The older your child becomes, the more difficult it can become to get them to eat right. You've probably tried everything. Silly songs, funny faces, bribery of sweet treats afterwards, but nothing seems to work.

Did you know studies have shown that letting your child play with their food is actually beneficial?
Now I'm not saying you should let them smear their mashed potatoes all over their tray or fling those peas on the ground (not that there isn't a chance of that happening regardless!). I'm saying to choose easy finger foods that will leave you with an endless list of options to try out.



Decorate their plate- Adrienne loves it when she finds a kitty or lion awaiting her at the table.
You can utilize those bite size crackers for ears, fruit for eyes, string cheese for whiskers, pretzels for a mane or even feet! The more creative you get- the more chances you have of your child anticipating each meal.

Not feeling as sophisticated as some of those pins making their round on Pinterest? Crunched for time due to your incredible busy schedule filled with ballet rehearsals, soccer practice, or piano lessons? Save yourself some time with Tyson's free nugget face plate to make dinnertime more fun!

Play at game- count each piece of food that are the same. Have your child group everything together by color as they eat.

Let them help make their own plate- Adrienne loves picking out her favorite pieces of fruit/crackers. The more vocal we allow her to be each time a decision needs to be made- the more independent she becomes.

Whatever may work best for your little one- always remember to make mealtime fun!

Now that I've shared how I got my picky eaters to eat balanced meals, share your success story for a chance to win a $1,000!