If you live in fear that a full-scale meltdown will transpire if your kid's peas touch their spaghetti, or if their spaghetti touches their potatoes, well, first off: we can relate. It's exhausting enough to have a picky eater, but when one wrong move — or one runny sauce — can ruin an otherwise promising meal, it feels unlikely that you'll ever have a peaceful dinner, ever again.

Well, luckily, while we parents have all been busy in our second shift as short-order cooks, some clever engineers have been inventing workarounds for that pesky problem of having different foods touch. Yes, kid-friendly plates that have separate sections have existed for some time, but now you can buy stand-alone "food separators" that you can put on any plate you want.

The one that stands above the rest — with nearly 70 glowing reviews and a nearly-five-star status — is the Food Cubby [1] ($15), the self-proclaimed original food divider. Invented by a "kid inventor," the food-safe silicone pieces suction to flat, smooth plates to keep runny food from spreading. What makes this brand unique is that it provides an "edge" to push food onto utensils for little ones — or those with special needs — who might need the extra help. Each package comes with two separators that each hold a half-cup of food within its walls.

Ideal if you want to use plates you already own for this phase (we hope!) of life, it also saves on dirty dishes — no need for additional bowls for, say, salad or dipping sauces. The Food Cubby is also perfect for traveling or going out to eat at those once-dreaded restaurants.

"These are great!" one commenter said. "They suction to the plate so well you can lift the plate with them but all you have to do is lift the corner and they pop loose. They also isolate the plate so well that food will never touch."

And although many buyers admit they first purchased the product as a gag gift for picky eaters — young and old — they admit they are actually useful: "Bought as a joke for my niece, but she uses them for real! Today she kept her syrup away from her eggs! Too funny!"

Get one for your favorite picky eaters, whether they are 3 years old or going on 30.