Best Foods for Picky Kids

Lots of things are for kids – playgrounds, Crocs, Trix. But being a picky eater? That’s for kids and adults alike. Just ask Link! And while we all logically know picky eater adults exist, we don’t like to call them out on it because it feels like we are calling them childish or immature and that’s an awkward conversation at best. So here is a list of the best foods for picky “kids.” Because don’t worry, “kids,” there are many good foods out there for picky kids that even us non-picky kids can enjoy.

I don’t know if there is a more robust culinary stereotype out there than the fact that chicken nuggets are the food for picky kids. But if your kid (or adult friend with a 401k named Jeremy) isn’t willing to eat anything else, then these chicken nuggets are sure to please the entire fam, from the pickiest eaters to the culinary enthusiasts. These chicken nuggets are so well seasoned, senior writer Jordan Myrick said they don’t even need a dipping sauce to be delicious. That’s high praise. Speaking of dipping sauces…

Heinz Tomato Ketchup

What do you know, it’s her. The “it girl” of the tomato world. I don’t need to tell you what this tastes like, but I will say, in the words of the late, great Tina Turner, it is “Simply the best, better than all the rest,” and even your pickiest tomato hater (*cough* Link *cough*) usually won’t turn their nose up at some ketchup.

JIF Creamy Peanut Butter

I mean, it is a well-known fact that choosy moms choose JIF, and I like to think that “choosy moms” is just what happens when picky kids grow up. That being said, choosy mothers really do know best, because this stuff is excellent. Managing editor Gwynedd Stuart noted that this PB has “plenty of nutty flavor upon first bite,” and she was a fan of how it “evolves as it settles on your tongue—sweetness rears its head, along with just the right amount of saltiness.” Have you ever heard anyone wax so poetic about peanut butter? Go put this on your list; it is one of the most delightful foods for picky kids.

Welch’s Natural Concord Grape Spread

Come on, we had to have peanut butter’s best friend on here. Or rather, peanut butter’s best friend that is also a food for picky kids (me personally, I’m a raspberry jam kind of gal). But don’t knock grape jelly right away, especially this stuff. Gwynedd described it as “absolutely bursting with concord grape flavor” and noted that only does it come in a delightfully user-friendly squeeze bottle, it also has no high fructose corn syrup. Just concord grapes, sugar, lemon juice concentrate, and fruit pectin. So maybe choosy moms can feel okay choosing this too?

Nature’s Own Perfectly Crafted Thick Sliced White Bread

Ah yes, the third best friend in the iconic girl group that is Peanut Butter, Jelly, and White Bread. But hey, some combos exist for a reason. Offer me a PB&J and I’m just as happy as the next person. Plus, this bread is simply luscious. Jordan described it as “super soft” and “lightly sweet,” adding that it has “and has “a mild flavor that wouldn’t overpower sandwich fillings.” They even thought it would go well with more savory fillings like tuna salad or grilled cheese as well. White bread is a classic food for picky kids. Get some of this and it gives you at least three or four meal options you can be pretty sure they will like.

Kraft Deluxe White Cheddar & Cracked Black Peppercorn

Yes, I know this says it has black pepper in it, a notorious bane of a picky eater’s existence. But here’s a secret I learned: Just don’t tell them. If they are allergic, obviously tell them. But if they simply think they do not like black pepper, don’t tell them. They won’t notice anything but the depth and complexity it lends to this wondrously rich and creamy take on boxed mac and cheese. Plus, mac and cheese is potentially the most iconic food for picky kids (besides plain buttered noodles). Sporked contributor Danny Palumbo called this mac “sharp, peppery, creamy, and downright sublime.” GO. GET THIS. The stuff is sure to please picky and non-picky kids alike.