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Mission Pediatrics Has Picky Patients

Empty plate with a sad face drawn on it

Mission Pediatrics has picky patients: they pick their noses, pick at the chairs, and some are picky, picky with their food.

Contrary to popular opinion, turkey does not taste like cardboard. It tastes like fancy cardboard…especially if you soak it in a bowl of gravy. It’s not about the turkey, it is about the people, the family, the togetherness, and giving your kid a chance to explore something new. And it is okay to share Grandma’s recipe with at least one person, by the way.

A holiday meal can be especially challenging for selective eaters. It’s difficult to make every item in your Thanksgiving meal look like a chicken nugget. So here are a few tips on how to approach your picky eater.

Remember that eating is a social event. It should be a happy time with smiles. Forcing your child to eat, coaxing them with airplanes, and doing a song and dance can turn feeding time into a “circus” where you become the main act. Children may start waiting for your next acrobatic feat instead of getting down to eating. Offer the food. If they want it, great. If they don’t, you stay unfazed, because this is a happy time of socialization and family.

But you can try this: include at least one food your child usually enjoys. Offer small portions of unfamiliar foods that you will also eat, let children help with an age-appropriate kitchen task, and keep pressure off the menu. Encourage exploration without requiring a bite or turning dessert into a reward for eating vegetables.1,2

Dr. Watson remembers a mom who was very upset that her children did not eat broccoli. He asked her if she ate broccoli, and she replied that she couldn’t stand the stuff… You model what you get…

Quick tip to make veggies delicious: bake them. This works with broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, mini peppers, asparagus, and even cut-up Brussels sprouts. Heat the oven to 400°F. Cut the vegetables into bite-sized pieces, spread them on a cookie sheet, and drizzle with a little olive oil until they are lightly glistening. Sprinkle a little kosher salt on top and bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until tender and lightly browned. Some vegetables will need more time. Done. Roasting brings out their sweetness and makes them extra delicious. Depending on your dietary restrictions, you can add nuts or bacon pieces to make them extra yummy. For young children, skip whole or chopped nuts and keep the vegetables soft and safely sized; consider food allergies, too.3

A quiet word with relatives beforehand can help: “We’re letting him explore at his own pace. Please leave the food negotiations to us…and no bribing with candy…especially Mrs. Sarkesian’s baggie of leftover Easter candy with chocolate that has turned white…”

If your child’s food choices are becoming extremely limited, it may be something else. Start a food diary (download one from our website) and notice whether specific foods seem to cause a problem. If growth is a concern, or meals regularly involve pain, gagging, coughing, or difficulty swallowing, tell your provider. Those concerns deserve attention beyond the Thanksgiving table. Schedule an appointment with your provider; don’t wait to finish the diary before asking for help.4

When a cough moves in

Mission Kids love to share…their coughs and colds. Thankfully, our providers have caught everything, so we are immune…or so we’d like to believe. We still get our flu shots. Knowing that children are so generous, we thought we would share some tips during cold and flu season.

The flu shot works. It helps prevent influenza and reduces the risk of serious illness. We strongly advise scheduling yours and your children’s. Children age 6 months and older should receive a flu vaccine each season unless they have a medical contraindication.5

For a mild cold, start with fluids, rest, and saline nose drops or spray. Fever is part of how the body fights infection, and it can show up before other symptoms make the cause clear. In many cases, the cause of the fever is more apparent after 24 hours, but you can always call your provider if you are unsure. An otherwise well child older than 3 months does not automatically need an emergency-room visit the moment a fever starts. Begin with rest and hydration, watch how your child is acting, and pay attention to the warning signs below. Children with weakened immune systems or specific medical care plans may need earlier evaluation.6,7

Gentle suction can help a congested baby feed more comfortably. For children age 1 year and older, a little honey may soothe a cough. Never give honey to a baby younger than 12 months.6

Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are not recommended for children under 4. For ages 4 through 6, use them only if your child’s provider recommends them.6

