Getting a 3 Year Old to Try New Foods.

Seems like the little one is constipated. Time for veggies and fruit! Cut them into small pieces. Or fun shapes, stars, sticks, etc. First cut into slice and then use cookie cutters.---you can eat the leftover, nothing wasted. Kids like fruit salad. They can pick the ones they like first, then eat the rest. Does she like applesauce,or other fruit jams and spreads? Most kinds like apples.Cut them up in small wedges.

Just put a little taste on her plate, like green beans, corn, sliced and baked potato, apples, grapes, etc...any thing cut up small so she can pick it up and taste it. I don't force my boys to eat - just ask them to take one try. Sometimes certain foods have a texture that is unappealing.
None of my boys would eat fruit, but as soon as I put it in the blender with a little apple juice, they went crazy for the "smoothie"! Go figure!
Best recipe for this is mixed fruits, cut up and place in a baggie and then frozen. Each sandwich sized baggie is enough for one blender full.
I also made frozen "pops" - you can still find the plastic mold at the grocery or dollar store - this blend of favorite fruits will help digestion. Add a little protein powder and you're good!

As the mom of a four year old I also have a hard time getting my son to eat veggies. He loves fruit. One thing that works is putting a small amount on his plate with the food he likes. He also helps my mom in the garden, seeing the veggies grow seems to motivate him to eat them. I hope these tips are helpful.

Be blessed

a little about me
single mom with a adorable four year old.

Hi W.!

I'm not a big proponent of "hiding" foods. They need to be taught about healthy habits. That said - it's normal for the increased pickiness. They all go through it. The issue that concerned me was her "potty" problem. Let her know that these foods you're giving her are so that "it" won't hurt anymore. Fiber, green leafys, fruits (not bananas!) If she can "cure" her own problem with her food choices, you may get a good eater for life! (keep your eye on her stools!)

Good luck!

My 3yo started in on a picky, no veggie phase, but one time he had a really tough poop, and I put it to him straight...I told him that's why he needs to eat his vegetables, becasue they will go down in his tummy and mix with all the other food and help his poop come out easy without hurting. I remind him of that when he doesn't want to eat his veggies. Never thought I would allow that kind of discussion at the dinner table, but the reminder of that painful poop seems to do the trick. I almost died of embarrassment on night when we were eating out, though. He asked me if his corn on the cob was a vegetable. I told him it was and he (very loudly) said, "Oh good, cuz that will go in my tummy and help me poop!" The couple at the table behind us nearly died laughing.

I am also not a fan of hiding the veggies, but if you do want to hide them to get the fiber and nutrition in her, just make sure you continue to offer them on the plate as well, so she can try them at her will and know they are an important part of a healthy meal.

Also, if you want to offer a dipping "sauce", use plain sour cream instead of ranch dressing, ketchup, or other sauces tht have a lot of sugar in them. It is much healthier.

My daughter is about the same age (she's actually turning 4 in April) and she's always been a pretty good eater up until recently. She eats a variety of foods but lately she seems to only be picking at her food. But anyway, back on topic...I just try to make things look fun or sound fun as far as food goes and if that isn't possible or doesn't work, I just let her know that sometimes when you try things you might like them and if she hates it she can spit it out and I won't be mad. That usually works.

Change up her meals a little. Put small amounts of the new food in a cupcake tray with some dipping sauce in one of the cups. Kids love sauces (ranch, teriyaki, berenase, cheese, etc), so let her explore dipping in all the sauces. My boys just love when I let them eat their meal from the cupcake trays. They can organize, play, dip etc. And when eating is fun, they are more likely to try things. Also give them silly names. We don't serve broccoli at my house, we serve "trees". My boys both love trees and will occasionally eat "white trees" cauliflower. We also regularly eat "green sticks" green beans, "little heads" brussel sprouts, you get the idea.

Putting cheese on veggies worked with my kids.
Have you tried prunes? They are very sweet and are a good laxative.
I purchased a Vita Mix 2 years ago. I wish I had the money to get it when my children were growing up!!!!! You can make so many things from soup, peanut butter, or ice cream! All fresh and natural! Consumer Reports rates it as the best blender. They have been around for over 80 years and will last a lifetime.

There are two takes on this one, W.. Either give them what they will eat (no middle class american children have ever starved. Somehow, they survive), or put down a plate of healthy balanced food and explain to your daughter that it is your job to make sure she eats right. This is what's on the menu, eat or dont its your choice. Some believe this can make the aversion to food worse and, I suppose, with some kids it probably does. You can try to make food fun. happy face ham and cheese using olives for eyes, strawberries for mouth, etc, otherwise you cant really force them to eat. My kids eat everything because I took the, here it is like it or not approach. Also, my kids ate table food at 12 weeks. So they are used to eating everything from chicken fingers to linguini in white clam sauce. Go figure. They're all different though. Hang in there, eventually they'll change.

My daughter is 3.5 also but eats most things. when she gravitates too much toward constipating foods, I talk to her about how those foods cause you to have big painful bowel movements and that she needs more variety. Kids really do understnad if we take time to explain. some things most kids eat that help move bowels include raisins and apples. If your child is crazy about bread, try to have her breads be whole grain (more fiber) and explain why if she complains. Lots of refined flour/bread products definately cause constipation. Good luck.

My 19mth old is a very picky eater, I try to introduce new food to her by first letting her pick out what she would like to try and then I take her personal plate, put a small amount of everything she picked and allow her to eat what ever she wants off of the plate.
Sometimes it works well and other times it's like pulling teeth. My advice to you is give her food choices, only put on her plate what she chose and tell her she only has to try it and if she dosen't like it she will not have to try it again and also when your family eat dinner make sure when you set the table she gets everything everyone else gets(plate,silverware,napkin,and cup)this helps me to get my daughter to eat more (it makes them feel like good to sit at the big people table).

Hope this helps you.

My four and six yr old hate cooked veggies but they do like raw carrots and celery and even raw green beans. Try giving them some ranch to dip veggies into-thats how I got mine to eat them. My daughter also likes celery with peanut butter on it and sometimes I put raisins on top and she pretends she is eating ants as that is what she says it looks like. Also you can buy bags of carrot chips or the mini carrots that are already peeled and mine seem to like that. Also my kids like shredded lettuce with italian dressing. Just some things to try. Best of luck!! S.

There's a great book out, by Jerry Seifield's wife, Jessica , it's called "Deceptively Delicious". You can actually hide vege/fruit foods into other recipes and the kids don't even know it's there. There is also another book, same idea , called ,"The Sneaky Chef', by
Missy Chase Lapine. They are both very good and it might get you thinking about how the whole family eats ! Good Luck with your daughter and Happy Eating ! :) C. S.

W., I am in the same boat as you! So, I just wanted to thank you for asking this because reading your answers have given me so many ideas! Thank You!