As a young mom, I face challenges everyday. Some are obvious and expected; the dirty diapers, sleepless nights and balancing my social life, for example. I was prepared for those, more or less, but I was taken by complete surprise when I realized I couldn’t get my toddler to eat. When he did, it was a far stretch from the well rounded diet his pediatrician suggested. I somehow doubt our dear doctor meant McDonald’s chicken nuggets when he said protein! I’ve heard time and again that our eating and exercising habits early in life shape our health in later years. I still struggle with my eating habits, regardless of the fact that I know better. Like all parents, I want more for my kids. I want the best for my kids. I never thought I would be the mom begging my children to do anything. That’s when my revelation came – I could not, would not, be that mom. So rather than beg, I spent a couple days researching and plotting. I found some interesting information that pretty much changed my entire view on mealtime. Thankfully, it seems to have changed my toddler’s view a bit as well.

My son was ruined by his grandmother. Bless her heart and really, she’s not all that bad, but my goodness she knows how to spoil a kid!

To avoid having a picky eater like mine on your hands, I suggest you start young. When introducing solid food, start out with vegetables and your child won’t be as repulsed the first time he tries green beans. I also recommend making your own baby food. If not for any other reason, it tastes a million times better than the store bought stuff. Hold out on introducing fruits as long as you can and don’t overdo them. And please, no matter how cute it is to see a 9 month old baby holding a chocolate chip cookie, just don’t do it. I can nearly promise you, it will sabotage his taste buds for future meals. If you start from the beginning, your young one will develop his taste buds around what you offer him. Provide a large variety of food as he gets older and don’t be discouraged if he turns something away. It can take many, many tries for any one (let alone a stubborn baby or toddler) to acquire a taste for new food.

It’s okay if you didn’t start off on the right foot. Maybe you didn’t know, or perhaps you had a sneaky grandmother sabotaging your efforts. Perhaps you did everything perfectly, you’re that by-the-book type of parent, but you still find yourself in a predicament. There you are, at the dinner (or breakfast/lunch/snack) table and your 2 year old only wants chocolate brownies for the fourth day in a row. You don’t have to let him starve and whatever you do, please don’t resort to begging your 2 year old to do anything. I may have an answer for you. I found this book, Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld, and her entire theory is that meals should never be a fight. She compiled a collection of kid friendly recipes that use pureed veggies as an ingredient. In her book you can find recipe options all the way from breakfast to dessert. The vegetables are masked by other ingredients and the flavor is nearly undetectable. Of course you can’t start giving in to every little whim and serving treats laced with veggies at each meal, but it’s a good option to have when you’ve exhausted all other avenues.

I suggest one meal a day you serve something you know your child will eat, even if it’s broccoli enhanced brownies for an entire week (they really are good, I promise). Be sure to offer a healthy variety of food for the rest of his meals and don’t give in if he won’t eat. Let him throw a fit and wait for the next meal time. If your toddler is as difficult as mine, you might have to start with a higher ratio of “give-in” meals and work your way down. Over time, your child will develop a taste for the healthier ingredients and you can add more and more to his diet. Remember that kids learn best by example. Make sure you eat a variety of healthy food and don’t let them hear you complain excessively about something you don’t like.

Each day our kids grow a little more, and as they grow, so does their taste in food. Just because I loved mushrooms as a little girl does not mean I love them now. Conversely, I hated pizza as a kid (strange right?) but as an adult, it’s my favorite calorie splurge! Keep this in mind on the days you want to pull out your hair and say, “I swear, my child is the most stubborn, junk-food-loving kid on this planet!” The recipes in Deceptively Delicious are great for older kids too and most moms I know would MORE than welcome a healthier-for-you treat on days she‘s craving something sinful!

I’d love to tell you that I’m a miracle worker. The truth is, I’m not. Despite the improvements in my boy‘s diet, he still doesn‘t always eat the way I would like him to. Apparently, that’s how kids are and I can accept that. I just wish someone would have filled me in sooner. Overall, he eats much better. When we do have occasional “picky days” I don’t worry as much because I know that before long, he will get hungry enough and eat again. As long as I can get him to eat one of the deceptively crafty and delicious treats from my box of tricks, I know he’s getting something of nutritional value. I stand by my girl, Jessica Seinfeld, and recommend her cookbook to everyone with young kids in their home. After all, we moms need to stick together and I don’t know about all of you, but I could use all the tips I can get!