35 Snack ideas for fussy eaters — beyond fruit & veg

Catering to fussy eaters can be a nightmare. We lovingly create these Pinterest worthy recipes, only to have them rejected. Often this means we begin to gradually retreat. Instead of serving new options we get boxed into serving the same things over and over.

Unfortunately, when we do this it can exaccerbate our child’s narrowing of their diet and increase the rigidity, with them wanting exactly the same thing every time.

Serving variety is a key part of supporting our child to eat more widely — even if they are not eating new things. If we only serve crackers, for example, our child thinks ‘snack is crackers’. The longer we do this, the more those patterns become entrenched.

Presenting new options does not mean wasting lots of food. We can put out some cheese, for example, and if it’s not eaten, use it later in the day (or sneak it back into the packet!).

I would always recommend serving a food a child is okay eating but also making sure there is something new to build a comfort level with too.

Small portions usually work better as they are less overwhelming. This helps with potential wastage too.

*not all the foods listed below are suitable for all ages and stages. Please ensure only appropriate choices are offered.