Episode 18 - The Do's and Don'ts of Hiding Foods + Chia Seeds as a Picky Eater’s Nutritional Superhero
Some of the most common challenges I continue to hear from vegan parents like yourself is how to feed, what to cook, and what foods to focus on for your vegan picky eater.
In today’s episode, we discuss a common feeding practice to “get” picky eaters to eat a particular food they’re avoiding or refusing to eat—hiding foods in mixed or prepared dishes. I share my honest thoughts about this feeding practice and what you can do instead to help your picky eater broaden their food acceptance. I’ll also share why chia seeds are a great daily use for supporting the growth of your vegan picky eaters.
Here’s what we cover:
>> A recap of my own experience with picky eating with my oldest daughter
>> The most common food where foods are hidden for picky eaters
>> Why hiding foods for your picky eater is a disservice to their feeding journey
>> How hiding foods can make picky eating behaviors worse
>> The nutrients of chia seeds and why they are great for your vegan picky eater
>> Ways to use chia seeds in your meal planning
Click here to listen to the episode
Links mentioned in the episode
>> Blog Article - 26 Vegan Meal Ideas for Toddlers and Kids
>> Episode 12 - How I do it: Boost Vegetable Intake with these 5 Strategies
>> Vegan Kids Cookbook
>> FREE Picky Eating Guide
References
Maier, A., Chabanet, C., Schaal, B., Issanchou, S., & Leathwood, P. (2007). Effects of repeated exposure on acceptance of initially disliked vegetables in 7-month old infants. Food Quality and Preference, 18(8), 1023–1032. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2007.04.005
Pescud, M., & Pettigrew, S. (2014). Parents’ experiences with hiding vegetables as a strategy for improving children’s diets. British Food Journal, 116(12), 1853–1863. https://doi.org/10.1108/bfj-06-2012-0155
Taylor, C. M., Wernimont, S. M., Northstone, K., & Emmett, P. M. (2015). Picky/fussy eating in children: Review of definitions, assessment, prevalence and dietary intakes. Appetite, 95, 349–359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2015.07.026