...just poorly presented food! We dispel myths about picky eaters on the Kifli blog and give you tips on how to encourage your little one to eat healthily.
 

Do your little elves ignore proper nutrition? In childhood, they are more likely to eat worms and sand cakes than vegetables, but don't worry: little ones almost always sneak bites from the plate according to their age and developmental pace.
 

Good food has good marketing

Harsh words and disapproving looks don't really work, as they only encourage them to stick to their own version even more. And if an adult in the family acts as if food is the biggest enemy, the little kids eagerly imitate this behavior. How about making meals a family event? Sitting around your plates, enjoying each other's company, not only will your appetite grow, but the little ones' will too. It's a fact that young children aren't really open to new things, but if you persistently (according to a famous theory, at least eight times) and non-aggressively present them, they will eventually taste them sooner or later.
Make sure there are all kinds of bites on the plate; due to the varied menu, they won't feel like you're forcing healthy foods on them because they can choose for themselves. If possible, make the plate as colorful as possible, cut into small bites, and if you have the time or talent, you can create fun figures and shapes from the less popular ingredients.
 

Psychology works in the kitchen too

Let's leave the "you're not going anywhere until you clean your plate" mentality behind, as it only takes away the child's natural sense of hunger and fullness and leads them towards overweight. Don't try to lure the little one with the promise of chocolate, as this only gives them unnecessary calories and teaches them to choose these over less sweet but healthier foods. However, we don't have to tolerate tantrums; feel free to set boundaries with a firm voice, stating that this behavior is not tolerated. One thing is certain: the less fuss we make about imagined or real eating problems, the sooner the child will realize that they can't grab our attention with it, and since they don't want to go hungry, they'll start eating proper food.
 

If you're tired of your child only willing to eat the same few dishes – and restaurants can't seem to break out of the endless triangle of fried cheese, fish sticks, and spaghetti Bolognese – then you can order the ingredients for kid-friendly recipes from Kifli Chef with just a few clicks: finally, you don't have to think about dinner anymore, and you can feed your little one health-consciously.

Of course, there are more serious cases when the child really eats poorly (or not at all), in which case consult a dietitian who can help solve the problem.