Beyond the Toy Aisle: Creative Gift Ideas for Your Picky Eater
Air Date: December 9, 2024
Christine Miroddi Yoder:
Hi, and thanks so much for joining us. I'm Christine, your host, and today we're talking about the gift of a picky eater.
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the holidays—scrolling through Amazon, flipping through toy catalogs, thinking about all the fun activities—but we can also incorporate food into play in meaningful ways. The best part is, it doesn’t always have to be kitchen-related. Games, books, and toys can actually help kids build skills that make eating easier and more enjoyable.
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Toys With a Purpose
I love toys that serve a purpose beyond just making noise or needing endless batteries. For little ones, that might mean toys that support hand-eye coordination, art, or cause-and-effect. For older kids, it could be Legos, building sets, or STEM kits—things where they’re making or learning something.
A lot of kids have piles of toys that end up forgotten in what I call the “toy graveyard.” Purposeful toys—ones that connect to life skills—tend to hold their value and stay relevant year-round, not just during the excitement of the holidays.
These can work for any celebration—Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, birthdays, or just because.
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Food-Related Gifts That Actually Work
Now, I don’t recommend giving kids a fork and spoon set as their big holiday gift if they’re expecting toys—but there are some fun, creative utensil sets that do pass as presents:
* Dinosaur fork and spoon set (by Jolly Club): press it and the dinosaur opens its mouth to grab food.
* Construction vehicle utensils: kids can “scoop” and “dig” with their fork and spoon.
Those kinds of playful tools can sneak in some food fun without disappointment. And yes, while they might look like “boy toys,” I promise girls love them too—my own son even prefers the purple set!
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Sensory-Friendly Gifts
Most picky eaters have some sensory sensitivities—often in vision, taste, and smell. The right sensory-friendly gift can help.
Some ideas include:
* Weighted vest or apron (proprioception support)
* Wobble cushion or textured seat pad for better focus while sitting
* Fidget toys to keep hands busy
* Slime, cloud slime, or kinetic sand to explore textures without food pressure
These toys can mimic sensations kids avoid with food—like crumbs on their hands or wet textures—and help them get comfortable in a playful, non-threatening way.
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Games That Build Food Familiarity
There are so many fun, food-themed games:
* There’s a Yeti in My Spaghetti
* Feed the Woozle
* Pancake Pile-Up
These games normalize talking about food in a fun, low-pressure way. And you can easily take it further—for example, after playing Pancake Pile-Up with pretend food, make real pancakes and play the same game in the kitchen. It’s a natural transition from play to eating.
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Books About Food
Books make wonderful gifts too. Some favorites:
* What Happens When You Eat… (lift-the-flap style science books)
* The Very Hungry Caterpillar
* The Stinky Stench
* Munch
Books keep food conversations lighthearted and fun. Even if the story isn’t about food, you can make connections. For example, if a book is about being brave, you might say, “Just like how you feel when you try new foods.”
I have a full list of food-themed books by age on the blog, so you don’t have to stick to “baby” titles—there are great options for all ages.
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Oral Motor & Mindset Gifts
For kids who need oral motor support, playful tools are perfect gifts:
* Z-Vibe or vibrating toothbrushes (for stimulation)
* TalkTools silly straw set (for tongue retraction, lip rounding, suction)
These help build chewing, tongue movement, and bolus control in fun, kid-friendly ways.
And for mindset? Books like My Magical Words are wonderful for teaching positive self-talk and bravery—skills you can link back to food courage.
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Making 2025 the Year of Food Progress
If this is the year you’re done struggling with picky eating, our Unlocking Mealtimes program can help you move from fearful to foodie.
We start with a short quiz at thepickyeaterstest.com to see what type of eater your child is, then guide you with next steps. We have free videos on YouTube, or you can book a call with me if you’re unsure whether it’s the right fit.
Parents who enrolled last year are now seeing their kids expand from just a handful of foods to trying new ones regularly. The key? They did the work—watched the lessons, made changes, and stayed consistent. That’s when the transformation happens.
I love hearing stories from parents who say, “I realized I knew exactly what to do.” That’s the goal: to help you become the expert on your own child while we guide you along the way.
If you’re ready to start, head to thepickyeaterstest.com or visit foodologyfeedingtherapy.com/courses to learn more and enroll today.
