Navigating Thanksgiving with Picky Eaters

Thanksgiving is a holiday centered around family, gratitude and food. But if you have a picky eater at home, the holiday can feel more stressful than festive. Here are some practical tips to help you navigate Thanksgiving dinner with a selective diner.  

1. Involve them in the prep
   1. Seeing how their food is made can help kids get excited about eating! Kids are more likely to try foods they helped make so invite them to stir the cranberry sauce or mash the potatoes!
2. Offer a familiar favorite
   1. Offering a safe food can help make your child feel more comfortable with new foods on their plate.  
3. Keep portions small
   1. The goal should be for your child to try new foods – not necessarily finish them. Keeping the portions small is less intimidating for picky eaters and ensures less food waste!  
4. Model adventurous eating
   1. Kids learn by watching, so showing enthusiasm for new foods yourself will make them more likely to follow your lead.  

Thanksgiving is about connection, not perfection. Eliminate the pressure by encouraging your child to try new foods but not forcing it. If your child only eats a bite of turkey or a nibble or sweet potato casserole – that’s okay! Celebrate the small wins and gobble up the sweet moments together.  

To learn more about navigating picky eating, read our picky eating nutrition guide.