6 Tips for Picky Eaters:
  • Limit liquid calories
     While natural juices and other drinks can be healthy, they can also be filling and leave little room for important meals. Limit your child’s drink intake especially before meals to help with their appetite.
  • Make it fun
     Cut foods in fun shapes using cookie cutters. Turn your kitchen into a creative place where kids can help in the preparation of their meals.
  • Recruit your child’s help
     Invite your children to help with the growing of foods in your garden and with selection of fruits and vegetables at the grocery store. Kids will enjoy learning where foods come.
  • Minimize distractions
     Eliminating distractions during meals can be help your children to focus on eating. Turn off the television and do not allow books or toys at the table.
  • Be sneaky
     Add pureed vegetables or beef to spaghetti sauce, add vegetable juice to fruit juice, or mix grated zucchini and carrots into casseroles and soups. There are many cleaver ways to get your children to eat healthy foods.
  • Stick to a routine
     Serve meals and snacks at about the same times every day. If the kitchen is closed at other times, your child may be more likely to eat what is served for meals and snacks.

More recipes from "The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook" by Pamela J. Compart M.D. and Dana Laake, R.D.H., M.S., L.D.N.

Joe’s “Veggies in Disguise” Nutritious Muffins
A great trick for getting a picky eater to eat some veggies!

  • 1 cup carrots, finely chopped
  • 1 cup zucchini, finely chopped
  • 1 cup gluten free casein free (GFCF) chocolate chips, finely chopped
  • 1 cup walnuts or pecans, finely chopped
  • 1 store bought GFCF cake mix, prepared according to package directions, but not baked

Add carrots, zucchini, chocolate chips, and nuts to prepared cake batter; stir to combine.
Transfer the mixture to a muffin pan, filling each cup about two-thirds of the way. Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Do not over-cook, as this will result in dry muffins. Once cooled, these muffins can be frozen to be eaten later.
Yields —12 muffins

Pizza with Easy Tomato Sauce
Pizza sauce is an excellent way to hide pureed vegetables and meats. Add those that will be least easily detected.

  • 1 1/3 cups garbanzo bean flour
  • ½ cup brown rice flour
  • ½ cup tapioca starch
  • 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 1/3 cups water
Blend all the ingredients on low speed, then medium-high speed for 2 minutes. The dough will be sticky. Cover a pizza pan with parchment paper. Roll out dough. Bake in a 425° oven for 20 minutes. Add sauce (recipe to follow) and toppings and bake for another 20 minutes.

Easy Tomato Sauce

  • 2 cans (6 ounces each) tomato paste
  • 12 ounces of water (use tomato paste cans to measure)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/8 tsp pepper
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder
Mix all ingredients and simmer 30 minutes.

Variations: Add 1 tablespoon pureed vegetables to expand nutrition. Add pureed turkey or beef to improve the protein.