Picky Eater Answer: Fried Rice Recipe

There is no magic cure to helping picky eaters become better eaters. My best advice is to just keep trying. Be patient, don't force it and don't give in.

Keep trying: Did you know that it can take up to 15 different exposures to a new food to develop a taste for it? That's not 15 exposures of it sitting on your plate and you wrinkling your nose, either. It's 15 actual exposures where you chew, swallow and taste that food. How many times have you served your child a food, and how many times did they really, truly taste it?

Offer the same food many different ways, many different times, and you know what? They still may not enjoy it. The point is they'll develop a taste for it where their gag reflex may not be as high as it once was. They can learn to appreciate that food.

Be patient: If you have to serve and get your child to eat something more than 15 times it's going to take patience. If you force it, scream, yell, pressure, make it your problem, your child will not respond with a sweet smile and willingness to cooperate. Just keep reminding them that this is what there is to eat and that there are no other alternatives.

Don't force it: So they didn't eat the food that was served? You know what? It's not the end of the world. Just don't supplement dinner with additional snacks. Offer a glass of water if they complain of being hungry and start anew the next day.

Don't give in: It may be easier to make macaroni and cheese or chicken nuggets on the side of dinner every night. Instead, just try offering a healthy food that is a part of the meal you know they like. You may be serving broccoli, but they really love baked potatoes or spaghetti. Serve them together so they are going to eat at least something that is on their plate.

My all time favorite way to introduce new foods is to incorporate them into something my kids already enjoy and love. We're big rice eaters in our family, and having a bit of a new vegetable or meat incorporated into rice is a great way to get a bit of this or that in their mouth to try without having it be a massive issue when a giant pile of it ends up on their plate.

Basic Fried Rice

3 tablespoons canola oil

2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 cups fresh vegetables

2 cups meat or other vegetables

4 cups cold, cooked rice

3 tablespoons soy sauce

3 tablespoons rice wine

3 teaspoons sesame oil

black pepper to taste

Heat the oil over medium heat in a large wok. Add the ginger and garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Turn the heat to high and add in vegetables, longer cooking vegetables first, and then shower cooking vegetables. When they start to soften, add in rice and top with soy sauce, rice wine, sesame oil and pepper. Cook on high heat until rice is heated through.