This place has been a blessing to my family. We come from Aurora and don’t mind the drive. The whole staff and the DR are very knowledgeable and helpful. This is our first baby and in great hands.
In case you missed it, Victoria spoke recently in our Talk Tuesday reels about picky eating and how we as parents can help diversify our children’s palettes and help them overcome some picky eating habits.
Picky eating is a common challenge that many parents face, particularly during the toddler years. We understand that it can be a source of frustration, which is why we’re here to help you navigate this phase and expand your child’s palate!
Baby-Led Weaning: Start Early! At Well-Rooted, we’re big fans of baby-led weaning. It’s a fantastic way to introduce your child to various textures and flavors from as early as six months. By encouraging exploration right from the start, you can reduce picky eating tendencies down the road.
One Meal for All! ️ One effective strategy is to avoid making a separate meal for your child. When they see that the whole family is enjoying the same food, they’re more likely to join in and try new things.
️ Mix It Up: Offer Familiar and New Foods! Mix things up by presenting foods your child loves alongside some new options. It’s perfectly okay if they take a bite and say, “No, thank you.” Taste preferences can change over time, so it’s important to encourage them to try again.
Dip It: Explore with Sauces! Sauces and dips can work wonders in making veggies or meat more appealing. Experiment with different flavors to turn mealtime into an adventure.
We do know that every child is unique, and it’s perfectly fine for them to have their preferences! ✨ As our children grow, we do want to aim to expand their palates and introduce more variety into their diets.
To make trying new foods more FUN for your kids, here are some additional tips:
Taste the World: Turn mealtime into an exciting adventure! Explore different cuisines from around the world. Let them be “food detectives” and discover new flavors.
Food Art: Get creative with food art! Arrange fruits and veggies into fun shapes or faces on the plate. It’s amazing how a little creativity can make food more appealing.
Cook Together: Involve your kids in meal prep. Let them choose ingredients, mix, and help in the kitchen. Kids often enjoy eating what they’ve had a hand in making.
Food Tasting Games: Blindfolded taste tests can be a blast! Challenge them to guess different foods and reward them with a small prize for being adventurous eaters.
Food Rainbow: Create a “food rainbow” chart and encourage them to taste foods of different colors. It’s a fun way to explore the diversity of fruits and veggies.
Grow Your Own: If possible, start a small vegetable or herb garden. Kids love watching their plants grow, and they may be more eager to taste what they’ve nurtured.
We understand that picky eating can be tough to handle. That’s why we sometimes sneak in those nutrients by mixing veggies into meals or making yummy smoothies with fruits like . And sometimes, a little multivitamin supplement boost is just what they need.
If picky eating persists, especially in extreme cases, there might be underlying reasons. ⚕️ It’s crucial to consult a healthcare provider to rule out deficiencies, toxicities, or gut issues that could be causing the fussiness.
Don’t forget the importance of staying hydrated with good ol’ water and keeping an eye out for any ongoing issues.
We hope you find these tips helpful in your journey to expand your child’s palate and make mealtimes more enjoyable!
This place has been a blessing to my family. We come from Aurora and don’t mind the drive. The whole staff and the DR are very knowledgeable and helpful. This is our first baby and in great hands.
Best pediatrician out there! I trust well rooted more than any nurse or doctor out there. Getting to the root cause of issues and always taking such good care of my son.
I drive an hour just to come to this office. Been coming since my daughter was 3, now she’s 5. It’s clean, professional, quick, friendly, reasonably priced and Jessica is a TOTAL PRO who is the main reason for our visits. Can’t recommend her and Well Rooted enough!
We don’t go to the Crystal Lake Well Rooted anymore since we moved going over to OakBrook. We saw Victoria was absolutely fantastic. She saw my son for the first 9 months of his life, and she not only provided phenomenal care for him, but also for myself as a newly postpartum mom. They are very respectful of your decisions as a parent at Well Rooted, and it’s nice to not feel like you’re being gaslit by medical professionals. I like how they have holistic remedies available for purchase as well. They also provided me references to lactation consultants, chiropractors, etc as well. My son is now almost 2 and thankfully very healthy. We love Well Rooted!
My first time with the Oakbrook office and staff has been the kind of experience I’ve longed for. Although I have only been there twice(in one week), it’s the most genuine communication I’ve had from a doctor’s office. I’ve been searching for a practice that treats our family as more than just a number, and I’m truly grateful for the care and attention to detail they’ve provided. The follow-up phone calls and the extra check-up were instrumental in demonstrating their practice’s excellent understanding of bedside manners and true thoughtfulness that his sickness matters.
390 Congress Pkwy # J
Crystal Lake, IL
814 Commerce Dr., Ste 150
Oak Brook, IL
390 Congress Parkway
Suite I
Crystal Lake, IL
2075 Foxfield Rd.
Suite 102
St. Charles, IL 60174