How to Keep Holiday Meals Stress Free with a Picky Eater
Food is the center of most holiday traditions. Families with a picky eater often find themselves dealing with frustration at holiday meals, rather than joy. The frustration typically begins when the picky eater refuses to sit at the table or when a well meaning family member insists that the picky eater try a food that the picky eater is uncomfortable with. The picky eater feels threatened, the other family members feel insulted, and the holiday cheer is gone.
To involve your picky eater in holiday meals without the hassle see the tips below:
Keep Things Familiar- If your child does not usually sit at the table for meals do not expect them to sit at the table during holiday meals. At holiday meals the pressure to eat non-preferred foods is even bigger than it is on a typical day. Your picky eater knows this and may be scared. Instead find another festive thing your child can do during mealtimes (e.g. set up the gifts, count the napkins, etc). You can also serve the food buffet style and encourage all family members to eat throughout the house, thereby totally eliminating the need for your child to take a seat at the table.
Anchor Holiday Meals with A Food Your Child Eats- If your child eats potato chips, ensure that potato chips are available at the meal. Allow your child to eat as many as they desire. Resist the urge to tell your child to “try” new foods. Telling your child to eat non-preferred foods during holiday meals will not end well.
Provide Positive Feedback- The holidays are fun for children but they are also intense and overstimulating. During the holidays our children are pulled out of the safety net that is their daily routine. They are exposed to new lights, sounds, smells, etc. All of this can be hard! So when you see them behaving during meal times, compliment them! (e.g. “I love how you are …….”). And do not acknowledge undesirable behaviors.
Picky eating can be stressful but addressing it during holiday meals will not resolve anything. Children that have eating habits or preferences that impact the whole family often benefit from working with a speech-language pathologist. If you are struggling to help a picky eater, reach out to learn how Green Light’s Services can help.
