If you have a ‘picky eater’ in your house *coughyourkidcough*, then I don’t even need to tell you how hard it is to get them to eat fruit.

You may as well serve them a bowl of steamed socks; they’ll treat it the same. To them, it’s all ‘gross’ and “Ew… mommy, I want candy.” Strawberries are too mushy, pineapples are too tangy, raspberries have few seeds… They don’t like fruit, and they refuse to eat it.

But if you find a way to make fruit more fun, they might give it a chance. And I don’t mean making a smiley face on a plate because that won’t work.

What I mean is finding flavors and textures that click with their taste buds, like something sweet with a little bit of something salty, a juicy fruit with some crunch added to it, etc.

Delicious Pairings That Will Win Over Picky Eaters

Picky eating is pretty normal for little kids, but it’s still a problem you need to handle. When it comes to fruit, sometimes the trick is to pair the fruit with something else because certain flavors and textures can balance out whatever your little picky eater doesn’t like.

Here are some of my favorites:

Pair Fruit with Something Creamy

A creamy texture has a way of making fruit taste richer and more indulgent. Grab a spoonful of yogurt (I find that plain works best, but you can also get a flavored one for extra sweetness) and mix it with tart fruits like berries or pineapple. Smoothies are another really easy win, so blend fruit with milk (any milk) and you’ll get a silky drink that’s both filling and refreshing.

My favorite is a quick dip made from Greek yogurt mixed with a drizzle of honey, and I serve it with apple slices.

Trust me, your kids will be asking for more because this tastes like dessert.

Balance Sweetness and Saltiness

A pinch of salt can make sweet flavors pop like you wouldn’t believe! Mild cheeses like mozzarella or ricotta pair wonderfully with grapes, figs, or pear slices. You get this balanced bite that feels incredibly satisfying.

You can also sprinkle some salt on watermelon or mango to make them taste even sweeter. Another good option is apple slices with a spread of almond or peanut butter, it’s the perfect sweet-salty combo.

The reason why all this works so well is that these pairings hit multiple notes at once, so each bite is interesting.

Add Some Crunch

All kids like crunchy things, and the ones that are picky with food are usually put off by the texture of the fruit, and if you make it crunchy, you can change that. Mix berries or banana slices into granola, and each mouthful will have a satisfying contrast between juicy and crunchy.

You can also make snacks with dried fruit, lightly salted nuts, and whole-grain cereal. This option is particularly handy if you’re taking your kids out and need to bring snacks.

If your kids don’t like granola or cereal, sprinkle toasted coconut over chunks of pineapple, and you’ll still get that tasty crunch.

Use Gentle Spices and Natural Sweeteners

Sometimes, you don’t need to get overly creative, and all it takes is a bit of spice or sweetness to win someone over.

Dust cinnamon on apple slices or baked pears to add warmth and depth. Just don’t go too far with the amount of cinnamon because you don’t want it to overpower the fruit. You can also drizzle honey or maple syrup over fruit that’s slightly tart, like kiwi or grapefruit.

Vanilla extract is one of my favorites, and I like to add it to fruit purees and smoothies to make healthy fruit snacks taste like dessert. Much better than unhealthy, sugar-infused chocolate/crisps and such.

Simple Recipes That Make Fruit into Tasty Snacks

You don’t need to serve fruit plain to make it healthy.

Let me show you a few simple, but very effective tweaks that make the whole thing tastier and more indulgent while still keeping it healthy.

• Smoothie Blends – Blend banana and strawberry with yogurt for something more classic, or go tropical with pineapple, mango, and coconut milk. For a more energizing option, mix blueberries, spinach, and almond milk with a bit of honey. If the fruit is too tart, add a drizzle of maple syrup or an extra banana.
• Baked Fruit Treats – Roast or bake fruit like apples, pears, or peaches to bring out natural sugars and give the fruit a rich, caramel-like flavor. Sprinkle it with cinnamon, add a handful of oats for crunch, and drizzle some honey before serving it warm.
• Frozen Fruit Goodies – Keep frozen grapes in the freezer to make them into a refreshing bite for warm days, or make banana pops by dipping slices in yogurt and freezing them. You can also blend fruit into a puree (make sure it’s 100% smooth!) and freeze for an easy treat.

Conclusion

Hungry yet? I’m sure you are because who wouldn’t be after all this fruity-caramelly-creamy talk? Try out a few of these recipes, and you’ll see that your picky eater will start to love fruit.

Perhaps not all fruit, but a good amount. If you make it taste and look like dessert, nobody’ll be able to resist it, not even kids who live for candy and junk food.