Picky Eaters

It really depends upon age and the reasons for being a picky eater. For kids, you can cut up extra carrots, cucumbers, fresh green beans, or broccoli while you prepare dinner and leave some out in a bowl on the kitchen counter. It's fun for the kids to "steal" some of the dinner food before it's being cooked and served.

Many adults are picky eaters due to either flavor or texture (like my wife, on both counts). Cruciferous veggies (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and many others), often contain a compound that tastes bitter to only a portion of the population. Dry heat breaks down a notable amount of this chemical. If someone doesn't like broccoli or Brussels sprouts, try roasting them with olive oil and salt. If you have a hater of cabbage, kale, or collard greens, you can cut it into thin strips and stir-fry the veggie with some stronger spices.

Sweet potatoes and the winter squashes can be friendly for someone with a sweet tooth. A little bit of butter and brown sugar or molasses can make it taste like a dessert.

My wife found salad boring until I started topping it with chopped boiled egg whites and a little bit of crumbled bacon. Now it is one of her favorite sides, and she is getting a little more protein as well.

I hope this helps!