(Feature Impact)For families with young children, mealtimes can often feel like negotiations or even battles. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Picky eating is one of the most universal challenges families face.

With the right strategies, parents can reduce stress, build healthier habits and help children become more confident, curious eaters. Dr. Lauren Loquasto, senior vice president and chief academic officer at The Goddard School, and registered dietitian Ali Bandier, founder of Senta Health and member of the Expert Council at Little Spoon, share these insights and guidance to help parents navigate picky eating.

Why Young Children are Picky Eaters

Picky eating isn’t just common; it’s an expected part of early childhood development. In fact, it would be more surprising if children didn’t experience a picky eating phase.

Picky eating is a natural expression of independence. As children enter toddlerhood, they discover they can assert control, and food becomes a typical place to do it. They can’t decide whether to go to school or take a bath, but they can decide whether to take a bite of broccoli.

Avoid the Power Struggle

The key for parents: stay calm, consistent and neutral. Pressuring children only makes picky eating worse.

Telling your child they must try one bite, celebrating excessively when they do eat a vegetable or resorting to negotiation (“three more bites then dessert”) can actually reduce their desire to eat. It also creates a dynamic that only reinforces the power struggle.

Instead, recognize the division of responsibility when it comes to eating. Parents decide what food is served, when it’s served and where meals happen. Children decide whether to eat and how much to eat. As a parent, you can’t force your child to eat; recognizing this is critical to reducing the mealtime tug‑of‑war and creating a calmer, more predictable environment for the entire family.

Exposure, Not Pressure

Young children often need repeated, low‑pressure exposure to a new food before trying it. Offering broccoli once likely isn’t enough. It’s important to offer it repeatedly, without commentary, bribing or coaxing.

Trying new foods is more than just ingesting them. Touching and smelling are steps toward tasting and acceptance. Involving children in food preparation – washing vegetables, stirring batter, mixing ingredients – lets them gain familiarity without the pressure of having to eat. Inclusion in this process increases curiosity and that curiosity is often followed by a willingness, or even desire, to try the food.

It’s also important for parents to model desired eating habits. If you want your child to try salmon but you’re eating pizza, they’re unlikely to want to eat the salmon. Daily family mealtimes – often dinner in busy households – where you’re modeling manners and eating the food you want your child to eat is key.

The Importance of Routines

For young children, routines provide structure, predictability and comfort. A consistent meal and snack schedule helps children learn what to expect and can reduce not only their anxiety around mealtimes, but parental anxiety, too.

Notably, there is no right or wrong schedule; every family needs to figure out what works best for their circumstances. What matters is setting a schedule and maintaining consistency. For example, if you provide a snack between breakfast and lunch, do it every day, not just a few days a week. This helps children know what to expect and feel comfortable.

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Schedules also help parents resist “secondhand cooking.” When a child refuses the meal offered, parents often scramble to make alternatives, but this teaches the child if they hold out long enough, a preferred food will arrive. Instead, calmly remind your child when the next snack or meal will be: “OK, you don’t want to have the yogurt and fruit. That’s fine, but I’m not going to make something else. Snack time is in two hours.” This builds trust and reduces anxiety for everyone.

With patience, low-pressure exposure and consistent routines, most picky eaters gradually broaden their palates and mealtimes become more enjoyable for the whole family. For more parenting guidance, including the Parenting with Goddard blog and webinar series, visit the Parent Resource Center at GoddardSchool.com.

Photos courtesy of Shutterstock

SOURCE:

The Goddard School

At our core, we at STM Daily News, strive to keep you informed and inspired with the freshest content on all things food and beverage. From mouthwatering recipes to intriguing articles, we’re here to satisfy your appetite for culinary knowledge.

Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience. https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink/

Oven-Baked Hash Brown Potatoes

If you love golden, crispy hash browns without the grease of a skillet, this oven-baked version delivers all the flavor with less fuss. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as a comforting side, these potatoes turn out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside — every time.

Ingredients

• 3 cups shredded potatoes (fresh or frozen — thawed & squeezed dry)
• 2–3 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• Optional add-ins: garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, shredded cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven

Heat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease with oil.

2. Prep the Potatoes

• Fresh potatoes: Rinse shredded potatoes under cold water, then squeeze out as much moisture as possible using a clean kitchen towel.
• Frozen hash browns: Thaw completely and press dry before seasoning.

Getting the water out is the secret to crispy hash browns!

3. Season & Toss

In a large bowl, combine the drained potatoes with olive oil (or melted butter), salt, pepper, and any optional seasonings like garlic powder or paprika.

4. Spread & Bake

Spread the potatoes in a thin, even layer on the baking sheet. For patties, press small mounds into rounds.

Bake for 18–25 minutes, then use a spatula to flip. Continue baking another 10–15 minutes until the edges are perfectly golden brown.

5. Serve & Enjoy

Once crisp and golden, transfer to a plate, add your favorite toppings — think sour cream, chives, or cheese — and serve hot.

Pro Tips for Perfect Crispiness

• Dry is key: The drier the potatoes, the crispier they get.
• Don’t crowd the pan: Give them space so they roast, not steam.
• High heat wins: 425°F ensures a crunchy outside and a tender inside.

Serving Suggestions

These hash browns pair beautifully with:

• Eggs any style
• Grilled sausages or bacon
• Avocado and salsa for a breakfast bowl twist
• A dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream

If you enjoyed this recipe, check out more comfort classics and kitchen tips right here on STM Daily News.

🍽️ Happy cooking from STM Daily News!

Last Updated on March 5, 2026 by Daily News Staff

(Feature Impact) Coughs and sniffles don’t have to derail you for long – not with a fresh, homemade stockpot full of Sick Day Chicken Noodle Soup. Loaded with rotisserie chicken, celery and carrots, it’s sure to warm you from the inside-out as a warm, comforting meal. Plus, with eight servings, this dish can help solve dinnertime dilemmas throughout the week by storing leftovers in the refrigerator and reheating on the stove.

Warm up your winter meals with more comforting ideas available at Culinary.net.

Sick Day Chicken Noodle Soup

Recipe adapted from Tastes Better from Scratch

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Servings: 8

• 1/2       tablespoon butter
  
• 2          ribs celery, diced
  
• 3-4       large carrots, diced
  
• 1          clove garlic, minced
  
• 10        cups chicken stock or broth
  
• 1/8       teaspoon dried rosemary
  
• 1/8       teaspoon dried thyme
  
• 1/8       teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  
• salt, to taste
  
• pepper, to taste
  
• chicken bouillon cubes (optional)
  
• 4          cups dry egg noodles
  
• 3          cups cooked rotisserie chicken

1. In large stockpot over medium-high heat, saute butter, celery and carrots 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
2. Add chicken stock or broth and season with rosemary, thyme and crushed red pepper. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Taste and add chicken bouillon cubes, if desired, for flavor.
3. Bring to boil. Add noodles and cook until al dente. Remove from heat once noodles are tender.
4. Add chicken. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.

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Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

SOURCE:

Culinary.net

At our core, we at STM Daily News, strive to keep you informed and inspired with the freshest content on all things food and beverage. From mouthwatering recipes to intriguing articles, we’re here to satisfy your appetite for culinary knowledge.
Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience. https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink/