Lunchbox Help for Picky Eaters
You pack a perfect lunch: Nutritious, cut into cute shapes, and well-balanced. But then, it comes home at the end of the day completely untouched, or only one thing is gone. Sound familiar? Dealing with a “picky eater” can be frustrating for parents. Not only because of wasted food, but because you just want your toddler to eat. If your child frequently comes home from school, daycare, Grandma’s, or anywhere else with a full lunchbox, we have some tips that can help. Keep reading to learn more about our lunchbox tips for picky eaters, including how new mealware can help.
Understanding Picky Eating
Do you have a picky eater on your hands and want to break them out of it? Here’s the thing: “Picky eating” is actually developmentally normal, and not a cause for concern.
After the rapid growth of infancy, when babies usually triple in weight, a toddler’s growth rate – and appetite – tends to slow down.
Toddlers also are beginning to develop food preferences, a fickle process. A toddler’s favorite food one day may hit the floor the next, or a snubbed food might suddenly become the one he or she can’t get enough of. For weeks, they may eat 1 or 2 preferred foods – and nothing else.
Try not to get frustrated by this typical toddler behavior. Just make healthy food choices available and know that, with time, your child's appetite and eating behaviors will level out.
[source: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/nutrition/Pages/Picky-Eaters.aspx#:~:text=Help%20your%20child%20explore%20new,9 ]
Does Your Child’s Lunchbox Come Home Untouched?
Remember: There are plenty of foods that you enjoy now that you may not have enjoyed when you were younger. Taste buds mature, preferences change, and your child is just going through a phase right now.
Luckily, there are some ways you can manage the current issue at hand: Lunchboxes that come home untouched. There are several ways you can help encourage your picky eater to try new things and bring home an empty lunchbox. Some tips include non-food rewards, avoiding the fight, and trying new mealware.
Tips to Help Your Picky Eater
Non-Food Rewards
As you have likely already discovered, bribes work pretty well for toddlers. Do X and they can get rewarded with Y. It’s a tale as old as time; however, it is important to be careful with this strategy when it comes to food.
It is super tempting to ask them to eat something new to receive a treat in return. It is okay to do every once in a while, but don’t make it the norm. It can lead to nightly battles and a power struggle, and it can also possibly affect your child’s relationship with food.
Instead, try non-food rewards. Here are some ideas:
| Screentime. | The biggest prize of all! If your child is generally limited on screen time, offer an extra 15 minutes of screen time if they try a new food or clear their plate. |
| Treasure box. | Utilize a treasure box in your home with small trinkets or “coupons” for things such as a library book or a special outing. |
| FlexCharmz. | These little charms are a great way to reward your picky eater when they come home with an empty lunchbox! They can customize their lunchbox any way they want, and they can be used throughout the week. Reset at the start of the next week! |
| Verbal praise. | Did your child eat something new? Have everyone in the house celebrate! Many children thrive on verbal praise. Make sure you clap, get excited, and bring it up throughout the rest of the day. |
Skip The Fight
Did your parents ever tell you, “Eat what is on your plate or you don’t get dinner?”
This can feel very frustrating, especially for a toddler who is looking at a plate full of food that they do not like.
Pressuring your child to eat their food, punishing them if they do not eat it, or arguing too much about their meal will do more harm than good. It will make mealtime an unpleasant experience for them, which will cause them to become even more picky.
If they are fussing about their dinner, do your best to stay calm. It is not a behavior to correct; instead, it is something they are simply learning and adjusting to. Allow them the space and grace to try foods on their own (with positive encouragement) without it becoming a negative experience. In return, everything becomes much less stressful for both you and your child!
Try New Mealware
Are you using the same plates, bowls, or lunchboxes day after day? Switch it up!
Sometimes, a new presentation can spark your child’s curiosity and make them want to try something new.
This is especially true for lunchboxes. Giving your child something fun and colorful that they can customize themselves can be just the thing they need!
Our FLEX&LOCK KIDS FlexBox Set is ideal for picky eaters. It includes large compartments for the foods they like, plus a bonus small compartment for them to try something new.
They can enjoy dips and saucy foods without you having to worry about spills. That’s right, this lunchbox is completely leakproof!
Watch your kids, even the pickiest eaters, finish their healthy meals by making their lunchtime fun, thanks to the interactive FlexCharms that will keep them entertained. Reward your healthy eaters with their favorite charms!
For more picky eater tips and products for the whole family, visit us at Innobaby.com!