K-12

5 Ways to Win Over Picky Eaters

8/1/2025

Did you know that 1 in 5 children is a picky or selective eater?¹

If you work in K-12 dining, that is no surprise. In fact, that stat may even feel low to you, as you see students selecting the same “safe” foods day after day. It’s the reason why so many children’s menus look almost identical: chicken tenders or nuggets, pasta, pizza, apple slices, milk.

But navigating these limited preferences can be difficult when you are trying to offer a well-rounded meal, introduce students to new foods, and showcase to parents and guardians that their child is experiencing a range of options. In fact, picky eating has been shown to cause stress in both children and caregivers. For kids, fear of new tastes and textures can lead to anxiety at mealtime, while power struggles with parents (“you have to clean your plate”) can lead to even more tension. Meanwhile, parents and guardians report their own anxiety—they feel inadequate, guilty, and are often bombarded with unsolicited advice.¹

And parents can add their own stress to K-12 operators, requesting particular foods or cuisines. When households were asked what they wanted most from K-12 dining, the top option was more innovative and unique options, with 37% saying they are more likely to buy them and over a quarter (26%) saying they would even pay more for them.²

So how do you reach those picky eaters with a more diverse range of foods? Consider these five thought-starters that can make a wider array of foods more appealing to even the pickiest eaters:

1. Start with the familiar

At its core, picky eating is often rooted in sensory sensitivity and a simple fear of the unfamiliar. The world can be an overwhelming place in general for children, where every new experience is in some ways a challenge. So when it comes to food, make it a little bit easier for kids to conquer that fear. You can do that by starting with familiar foods and ingredients that they love, then layering in new flavors, dips, toppings, etc. that push them outside of their comfort zone little by little. Whatever you introduce, make sure you do it gradually—don’t overwhelm students with too many changes and choices at once.

2. Incorporate student voice—and choice

Incorporating student opinions is essential to buy-in for just about any foodservice decision. That’s particularly true when it comes to introducing students to new foods and flavors. Forcing picky eaters to eat new options is likely to backfire, making them more anxious and afraid of new foods overall. Instead, get students involved in the decision-making so they feel like they have a say in what’s available. Student surveys, taste tests, and cafeteria voting boards are all tried-and-true ways to get student feedback and buy-in. Of course, you can also offer small but meaningful choices in a single meal or option itself. Let students decide between two dipping sauces, toppings, or shapes, which puts the choice in their hands and gives them agency over trying something new.

3. Make it fun and visual

We eat with our eyes no matter our age, but that’s particularly true for children, who love color, fun shapes, and anything that makes a meal more fun and exciting. Sometimes the only thing keeping a picky eater from trying something new is that it’s in the fun shape of a dinosaur or animal, or that it’s so colorful they can’t help but want to reach out and grab it. Plenty of research has also showcased how creative naming can make items more attractive to students. When “tater tots” become “Galaxy Gems” and are paired with a duo of global dipping sauces and served on a colorful tray, they become that much more enticing.

4. Lean on data

Every school is different—student populations, demographics, programs, etc., can impact what students will and will not like. Rely on data to track what’s working and what’s not and pivot accordingly. By tracking participation rates and plate waste, you can see which adventurous foods are resonating with students, allowing you to lean into those, while removing or using different tactics for those that aren’t. It’s easy to rely on your assumptions about what students want, but generational food-preferences are changing rapidly—many children are now growing up eating sushi—so adjust the menu based on this feedback and performance, not just a hunch. And when something is working, celebrate it. Highlight those success stories across schools and districts so they can learn from those wins, as well.

5. Launch a “Picky Eater Power Week"

Being a picky eater isn’t a negative—it simply means a student experiences food in a different way and may need a little more information before making a decision. Celebrate that thoughtful decision-making with a “Picky Eater Power Week," putting the power to decide on a menu in the hands of picky eaters. Start with something familiar: potatoes, rice, and breaded proteins are well-loved favorites for students, allowing you to customize them with more adventurous flavors and ingredients in a way that feels safe and familiar. Simplot Tri-Taters® or Tater Gems® and Good Grains™ Vegetable Fried Rice or RTE Southwest Style Fiesta Blend are enticing bases for a customizable bowl topped with unique proteins and flavors. Allow students to vote on their favorite toppings or create pre-built options and let them choose their favorite trays (give each one an exciting name). Make it a fun event that gets attention: promote it with colorful signage, use student-led taste tests to get feedback, and showcase the winning options to make them attractive to both picky and adventurous eaters.

The most important lesson is to keep it fun and stress-free for students. While giving students a range of diverse foods is important, making sure they have a positive experience with food overall matters even more.

¹ The Emotional Strain of Picky Eating
² K-12 Segment Guide, Datassential, 2024