Our 10 Favorite Picky Eater Books
If you’re a parent of a picky eater, you know the mealtime struggle is real. Encouraging your little eater to try new foods can be stressful, and preparing meals that they’ll only eat two bites of can be discouraging. But, there are several fun strategies you can use to help your picky eater become a bit more adventurous during mealtime, and one of them is reading books written especially for them!
Just like reading to your kids about a new sibling, potty training or moving to a new home, there’s an array of children’s books that encourage kids to try new foods. With bright, colorful illustrations and fun plots, these books speak a kid’s language as they teach the importance of trying new foods. Plus, reading is a great way to spend quality time with your child. In this case, it might also open the door to discussing why your child doesn’t want to try certain foods—which might help you better understand how to manage mealtime. Time to cuddle up and read! Here are our 10 favorite children’s books for picky eaters.
Picky Eater Books for Toddlers
1. Dragons Love Tacos
Chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big tacos, teeny tiny tacos—dragons love them all. This tale playfully details how trying new kinds of food is exciting. . But where there are tacos, there’s spicy salsa, and when you mix dragons with spicy salsa…watch out!
2. Green Eggs and Ham
A Dr. Seuss classic, this book follows Sam-I-am, who simply loves green eggs and ham. He loves them anywhere, everywhere, at any time of day, with an unrelenting wish to convince others to love them, too. The story can help your picky eater learn how to frame an unfamiliar foodin a positive light as Sam’s friends begin to see the meal as quite a special snack. The illustrations and signature rhymes represent Dr. Seuss at his best.
3. Little Pea
In this topsy-turvy tale, the idea that kids don’t like vegetables gets turned upside down. Little Pea is quite unhappy about having to eat candy for dinner every night before he gets to eat his favorite dessert, spinach. The watercolor-style illustrations and sparse text add to the story’s playful feel. This story can help picky eaters see vegetables as a treat rather than the part of the meal they dread.
4. Today Is Monday
The lively energy of artist Eric Carle brings to life song and verse in this vibrantly illustrated book. String beans, spaghetti, ZOOOOP, roast beef, fresh fish, chicken and ice cream are the featured dishes each day of the week, until Sunday—when the children of the world all join to share a meal. This story can help picky eaters embrace variety in their meals each day. (Bonus: This book also teaches young readers the days of the week!)
5. Too Pickley
Exaggerated humor and clever rhymes make this book a kid favorite. A little boy sits at the table and proclaims, “I am hungry!” The problem? Everything placed on the table simply won’t do—he deems it too wrinkly, too squishy, too fruity or too fishy, though his furry friend and sidekick is eager to sample it all. Even dessert doesn’t suit the boy’s taste. At the very end, he eats something and responds, “So yummy! All done,” helping picky eaters learn that if they try a food they’ve rejected, they just might love it!
Picky Eater Books for Kids
1. Bread and Jam for Frances
Frances the badger insists on eating only bread and jam. Her ultimate dream comes true when her parents decide she’ll have bread and jam for every meal. But wait a minute…bread and jam all the time? Things turn out to be not exactly what Frances had in mind, and this story teaches picky kids that variety on their plate is actually a good thing!
2. Can I Eat That?
Taking a more facts-based approach, this book (written by food critic Joshua David Stein) informs kids about food, where it comes from and how it tastes. Each page features a different question, ranging from “Do eggs grow on eggplants?” to “Can you eat a sea urchin?” The illustrations are whimsical and cute, and might help your picky eater become more interested in new kinds of food.
3. I Really Like Slop!
Mo Willems’ beloved Elephant and Piggie are back, and this time, they’re in the kitchen. Piggie has whipped up a delicious meal: slop. It’s green with flies buzzing around it, which makes it less than appealing to Gerald. Piggie is quite excited for her friend to have a bite, but Gerald, stubborn as ever, refuses to try it. Finally, he changes his mind (mostly to make Piggie feel better). What happens next is magical—and shows kids that trying something new can be an unexpected delight.
4. Runaway Dinner
This story turns the tables on “I don’t want to eat that,” making the meal the thing that doesn’t want to be eaten. A little boy, Banjo, is very hungry, but Melvin, a sausage on Banjo’s plate, decides to make a quick getaway instead. A fast-paced chase ensues, and Melvin takes the fork, knife, plate, chair, table and more with him for the ride. Down the street and around the park they go, teaching Banjo—and picky eaters—the value of their food.
5. What’s Cooking?
The sequel to “Can I Eat That?” encourages interest in food by teaching picky eaters about food preparation and the ingredients that go into their meals. From global foods to cookbook vocabulary, each page asks a question and answers it in a playful, humorous way, with stylized illustrations that are simple yet fun.
By introducing a couple of these helpful and entertaining books, you can inspire your kids to approach mealtime in a whole new way. Happy reading—and eating!
If you have questions about picky eating strategies or our healthy kids meals, don’t hesitate to reach out to Nurture Life’s child nutrition experts at nutrition@nurturelife.com.
