20 tips for smoother meals with a fussy eater

In my role as a picky eating advisor there are questions that come up again and again. “How do I encourage my child to stay at the table?” is one of them.

However, there are many reasons why a child may find this difficult. For example, toddlers frequently have a short attention span and so sitting still can be a challenge. Or, it may be about discomfort in terms of their seating and/or in regard to the food. Or you may just be fighting years of habits.

It is though, critically important that a child IS able to sit at the table. Long-term it is helpful for resolving fussy eating and supporting them to eat variety.

Fortunately, there are some tried and tested strategies and approaches that support your child to sit and stay at the table.

How to help a fussy eater stay at the table

Creating a great ‘eating’ environment is my number one tip when it comes to children wanting to stay at the table. There are many ways you can work on this, and many of them are fun.

Before you sit down

Even before you get to the table, there are a few things to work on. In fact, some of these can be as, or more important than what happens at the table: