Did you know that one in five children is a picky or selective eater?1
If you work in K-12 dining, Simplot reminds us that this is no surprise. In fact, that stat may even feel low to you, they say, as you see students selecting the same “safe” foods day after day. It’s the reason why so many children’s menus look almost identical, of course: chicken tenders or nuggets, pasta, pizza, apple slices, milk.
So, how do you reach those picky eaters with a more diverse range of foods?
Start with these three thought-starters from Simplot...and click here for the full article, which includes two more!
1. Start with the familiar
At its core, picky eating is often rooted in sensory sensitivity and a simple fear of the unfamiliar. The world can be an overwhelming place in general for children, where every new experience is in some ways a challenge. So, when it comes to food, make it a little bit easier for kids to conquer that fear. You can do that by starting with familiar foods and ingredients that they love, then layering in new flavors, dips, toppings, etc. that push them outside of their comfort zone little by little. Whatever you introduce, make sure you do it gradually. Don’t overwhelm students with too many changes and choices at once.
2. Incorporate student voice and choice
Incorporating student opinions is essential to buy-in for just about any foodservice decision. That’s particularly true when it comes to introducing students to new foods and flavors. Forcing picky eaters to eat new options is likely to backfire, making them more anxious and afraid of new foods overall. Instead, get students involved in the decision-making so they feel like they have a say in what’s available. Student surveys, taste tests and cafeteria voting boards are all tried-and-true ways to get student feedback and buy-in. Of course, you can also offer small but meaningful choices in a single meal or option itself. Let students decide between two dipping sauces, toppings or shapes, for example, which puts the choice in their hands and gives them agency over trying something new.
3. Make it fun and visual
We eat with our eyes no matter our age, but that’s particularly true for children, who love color, fun shapes and anything that makes a meal more fun and exciting. Sometimes the only thing you need to get a picky eater to try something new is to put it in the fun shape of a dinosaur or animal or make it so colorful they can’t help but want to reach out and grab it. Plenty of research has also showcased how creative naming can make items more attractive to students. When “tater tots” become “Galaxy Gems” and are paired with a duo of global dipping sauces and served on a colorful tray, they become that much more enticing.
1 The Emotional Strain of Picky Eating
Click here for the full article from Simplot Foods, 5 Ways to Win Over Picky Eaters!
