Inside this email: Picky eating strategy, picky eating workshop, baby allergen guide, how to serve mushrooms & mushroom orzo recipe
If your toddler refuses to eat certain foods, if mealtimes are starting to feel stressful and more like a battlefield than a time for family bonding...read on.
Many parents struggle with picky eating, worrying about whether their toddler is eating enough, getting the right nutrients, or ever expanding their food preferences. The stress is real—but what if I told you that one simple shift could make a HUGE difference?
Here's your strategy for today... Take the focus OFF food.
Instead of fixating on every bite your child takes (or doesn’t take), make mealtimes about conversation, connection, and fun, which can actually help toddlers eat better.
PS - Join my upcoming LIVE workshop on how to stop picky eating in its tracks, made for parents of toddlers 11 months - 3 years of age who are starting to see picky eating more and more and are looking to put an end to it before it fully takes over!
Why You Should Take the Focus Off Food
It eliminates unintentional pressure.
- If a child feels watched or pressured to eat, their anxiety increases—and their willingness to cooperate decreases. Imagine someone monitoring your every bite and telling you what to eat first. You’d feel stressed too!
- By shifting the focus away from food, kids feel more in control, which reduces resistance and increases their willingness to try new things.
It creates meaningful family bonding.
- Mealtimes should be a place of connection, not conflict. Regular, light-hearted non-food-related conversations help associate the dinner table with positive experiences rather than stress and frustration.
It makes mealtimes more fun!
- When food is no longer the main focus, kids become more relaxed—and you can start implementing more advanced picky eating strategies without them pushing back plus...they'll even start to explore food more naturally.
Tip #1: Praise Their Skills, Not Their Eating
Instead of commenting on how much or what they ate, focus on their skills, manners, and general behavior. This removes pressure and keeps mealtimes positive.
Instead of:
🚫 “You’re such a good girl for eating all your carrots!”
Try:
✅ “Wow, you must have been really hungry today!”
Instead of:
🚫 “Look at you eating all your rice!”
Try:
✅ “Great scooping skills! You’re really getting the hang of using your spoon.”
This small shift makes a huge difference—it teaches kids that their value isn’t tied to how much they eat, but rather to their actions and behaviors.
Tip #2: Keep Food Talk Neutral
How you describe food matters! Over-the-top enthusiasm or trying to convince your child to eat can backfire. Instead, stick to neutral, factual descriptions.
Instead of:
“Mmm! These peas are SO delicious! Don’t they look good?” (Can feel like pressure)
Try:
- “Tonight we’re having peas, chicken, and rice.” (Neutral, no expectations)
If they ask for more info, describe food without judgment:
- “These peas are bright green and a little crunchy today.”
“The chicken is marinated in soy sauce—kind of like the one Grandma makes.”
“I used a different seasoning on the rice tonight. Do you notice a difference?”
When food is discussed as something interesting rather than something they must eat, children feel more comfortable exploring new foods at their own pace.
What Not to Do at Mealtimes
🚫 No pressure or bribing (“Just take one more bite!” often backfires).
🚫 No food negotiations (“You have to eat your broccoli before getting dessert” makes food feel like a chore).
🚫 No negative talk about food (Avoid saying “This is gross” or “Why don’t you like this?”).
Will this actually FIX their picky eating?
No, this only helps. It's a strategy among many, that should be applied in sequential order, and done after the foundations are in place. I'll show you exactly how to set the right foundations inside my live online workshop to learn how to stop picky eating in its tracks on March 26th at 8 pm EST.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
✨ 3 myths about feeding (picky) toddlers that are holding you back from seeing success.
✨ The major mistakes every parent makes at the first signs of pickiness (and how to fix it).
✨ My proven "Toddler-led Feeding" framework to turn picky eating around.
✨ 3 strategies to implement right away for a happy dinnertime tonight!
I will also be doing a Q&A at the end, so please come ready with your questions, and let's get you back on track with feeding!
Can’t make it live? No worries – if you purchase but can’t attend, I’ll send you a replay so you can watch it at a time that works for you.
Spaces are limited, so make sure to grab your spot before it fills up!
PS. If you already have a Mighty account with us, you can grab the Picky Eating Workshop while you're logged in - simply click on "How to Stop Picky Eating in its Tracks" and select the plan to make the purchase. Hit reply if you have any issues and we'll make sure you get a seat!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
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Newly released
ALLERGEN GUIDE
- Comprehensive 60-page guide covering the introduction of the top 10 food allergens for infants
- Detailed step-by-step instructions on how to safely introduce each allergen one at a time
- Includes a convenient food tracking sheet to monitor your baby's reactions
- Emergency response information to help you handle allergic reactions
- Instant digital download available for immediate use
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New food alert
Mushrooms
We've added mushrooms as a new food inside our Texture Timeline™ food database! Log into our Baby Led Feeding course via the Mighty app and search "mushrooms" to find out how to serve it according to different texture phases (from easiest - to most difficult).
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free recipe
One pot creamy mushroom orzo
A well-balanced meal for the whole family to enjoy, including baby. The carbs and cheese combo is usually one that wins kids over, and since you only need one pot, you won’t have to do a ton of dishes after cooking!
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Have a great week,
Edwena Kennedy, RD
Registered Pediatric Dietitian & Feeding Expert
Owner, My Little Eater
Creator of The Texture Timeline™
Instagram: @mylittleeater
