Food That Even The Pickiest Eaters Will Love

In my family there are four mouths to feed;

My husband and I… we don’t eat meat, dairy, or a ton of gluten.

My oldest, who is 13, loves a variety of fruits, veggies, bread, and steak. She doesn’t want to eat what we eat in any form… at all!

My youngest, who is 10, loves food and will eat almost anything but would prefer to live off cereal if I let her.

I have a feeling I am not alone in dealing with picky eaters? Am I?

BUT I am not a short-order cook. I want to make meals that my entire family will eat – food that they will love and enjoy – but ones that also fit the lifestyle my husband and I have developed. I want to serve food that even the pickiest eaters will eat.

If you are curious about why my kids still eat meat, you can read that here.

First, a few tips to help get your kids eating healthier.

It all starts by getting them in the kitchen.

Cooking as a family really can provide significant and sustained benefits for your children. I know… that’s easier said than done, though. Just reading the phrase “cooking with kids” might already make your mind think more work than needed.

However, with some prep and patience, cooking with kids won’t turn into a kitchen nightmare. And your children will fill up on life-long skills and short-term benefits. It will make any minor messes or stresses more than worth it.

Here are some tips:

1. Let the kids pick out a meal they can either cook alone or with some guidance from you, but make sure it is easy to follow to help build their confidence.
2. Pack your patience. It will be slower, messier, and likely include some mistakes. These are important kitchen skills for your child to learn.
3. Choose at least one veggie to prep and cook, I can almost guarantee that if they have taken the time to prep it, they have a greater chance of wanting to try it.
4. Let them have fun; make a mess, eat while they go, make it silly.
5. Have kids of different ages? Make each task age appropriate and work together as a team.
6. Provide a ton of compliments. Guide kids through the tasks until they’ve mastered them. And make sure they know when they’ve done a good job. Compliments can go a long way.