From Picky to Picnic -Ready
- debbietheearlyyear
- Jul 1
- 3 min read
By Holly “Nanny Cooks”
Hi, I’m Holly, a paediatric food consultant, founder of Nanny Cooks and a Norland Nanny. I take the stress of fussy eating off parents’ plates and add a spoonful of fun!
Having nannied across the world for the past six years and worked in busy family homes, I’ve built a bank of tried-and-tested tips, tricks, recipes and meal plans to help tackle the challenges of fussy eating. I get it, I’ve been there. Tired, frustrated and desperate for children to just eat something. That’s why I’ve created this practical toolkit of ideas that actually work.
I’m often asked by clients and parents about my go-to tips. And now we’re in “National Picnic Month” when feeding fussy eaters out and about can feel especially stressful.
Five factors to consider when preparing a picnic for fussy eaters:
Children’s involvement, temperature matters, playing it safe, making it fun and
limiting overwhelm.
Let’s get into it…
Children’s Involvement
When dealing with fussy eaters, getting them involved is key, and this applies to picnics too. Involving children empowers them and gives them a say, which increases the likelihood they’ll actually eat the food.
Involvement can be as simple as planning the picnic together, helping with the shopping, preparing food or packing the bag. Don’t overcomplicate it! One approach I often use is offering controlled choices. For example, letting them choose between a sandwich or a pasta salad. This gives them a sense of independence and control, without overwhelming them with too many options.
Temperature Matters
Temperature can make or break a mealtime for fussy eaters. Lukewarm pasta salad,
anyone? No exactly! Children are sensitive to how food feels as well as how it tastes, so it’s important to think about how food will be stored and served during your picnic.
A little pre-planning goes a long way, use cool bags, thermoses or insulated containers
to keep food at the right temperature. This small step can completely change a child’s
experience of a meal. Trust me, I’ve learnt the hard way, so you don’t have to.
Playing It Safe
Picnics aren’t the best time to introduce a plateful of unfamiliar foods. New foods + new environment = potential overwhelm. That combo can cause fussy eaters to shut down and not eat at all.
Stick with mostly “safe” foods: the ones your child already knows and loves. If you want
to introduce something new, do it in small portions alongside familiar options. The
presence of safe foods can act like an anchor and make the whole experience feel more secure.
Making It Fun
Picnics are meant to be fun! But when catering for fussy eaters, that can feel easier said than done. Making food fun doesn’t have to be one more thing on your to-do list I
promise.
Simple ideas go a long way:
· Use biscuit cutters to make sandwich shapes
· Draw faces on fruit with edible pens
· Serve food in a bento-style lunchbox with little food picks
Presentation matters more than we think. When meals are interactive and playful, it can encourage even the fussiest of eaters to give things a try.
Limit Overwhelm
Sometimes, in an effort to please, we offer too many options. But for fussy eaters, more choice can mean more stress. Picnics, with all their components and excitement, are prime territory for overwhelm.
My advice?
Choose one main element, then offer two savoury and two sweet sides. This
keeps things simple while still allowing your child to feel a sense of control.
Portion sizes matter, too. Start small, they can always have more. Smaller portions help
reduce visual overwhelm and can make a child feel more in control of what they’re eating.
I know all of this can feel like a lot, especially when you’re out with friends and just want your child to eat. But these five tips are designed to take the stress off your plate, add a little fun and help make picnics something the whole family can enjoy.
For more information, head over to my website: www.nannycooks.co.uk
Holly
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