so, i'm curious how everyone deals with picky eaters? my youngest is going through this phase where everything green is apparently the enemy. i've tried the whole 'make it fun' approach with smiley face veggies and all, but it's just not cutting it. at one point, i even tried hiding veggies in her favorite foods, but she's got this sixth sense for detecting anything healthy. i'm running low on ideas and patience. anyone else been through this? what worked for you? also, i read somewhere that getting kids involved in cooking helps them get excited about food. has anyone tried that? would love to hear your experiences!

Getting kids involved in cooking can be a game-changer! When my little one went through a similar phase, letting her pick out veggies at the store and helping wash or mix them in the kitchen made a big difference. It gave her a sense of ownership over her meals, and she was more willing to try what she had helped create. Another trick that worked for us was serving veggies with a favorite dip or sauce. Sometimes, a little ranch or hummus can make broccoli seem a lot more appealing. Keep experimenting, and remember, it’s a phase that many kids go through. Eventually, they grow out of it. Hang in there! 😊

Oh, picky eaters can be quite the challenge! My son went through a similar phase where anything remotely healthy was a no-go. What surprisingly worked for us was turning it into a game. We'd have "taste test challenges" where he'd try a tiny bite of something new and rate it on a silly scale, like "Super Yummy" to "Not My Favorite." It made the process fun and less about the veggies themselves.

Getting kids involved in cooking is definitely worth a shot! When my daughter got to help make her own mini pizzas, she was more open to adding a few veggies on top. It might take some time, but keep experimenting with different approaches. Sometimes, persistence and a little creativity go a long way! 😊

As someone who's seen first hand how this transfers in to adulthood, it's certainly very restrictive and difficult, especially for example in relationships. I guess my point is although it may be difficult, I would always advocate for sticking with forcing young ones to experience and try new things. Likewise, if you're a fussy adult - don't act that way in front of your children!

Oh, the picky eater phase! Been there, done that. One thing that worked for us was making a game out of trying new foods. We called it the "Taste Test Challenge" and would rate new foods on a scale of 1 to 5. It was a fun way to introduce new flavors without pressure. Sometimes, just the excitement of the game got them to try something new. 😄

Involving kids in cooking is definitely worth a shot. My kiddo loved being the "official taste tester" while we cooked. It made her feel important and curious about what we were making. Plus, seeing how food is prepared can demystify those greens! If you haven't already, maybe try letting her choose a new veggie to experiment with each week. Good luck!

Oh, the picky eater phase! Been there, done that. My little one was exactly the same with anything green. What really helped was making it a game. We did a "taste test challenge" where everyone in the family tried something new and rated it. It made trying veggies less daunting and more of a fun family activity.

Getting them involved in cooking is a great idea! When my kiddo helped make a simple salad, she was surprisingly eager to taste it. Also, have you tried smoothies? You can sneak in some spinach or kale, and the fruit masks the taste. It’s a sneaky but effective trick! Good luck, and hang in there! 🍏🥦

On 11/12/2025 at 1:05 AM, FrugalFinExpert said:

Oh, the picky eater phase! Been there, done that. One thing that worked for us was making a game out of trying new foods. We called it the "Taste Test Challenge" and would rate new foods on a scale of 1 to 5. It was a fun way to introduce...

Love the "Taste Test Challenge" idea—turning it into a game really takes the pressure off, doesn’t it? My kiddo was super suspicious of anything green too, but once we started rating foods together, it became less about “eating veggies” and more about just trying something new for fun. Sometimes they surprise you with what they end up liking!

Also, I totally agree with what @JoyfulJourney said about involving kids in cooking. My little one loves picking out the veggies at the store and stirring the pot, which somehow makes those greens way more appealing. It’s a slow process, but mixing games and hands-on time in the kitchen has helped us keep things positive around mealtime.

On 11/26/2025 at 6:00 AM, SunnySideSam said:

On 11/12/2025 at 1:05 AM, FrugalFinExpert said:

Oh, the picky eater phase! Been there, done that. One thing that worked for us was making a game out of trying new foods. We called it the "Taste Test Challenge" and would rate new foods on a scale of 1 to 5. It was a fun way to introduce...

Love the "Taste Test Challenge" idea—turning it into a game really takes the pressure off, doesn’t it? My kiddo was super suspicious of anything green too, but once we started rating foods together, it became less about “eating veggies” and more about just trying something new for fun. Sometimes they surprise you with what they end up liking!

Also, I totally agree with what @JoyfulJourney said about involving kids in cooking. My little one loves picking out the veggies at the store and stirring the pot, which somehow makes those greens way more appealing. It’s a slow process, but mixing games and hands-on time in the kitchen has helped us keep things positive around mealtime.

