20 best recipes for picky eaters - Spiceitupp % (2024)

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1. One-Pot Red Pesto Pasta

2. Creamy Herb Chicken

3. Southern Meatloaf Burger

5. Fish Taco with Mango Salsa

6. Slow Cooker Chilli Beef Hash

7. Spicy Chicken Envelopes with leftovers

8. Baked Chicken Taquitos

9. Tuna puttanesca with tagliatelle

10. Sriracha Chicken Lettuce wraps

11. Spicy Peanut Pasta Salad

12. Easy Peasy Cheese Tart

13. Crispy Baked Quinoa Chicken Nuggets

14. Mango Chicken Curry

15. Crispy Fish Sticks with Pineapple Salsa

17. Wild Rice Risotto with Brocolli and Parmesan Cheese

18. 10 Minute Vegetable Quinoa Fried Rice

19. Mac and Cheese Garlic Chicken

20. Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken

Picky eaters tend to avoid new foods that they are unfamiliar with.

That limits the dishes you are sure they will like or at least try.

Picky eaters in family can be challenging for making everyday family meals.

There is a constant worry of ‘what to cook for the picky eater?’ but also the question of whether they are getting a good balance of nutrients.

There are simple steps you can take to resolve pickyeating problems.

Itshard enough to think about varied and exciting meals to cook for kids and if your’s happens to be a picky one then the task gets even harder.

Picky eating is a habit which you can help your finicky person to overcome with some patience and planning.

This post here has all the little steps that I followed to make my picky toddler go from ‘I don’tlike it ‘ to ‘I will try it’.

That itself is half the war won.

This is a collection of recipes that have been served to picky eating children and adults both and has been a success.

The tip is to try introducing one of the recipes below once a week and repeat it again the following week.

1. One-Pot Red Pesto Pasta

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If tomatoes aresomething that your picky eater seems to be picking out, then try this smoother version of sundriedtomato pesto!

2. Creamy HerbChicken

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Make a regular cream sauce a bit different by adding a dash of mustard. They may enjoy the twist.

3. Southern Meatloaf Burger

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When biting into these burgers your fussy eater will not realise munching on healthy leeks.

4. 15 Minute Spinach and Mushroom Pulao Rice

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Who does not like a bit of brightness in their food. Turn regular old white rice into an exciting green colour in 15 minutes.

5. Fish Taco with Mango Salsa

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Introduce fish into regular tacos and let them explore the sweet flavours with mango salsa.

6. Slow Cooker Chilli Beef Hash

Struggling with time and still want your picky pint to try new flavour? Try this chunky chilli beef hash cooked in the slow cooker.

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7. Spicy Chicken Envelopes with leftovers

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Got a range of leftover that no one is keen to eat? Bring them all together in a calzone style chicken envelope.

8. Baked Chicken Taquitos

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These finger roll-ups are great for a clean eating option and you can hide healthy bites inside too!

9.Tuna puttanesca with tagliatelle

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Pack a bowl full of protein and give their favourite Tagliatelle in tomato sauce a yummy lift!

10. Sriracha Chicken Lettuce wraps

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These lettuce boats taste as good as they are to eat. An enticing way to get them to eat salad leaves. Substitute sriracha with sweet chilli instead.

11. Spicy Peanut Pasta Salad

Another great salad idea made with noodles and maybe few leftovers to recycle. Reduce the spiciness if you must.

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12. Easy Peasy Cheese Tart

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Crunchy filo topped with cheese and any of their favourite ingredient plus a surprise of your choice. This is a complete winner.

13. Crispy Baked Quinoa Chicken Nuggets

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An all-time favourite kids friendly dish chicken nuggets given a healthy twist by coating it with quinoa instead.

14. Mango Chicken Curry

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A combination of sweet spice and everything nice. Get your fussy fiddle into curry mode with this easy mild curry.

15. Crispy Fish Sticks with Pineapple Salsa

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A hit each time I make it. Change the side dish to introduce other foods instead of pineapple salsa. They will want to eat the lot!

16. Easy Meatball Subs

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A shortcut sub recipe but still with the aim to please. A starting point to introduce subtle new flavours in a sub.

17. Wild Rice Risotto with Brocolli and Parmesan Cheese

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Go a notch high and aim to introduce new grains in a fun avatar. A baked wild rice recipe that they may find hard to differentiate between normal rice.

18. 10 Minute Vegetable Quinoa Fried Rice

20 best recipes for picky eaters - Spiceitupp % (18)

Another fab idea to get more and varied grains in. Replace rice with quinoa and your healthy yummy bowl is ready.

19. Mac and Cheese Garlic Chicken

20 best recipes for picky eaters - Spiceitupp % (19)

Made with 3 cheeses, tender garlic chicken pieces and a golden, crunchy topping. A delicious cream sauce without the cream. Just bliss for the young tongue

20. Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken

20 best recipes for picky eaters - Spiceitupp % (20)

Protein, pulses and packed with flavour. This is a great dish to put everything on a plate and serve.

So, there you go loaded with meal planning ideas and easy to make recipes for your picky eaters.

Over to You

Have you got a recipe that has gone down as a delight with a picky eater?

Share your favourite and easy to make recipe that you cook to please your fussy eater.

Do you hide proteins or let them explore and learn?

