Free Picky Eater Printables to Help Kids Try New Foods and Eat Better
Whether you’re trying to motivate a picky eater, introduce new foods, or make fruits and veggies more enticing, these free printable mealtime reward charts are here to help. Designed for parents and caregivers, each printable offers a simple and playful way to support healthy mealtime.
Table of Contents–Jump to Each Section
Free Mealtime Printables
Pick the printable chart that best suits the mealtime skills your child is working on, whether it’s eating more fruits and veggies, improving their willingness to try new foods, or eating each meal of the day. Personalize each printable with your child’s name and designate a fun reward to celebrate their successes.
More Helpful Mealtime Resources
Online Fruit and Vegetable Jigsaw Puzzles
As kids work on assembling these digital puzzles, they’ll also practice color recognition and learn about fruit and veggies.
Digital Healthy Foods Coloring Pages
Kids can continue exploring different fruits, vegetables, and more while working on early phonics skills as they connect letter sounds to the images they’re coloring.
Fun Mealtime Songs for Kids
I Love Veggies! Song
If your child needs help remembering why veggies are important, this fun video and tune drives the message home.
Hungry, Hungry Time Song
Explore sweet, sour, and spicy flavors and which ones your child prefers with this catchy song and video for kids.
Want even more resources? Try our free printable Healthy Habits Worksheets, 80+ Vegetable Names for Kids, and Potty Training Charts.
Picky Eater Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What causes a child to be a picky eater?
Picky eating can stem from a variety of factors including genetics, sensitivities to smells and textures, negative past experiences with food, or fear of trying something new. Research shared by Harvard Health Publishing also suggests a child’s temperament can impact picky eating.
When should I be concerned about my child’s picky eating?
According to Feeding Matters, an organization focused on pediatric feeding disorders (PFD), excessive picky eating may be a cause for concern. Extreme picky eating can look like:
- Extreme food selectivity and food refusal
- Limited appetite
- Low weight or failure to gain weight
- Delayed or dysfunctional eating skills
- Disruptive mealtime behavior
- Eats differently in different environments
How can I help a picky eater?
According to an article from Child Mind Institute, its recommended to work on breaking down barriers around new foods, slowly and repeatedly exposing children to new foods and textures, and keeping the experience positive. Here are a few tips from the Center for Disease Control:
- Try eating the food first to show them you like it. Then, let them try it.
- Give them a choice of different foods to try. Let them decide which one to try today.
- Wait a couple of days before offering the food again. It can take more than 10 times before your child likes it.
- Keep it fun and try a variety of approaches.