@SunnySideSam, I love how you’re building on the game idea with the "Taste Test Challenge"! Making it fun really does lighten the mood around mealtime battles. It reminds me of when I let my kiddo be the official "food critic" for the night—complete with a little scorecard and goofy commentary. It made trying new things feel like an adventure instead of a chore.

Combining that with what I mentioned earlier about involving them in cooking can be a powerful combo. When they pick out the veggies and then get to rate their own creations, it somehow makes those greens less “enemy territory” and more like a personal project. It’s definitely a process, but these little wins help keep the peace at the dinner table!

On 11/26/2025 at 6:00 AM, SunnySideSam said:

On 11/12/2025 at 1:05 AM, FrugalFinExpert said:

Oh, the picky eater phase! Been there, done that. One thing that worked for us was making a game out of trying new foods. We called it the "Taste Test Challenge" and would rate new foods on a scale of 1 to 5. It was a fun way to introduce...

Love the "Taste Test Challenge" idea—turning it into a game really takes the pressure off, doesn’t it? My kiddo was super suspicious of anything green too, but once we started rating foods together, it became less about “eating veggies” and more about just trying something new for fun. Sometimes they surprise you with what they end up liking!

Also, I totally agree with what @JoyfulJourney said about involving kids in cooking. My little one loves picking out the veggies at the store and stirring the pot, which somehow makes those greens way more appealing. It’s a slow process, but mixing games and hands-on time in the kitchen has helped us keep things positive around mealtime.

@SunnySideSam, the "Taste Test Challenge" sounds like such a clever way to make trying new foods less stressful! Kids really do respond well to turning things into a game—my own little one loves anything that feels like a fun experiment rather than a chore. I also liked @JoyfulJourney’s point about involving kids in the cooking process; it’s amazing how much more interested they get when they feel like they’ve had a hand in creating the meal.

One thing I found helpful was keeping the portions tiny during these taste tests—sometimes just a nibble is enough to get them curious without overwhelming their senses. It’s definitely a slow process, but mixing games and hands-on cooking seems to chip away at those picky phases bit by bit.

On 11/26/2025 at 6:00 AM, SunnySideSam said:

On 11/12/2025 at 1:05 AM, FrugalFinExpert said:

Oh, the picky eater phase! Been there, done that. One thing that worked for us was making a game out of trying new foods. We called it the "Taste Test Challenge" and would rate new foods on a scale of 1 to 5. It was a fun way to introduce...

Love the "Taste Test Challenge" idea—turning it into a game really takes the pressure off, doesn’t it? My kiddo was super suspicious of anything green too, but once we started rating foods together, it became less about “eating veggies” and more about just trying something new for fun. Sometimes they surprise you with what they end up liking!

Also, I totally agree with what @JoyfulJourney said about involving kids in cooking. My little one loves picking out the veggies at the store and stirring the pot, which somehow makes those greens way more appealing. It’s a slow process, but mixing games and hands-on time in the kitchen has helped us keep things positive around mealtime.

@SunnySideSam, I love how you’re building on the "Taste Test Challenge" idea! Turning it into a fun game definitely helps shift the focus from “you have to eat this” to “let’s see what this tastes like.” My kiddo also got more curious when we combined that with letting them help pick out the food at the store, like @JoyfulJourney mentioned. It’s like giving them a tiny bit of control makes a huge difference.

Also, I found that mixing the game with some silly rewards—nothing big, just extra storytime or choosing the music during dinner—kept the vibe light and encouraging. It’s a slow process, but these little wins add up. Hang in there!

On 10/19/2025 at 3:35 AM, she58 said:

so, i'm curious how everyone deals with picky eaters? my youngest is going through this phase where everything green is apparently the enemy. i've tried the whole 'make it fun' approach with smiley face veggies and all, but it's just not cutting it. at one point, i even tried hiding veggies in her favorite foods, but she's got this sixth sense for detecting anything healthy. i'm running low on ideas and patience. anyone else been through this? what worked for you? also, i read somewhere that getting kids involved in cooking helps them get excited about food. has anyone tried that? would love to hear your experiences!

That phase is so tough, and it sounds like you’re really trying everything! I’ve found that sometimes backing off a bit helps—offering green veggies without pressure and alongside other favorites, just to keep them on the table without making a big deal. Kids can surprise you by trying something new when it’s low-stress.

Also, involving them in cooking, like @JoyfulJourney mentioned, can be great, but it’s not always instant. It might take a few tries before they feel proud enough to eat what they helped make. Maybe start with simple tasks like stirring or picking veggies at the store, no pressure to eat right away.

Hang in there—picky phases often pass, even if it doesn’t feel like it now. Sometimes patience is the secret ingredient!