How to help your picky eater eat

• Encourage your child to try new food on his/her own. Ensure not to force him/her as forcing your child to try new foods would not only be unproductive, but could also hurt their perception of food in general.
• Encourage your child to help you pack your plates. A good way to get your child to try new food is letting them pick off your plate. They are usually encouraged to try new foods when they see their parents eating it first.
• Being a good role model extends to eating habits, as well. It’s extremely important not to be hypocritical when getting your child to try new foods. If you don’t eat it, they won’t eat it. You can’t eat rice and expect your child to eat beans; it just won’t work. Kid’s often tends to eat what they see you eat, your child is probably going to eat only the food they see you eat so do not expect him/her to each what you don’t eat. If you eat a variety of healthy foods, your child is more likely to follow suit.
• Variety is the spice of life.  Your child could be turned off by the looks of new food, adding new color and shape to the food can help overcome any obstacle. Create fun, try using shapes or cartoon characters your child likes in other to make the food more appealing and they will be more likely to try the food
• The table is not a war zone remain calm irrespective of the situation on ground. Young children often touch or smell new foods, and might even put tiny bits in their mouths and then take them back out again. Your child might need repeated exposure to a new food before he/she takes the first bite. No matter how frustrated or worried you are, try not to let your child notice it. When you are indifferent about the situation, they tend to be relaxed.
• Avoid offering other substitutes. When your child knows there’s a plan B, they probably won’t eat the food. Giving your child another meal after he/she rejects the original meal might promote picky eating. You could do it occasionally.
• Don't allow snack time to be closer to meal time. A hungrier kid is more willing to try something new.
• Don’t insist your child finishes his/her food. It's not important whether or not your child eat a full plate. If your child isn't hungry, don't force a meal. This might only ignite or reinforce a power struggle over food. In addition, your child might come to associate mealtime with anxiety and frustration or become less sensitive to his or her own hunger and fullness cues. Serve small portions to avoid overwhelming your child and give him/her the opportunity to independently ask for more. Don’t bribe or force your child to eat certain foods or clean his or her plate.

Don't panic if it seems like your picky eater isn't growing fast enough.

Children don't always grow at a steady pace, and there will be times when your child doesn't seem to be growing at all. Check in with your doctor if you're concerned, but don't convey your fears to your child. Also keep in mind that your child's appetite will vary, depending on things like her activity level and whether she's having a growth spurt.

How to handle Picky eaters

According to Urban Dictionary Picky eater is a person that is adverse to a wide variety of foods; additionally picky eaters often display an unwillingness to try new foods, or any food that contains even a small amount of a food they do not like.

According to children’s health network the peak time for picky eating is the toddler or preschool years. A picky eater: May complain or whine about what is served, Refuses certain foods especially vegetables and meats, Pushes foods around the plate, Hides foods or gives them to a pet under the table, Eats enough total foods and calories per day for normal growth

What Causes Picky eating?

Children of all ages (and adults) commonly have a few food dislikes. A picky eater is a child with many foods dislikes. At age 2 or 3, up to 20 percent of children are picky eaters. It is normal for most young children to dislike foods with a bitter or spicy taste. Sometimes children dislike foods because of their color, but more often it's because they are difficult to chew. Children accept tender meats better than tough ones, and well-cooked vegetables better than raw. Occasionally a child who gags on large pieces of all foods has large tonsils that make it difficult to swallow.

 

Reasons your child is a picky eater

On a daily basis when trying to get their child to try new foods, mums hear words like “Eww” or “Yuck!” from their child.

Children can become picky eaters for a number of reasons. Some children are naturally more sensitive to taste, smell and texture. Other children develop picky eating habits by modeling their parents' fussy eating habits. Picky eating habits are more likely to develop when parents punish, bribe or reward their children's eating behaviors. The goal for feeding a picky eater should be to try new foods and to keep food from starting a battle.