Would love to hear from you.

20 best recipes for picky eaters - Spiceitupp % (2024)

FAQs

What bland foods are good for picky eaters? ›

For the most part, picky eaters stick to bland comfort foods like french fries, grilled cheese, toast, and crackers. They usually do OK with salty and sweet foods.

What can you do for an extreme picky eater? ›

Approaches to Try
  1. Try eating the food first to show them you like it. ...
  2. Make funny faces with the foods on their plate. ...
  3. Give them a choice of different foods to try. ...
  4. Serve new foods with foods you know they like.
  5. Try freezing small bites of leftover foods. ...
  6. Wait a couple of days before offering the food again.

How to cook for a picky husband? ›

21 Best Recipes for Picky Eaters
  1. Salisbury Steak. "I absolutely loved this recipe. ...
  2. Baked Sweet Potato Fries. "These are brilliant. ...
  3. Taco Salad. ...
  4. Penne Casserole with Chicken & Broccoli. ...
  5. Pizza Meatloaf Cups. ...
  6. Lemon Pepper Chicken Breasts. ...
  7. Taco Bell Quesadillas.

What is an easy at home lunch for picky eaters? ›

Here is a list of school lunch ideas for picky eaters to try:
  • Ham and cheese roll-ups with a side of apple slices.
  • Greek yogurt with mixed berries and granola.
  • Bagel with cream cheese and sliced cucumbers.
  • Peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a side of baby carrots.
  • Mini quiche with shredded cheese on top.
Apr 13, 2023

What foods do most picky eaters hate? ›

While every kid is different, commonly refused foods include:
  1. Odorous vegetables. ...
  2. Seafood & Sushi. ...
  3. Condiments. ...
  4. Spicy Foods. ...
  5. Sandwiches.
Nov 4, 2022

How do you spice up a bland meal? ›

From boring to brilliant: Five easy ways to fix a bland recipe
  1. Salt. Advertisem*nt. ...
  2. Acid. One of my favorite ways to perk up a bland dish is with a splash of acid. ...
  3. Chilli peppers. Adding something spicy is a sure way to transform an underseasoned dish. ...
  4. Sugar. ...
  5. Fresh herbs.
Mar 13, 2023

What are the best spices for bland food? ›

Want to say "goodbye" to bland? Say "hello" to 10 essential spices and seasonings for delicious, healthy meals
  • Chili powder. ...
  • All-purpose seasoning blend. ...
  • Hot sauce. ...
  • Vinegar. ...
  • Cinnamon. ...
  • Bay leaf. ...
  • Lemon and lime juice. ...
  • Salt. You may be surprised to see salt on this list since sodium gets such a bad rap.
Mar 21, 2022

What are 3 tips for picky eaters? ›

5 Tips to Deal With Picky Eaters
  • Shop and cook with the kids. Kids are more likely to taste a dish if they helped plan or prepare it. ...
  • Cook one meal for the whole family. Serve one meal for everyone in the family — with no exceptions. ...
  • Keep offering new foods. ...
  • Avoid the clean plate club. ...
  • Serve smart snacks.
Sep 12, 2023

Are picky eaters born or made? ›

It appears it be both. Some estimates claim 78% of picky eating is due to heritable or developmental characteristics – how the taste buds and smell centers of the brain perceive flavour and how a child's taste is designed to mature with time.

What is neophobia? ›

What Is Neophobia? Neophobia is the fear of new things. This fear may apply to a variety of new experiences such as trying new foods, friendships, jobs, or destinations. This phobia is a maladaptive coping mechanism and when confronted with new experiences, the fear response exceeds the scope of any realistic threat.

What not to do with picky eaters? ›

It's important not to let a child's pickiness become a source of mealtime tension. Don't cook special meals just for a picky eater, but do include something your daughter likes in every meal. Ask her to take at least two bites of what you made, but it's OK if she chooses not to eat more than that.

What is the best protein for picky eaters? ›

Good sources include beef, chicken and fish, but also eggs and milk products. Plant-based sources may not have all of the amino acids, but eating a variety of these protein foods can help kids meet their needs. Great options include beans, lentils, nuts and nut butters, tofu and some grains like quinoa.

What foods do picky kids eat? ›

Our Favorite Meals for Picky Eaters
  • Baked Potato Bar. With a serve-yourself baked potato bar, your little ones can assemble their own dinner creations! ...
  • Pizza Bagels. ...
  • Mac & Cheese with Cauliflower. ...
  • Chicken Fajitas. ...
  • White Bean Burgers. ...
  • Peas & Cheese Tortellini. ...
  • Veggie Wraps. ...
  • Chicken Bites, Mashed Yams & Green Beans.
Sep 14, 2018

How do you plan meals when everyone in your family is a picky eater? ›

Just lay out a few simple rules for those picky eaters: Everyone's plate must include a healthy protein, vegetables and a whole grain (sometimes we'll do a starchy veg instead, like sweet potatoes or corn on the cob). We also serve up classic kid favorites—like chicken tenders and pizza—with a healthy twist.

How do you feed a family of picky eaters? ›

Family style.

Serve one meal for the whole family and resist the urge to make another meal if your child refuses what you've served. This only encourages picky eating. Try to include at least one food your child likes with each meal and continue to provide a balanced meal, whether she eats it or not.

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