As I mentioned in my blog post How to Help Picky Eaters Try New Foods, mealtimes with a picky eater can sometimes feel like hard work – but they don’t have to be. Whether your child refuses anything green, avoids new textures, or sticks to a handful of familiar foods, the right approach can transform their relationship with food.
Books can be incredibly helpful in this journey, offering fun stories, expert advice, and practical strategies to help you cope with fussy eating habits. From playful tales that encourage adventurous eating to insightful guides on managing food-related challenges, these resources are designed to make mealtimes more enjoyable and nutritious.
Below, you’ll find a carefully selected list of books that can support you in introducing healthy eating habits to your child. If you are having serious problems, Helping Your Child with Extreme Picky Eating by Katja Rowell and Jenny McGlothlin (number 8 on this list) may be exactly the book you need.
1. Which Food Will You Choose? An entertaining story designed to entice fussy eaters into exploring a vibrant world of colourful and nutritious food. A fun way to encourage adventurous eating habits.
2. Where Does My Food Come From? This book takes children on a journey to discover how their favourite foods are made, fostering curiosity about ingredients and where they come from.
3. How to Talk to Children About Food A practical guide for parents on managing children’s food-related feelings, fussy eating, and eating disorders. Covers ages 0-16 with a new approach to navigating mealtime challenges.
4. Ella’s Kitchen: The First Foods Book (The Purple One) A fully revised and updated guide to introducing first foods, packed with tasty, nutritious recipes and expert tips to support early eating experiences.
5. Ella’s Kitchen: The Cookbook (The Red One) A classic cookbook filled with fun, easy, and healthy recipes tailored for young children, encouraging them to enjoy mealtimes with delicious homemade meals.
6. Annabel Karmel’s New Complete Baby & Toddler Meal Planner A best-selling meal planner featuring expert advice on baby and toddler nutrition, including new finger food guidance and a range of healthy recipes.
7. Annabel Karmel’s Fun, Fast and Easy Children’s Cookbook An engaging cookbook filled with simple, fast, and delicious recipes designed to make mealtimes enjoyable for children while promoting healthy eating habits.
8. Helping Your Child with Extreme Picky Eating A step-by-step guide by Katja Rowell and Jenny McGlothlin, this book helps parents overcome selective eating, food aversion, and feeding disorders. It offers practical strategies to reduce mealtime stress and encourage a positive relationship with food.
9. Bread and Jam for Frances This classic children’s story follows Frances, a little badger who only wants to eat bread and jam—until she discovers the joy of trying new foods. A gentle and charming tale that helps picky eaters see the fun in variety.
10. I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato Part of the beloved Charlie and Lola series, this playful book tells the story of Lola, a determined picky eater, and her imaginative brother Charlie, who cleverly transforms everyday foods into exciting adventures. A fun way to encourage kids to rethink their dislikes!
I believe that with the right approach – and a little inspiration from these books – mealtimes can become an opportunity for discovery, enjoyment, and a lifelong love of healthy food.
Have you tried any of these books with your child? Did any make a real difference at mealtimes? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to share your experiences or recommendations in the comments!