Pay attention to breathing, drinking, and alertness. Contact us promptly for poor drinking, much less urine than usual—particularly no urine for more than 12 hours during an illness—or symptoms that are worsening. 24 hours without urine is very concerning, please make sure a doctor evaluates your child if this is the case. Fast or labored breathing, including skin pulling in between the ribs with each breath, needs urgent medical assessment. Call 911 for severe breathing difficulty, blue or gray lips, or a child who is difficult to wake.8

A baby younger than 3 months with a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher needs immediate medical evaluation, even if the baby otherwise looks well. Call promptly; do not wait for a portal reply.7

Febrile seizures are uncommon. They affect approximately 3–4% of children, usually between 6 months and 5 years of age. Many parents, however, are terrified of fevers because they think they will cause seizures. Some give acetaminophen and ibuprofen around the clock to keep the fever away like it is the boogeyman. These medicines can help a child feel more comfortable, but they do not reliably prevent febrile seizures…despite what the urgent care provider told you.9,10

Febrile seizures often run in families. If Mom or Dad had them when they were little, their children may be more likely to have them, too. Most stop on their own within a few minutes.9

During a seizure, watch your child’s breathing. Lay them on their side on a safe surface, protect their head, and move hard or sharp objects away. Time the seizure. Do not hold them down or put anything in their mouth, including medicine or liquids.11

Call 911 for a first seizure, a seizure that reaches 5 minutes, trouble breathing or blue lips, repeated seizures without recovery between them, or a child who does not wake afterward. After any seizure, contact your child’s doctor promptly for evaluation. More than one seizure in 24 hours also needs urgent medical assessment, even if your child seems to recover between episodes. If your child already has a seizure action plan and prescribed rescue medicine, follow that plan.9,11,12

Holiday guests bring more than pie

A visiting relative’s purse or overnight bag may contain medications that a curious toddler can reach. A pill organizer on a nightstand can be especially tempting. Remind your guests to keep their bags out of reach of young children.

Give guests a secure place to store medicines and bags, out of children’s sight and reach—preferably locked. Child-resistant packaging is helpful, but children can still get into it.13

If you think your child swallowed medicine or another potentially poisonous substance, call Poison Control immediately at 1-800-222-1222. Do not wait for symptoms. Call 911 if your child collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or cannot be awakened.14

References

  1. American Academy of Pediatrics, Section on Obesity. How to plan a balanced Thanksgiving meal for picky eaters. HealthyChildren.org. Updated November 23, 2024.
  2. Muth ND. How do I help my picky eater try more healthy foods? HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics. Accessed November 5, 2026.
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Choking hazards. Infant and Toddler Nutrition. Updated March 11, 2026.
  4. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Early identification of speech, language, swallowing, and hearing disorders. Accessed November 5, 2026.
  5. American Academy of Pediatrics. AAP (influenza) flu prevention & treatment recommendations for 2026–27. HealthyChildren.org. Published August 10, 2026.
  6. American Academy of Pediatrics. Coughs and colds: medicines or home remedies? HealthyChildren.org. Updated December 2, 2022.
  7. American Academy of Pediatrics. Fever: when to call the pediatrician. HealthyChildren.org. Updated December 2, 2022.
  8. Seattle Children’s. Drinking fluids—decreased. Accessed November 5, 2026.
  9. Di Giovine M, Catenaccio E. Febrile seizures in children. HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics. Updated December 5, 2025.
  10. Offringa M, Newton R, Nevitt SJ, Vraka K. Prophylactic drug management for febrile seizures in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021;6:CD003031. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003031.pub4.
  11. Matesanz S, Di Giovine M. Seizure first aid for children. HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics. Updated November 6, 2023.
  12. National Health Service. Febrile seizures. Accessed November 5, 2026.
  13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About the PROTECT Initiative. Medication Safety. Updated April 17, 2024.
  14. National Capital Poison Center. First aid guidelines. Poison Control. Accessed November 5, 2026.