity to let the child accompany you to the store and participate in the purchase of goods to create curiosity about the food to be cooked. Learn more about how the app works here
4. Let your child participate in the cooking
By involving the child in the cooking process, the barrier to trying new foods and flavors can be lowered, as it creates an awareness and curiosity in the child about what actually ends up on the plate. This is also an excellent opportunity for the child to become familiar with different flavors separately as the ingredients are prepared. In the app, there is a large and varied recipe bank where you as a family can choose between classic dishes but also more challenging ones. In the recipes, you as a parent will find clear instructions on how to involve your child in the cooking process
5. Have patience!
The change will not happen immediately. It is therefore important that you as a parent show patience and do not force the child to eat. This is likely to have a reverse effect. The “eating journey” of the child is a step by step process where you introduce new dishes and flavors gradually. In POOW The Food Hero, for example, you can set how much of the dish the child should eat. Based on your unique situation, you can start with 20% and then increase it. A perfect way of introducing new foods for picky eaters.
6. You are a role-model
Both children and adults are inspired by role models, so take the opportunity to become a food role model for your child. If your child sees you eating a carrot, there is a greater chance that the child will also try it than if you were not eating the carrot.
7. Serve the same meal to all family members
An important approach to break the food issues at the dinner table is to serve the same food to the whole family, even if your child only eats pasta for example. Cooking multiple dishes can be time-consuming and may also prevent your child from trying new flavors and dishes. It is easier to build norms than to break them. In our app, we have tried to create recipes that are suitable for both the child and the parent.
8. No, the plate don´t need to be empty
The most important thing is not how much is left on the plate but that your child is full. However, it is important that food is not wasted. Therefore, at POOW The Food Hero, we advocate that parents teach their children from an early age not to waste food.
9. Serve healthy snacks
“The expression ‘one takes what one has’ may be worn out, but in many cases it actually holds true. Therefore, serving healthy snacks when your child is most hungry is a smart way to introduce your child to vegetables, fruit, or other food that your child finds difficult to eat. In the app, you will find a lot of tasty, healthy, and filling snacks that are perfect to serve to a hungry child.”
10. Download POOW The Food Hero
Since you are reading these tips on our website, it would almost be a disservice not to recommend our service POOW The Food Hero. We have developed a tool that parents can use to deal with the challenge when their child refuses to eat. POOW works great when a child is picky, has food refusal, selective eating disorder, or general food issues. Through the features in the app, your child is motivated to eat and try new flavors. We do not work with rewards but with motivation, as this creates a healthy and sustainable approach to food. Read more about our app here
Updated 22-03-2023
By Philip Fransson
10 Helpful tips for parents of Picky Eaters
We at POOW The Food Hero have developed a tool for parents struggling to get their children to eat. The app is intended for children aged 2-5 who are picky eaters, have food refusal, selective eating disorder (ARFID), food phobia, or an overall problem with eating.
Through close and ongoing dialogue with parents throughout Sweden who deal with this on a daily basis, we have put together a list of tips for parents when their child refuses to eat.
1. Try, Try & Try again
A child needs to try each taste at least 7-8 times before they get used to it and can determine if they like the taste or not. Let the child feel and squeeze the food to get familiar with the consistency, smell, and ultimately the taste.
2. Keep it light and playful
Teach the child about nutrition and diet in a playful way. This creates awareness in the child about what a plate can contain. Through the nutrition game in our app, the child follows POOW to the store and then puts together a meal containing protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates.
3. Bring your child to the Supermarket
In the app, you can choose from a variety of dishes uniquely created for families with children. In the app, you tick off the ingredients you have at home, and then a shopping list is created. This is a perfect opportunity to let the child accompany you to the store and participate in the purchase of goods to create curiosity about the food to be cooked. Learn more about how the app works here
4. Let your child participate in the cooking
By involving the child in the cooking process, the barrier to trying new foods and flavors can be lowered, as it creates an awareness and curiosity in the child about what actually ends up on the plate. This is also an excellent opportunity for the child to become familiar with different flavors separately as the ingredients are prepared. In the app, there is a large and varied recipe bank where you as a family can choose between classic dishes but also more challenging ones. In the recipes, you as a parent will find clear instructions on how to involve your child in the cooking process
5. Have patience!
The change will not happen immediately. It is therefore important that you as a parent show patience and do not force the child to eat. This is likely to have a reverse effect. The “eating journey” of the child is a step by step process where you introduce new dishes and flavors gradually. In POOW The Food Hero, for example, you can set how much of the dish the child should eat. Based on your unique situation, you can start with 20% and then increase it. A perfect way of introducing new foods for picky eaters.
6. You are a role-model
Both children and adults are inspired by role models, so take the opportunity to become a food role model for your child. If your child sees you eating a carrot, there is a greater chance that the child will also try it than if you were not eating the carrot.
7. Serve the same meal to all family members
An important approach to break the food issues at the dinner table is to serve the same food to the whole family, even if your child only eats pasta for example. Cooking multiple dishes can be time-consuming and may also prevent your child from trying new flavors and dishes. It is easier to build norms than to break them. In our app, we have tried to create recipes that are suitable for both the child and the parent.
8. No, the plate don´t need to be empty
The most important thing is not how much is left on the plate but that your child is full. However, it is important that food is not wasted. Therefore, at POOW The Food Hero, we advocate that parents teach their children from an early age not to waste food.
9. Serve healthy snacks
“The expression ‘one takes what one has’ may be worn out, but in many cases it actually holds true. Therefore, serving healthy snacks when your child is most hungry is a smart way to introduce your child to vegetables, fruit, or other food that your child finds difficult to eat. In the app, you will find a lot of tasty, healthy, and filling snacks that are perfect to serve to a hungry child.”
10. Download POOW The Food Hero
Since you are reading these tips on our website, it would almost be a disservice not to recommend our service POOW The Food Hero. We have developed a tool that parents can use to deal with the challenge when their child refuses to eat. POOW works great when a child is picky, has food refusal, selective eating disorder, or general food issues. Through the features in the app, your child is motivated to eat and try new flavors. We do not work with rewards but with motivation, as this creates a healthy and sustainable approach to food. Read more about our app here
Updated 22-03-2023
By Philip Fransson