How even picky eaters can be satisfied

How to keep things running smoothly at the family dining table

Avoid frustration: Many children only become pickier about food in their second or third year of life. Don't force anything, even if your child suddenly rejects foods they previously ate without complaint – instead try offering something new.

Discover new preferences: It would be unreasonable to expect children to eat everything – after all, we adults don't like everything either. Make use of the variety of fresh, healthy foods and try something new more often – with a bit of luck you'll find a new favorite dish.

Cook more yourself: Sure, sometimes there's no time for a home-cooked meal. But the more you prepare yourselves, the more control you have over the quality and freshness of the ingredients. Also: children who are allowed to help cook are often much more adventurous and are more willing to eat in their own creations.

Don't force them to eat everything: For children, the natural feeling of fullness is still very pronounced. Accept it when your child is full and never force them to empty their plate. What a child eats too little of in one meal is usually made up for at the next.

No panic: Jam sandwiches at every meal? Almost all parents know phases where their children seem to feed exclusively on a single food. Whether you give in to the special food wishes is up to you – but you don't have to worry about possible deficiencies. As a rule, children sooner or later turn to other foods again on their own.

How children can have more fun at mealtimes

Mäkelige Kinder | Mädchen mit Zopf sitzt vor Müsli-Schale mit verschränkten Armen

Eating together is more enjoyable

Family meals create closeness, give daily life structure and provide an opportunity to calmly talk about the day. Incidentally, children pick up a lot from their parents and their eating habits during shared meals – so it's worth setting a good example.

Favorite foods on a favorite plate

Children's plates and cutlery with favorite motifs bring color to the table and fun to mealtimes. The cheerful cutlery and dish sets are adapted to small children's hands and make eating easier. For a birthday, as a gift from grandma, or simply as a surprise on the table – many children find their first own set of tableware a great motivation.

No appetite?

Some children naturally have less appetite than others, whether temporarily or long-term. As long as your child appears healthy and is not constantly pale or lethargic, you should accept it as it is. With a few tricks you can also feed picky eaters a balanced nourish. The first step: Don't make a big fuss about food – that quickly suggests to children that something is wrong. The second: Make meals interesting. Children who leave their breakfast in the morning can, for example, start the day with a glass of milk, a smoothie, or a homemade drinking yogurt with fruit. Sometimes it also helps to divide food into several small meals. If it can be reconciled with family meals, you can put some sliced fruit, a sandwich, or a yogurt on the table in between.

Tricks allowed: 'hidden' and 'playful' vegetables

Much-loved pasta sauces: Almost all children love pasta – with the pasta sauce you can 'unobtrusively' offer some vegetables. Try small diced carrots and zucchini in a Bolognese sauce, add fine strips of leek and bell pepper to a cream sauce, or a homemade fruity tomato sauce with bell pepper.

Crunchy finger food: Children who ignore cooked vegetables may prefer fresh, crunchy raw vegetables: carrots, cucumbers, kohlrabi or bell pepper, cut into handy sticks, are nicely colorful and can be eaten with the fingers. With cream cheese or another dip, the healthy finger food becomes even more tempting.

Liquid fruit and vegetables: Juices and smoothies are not a complete substitute for fresh fruit and vegetables, but a good alternative for children who absolutely refuse these foods. Of course, homemade juices and smoothies are better than store-bought products – feel free to add a bit of carrot or beetroot, which you can mix with fruit juices. Cheese is the main thing: Sometimes a crispy cheese crust is enough to make vegetables attractive to children. Popular potato and pasta bakes can also be wonderfully enriched with vegetables.