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Seriously! Does any one else get similar reactions to their hours of handiwork in the kitchen? One of my children, who shall remain unnamed (but not unpictured) is the usual culprit at our house. He has always been picky, but for some reason, in the last couple of months, he has become really stubborn about eating. We have struggled about what to do to get him to eat without complaint or force.
Everyone eats what is on the table over here. There are no special meals made for those who do not like what is being served. Which is sort of ironic (my mom is laughing right now) because I was the pickiest eater when I was little. I lived on Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches! But my kids don’t need to know about that, cause that was totally different :)!
We require him to take at least 5 bites now. But then even those 5 bites would take forever to eat sometimes. And he would still be sitting there complaining while the rest of us were cleaning up the kitchen and the doing the dishes. I didn’t think it was fair for him to “convieniently” get out of helping with the dishes too.
So now if he complains about dinner I just quietly get up and set the kitchen timer for 10 minutes. He knows this means he now has 10 minutes to eat his 5 bites without complaint. The kitchen will be closed after dinner and he may go to bed hungry. This has been working a ton better and has made meal time much happier for the rest of us. He has even eaten something all gone after claiming it was “disgusting”.
My question to you is…How do you deal with the picky eater at your house?
P.S. Since it is the month of “Thanksgiving” I will add three things I am thankful for at the end of each post during the month of November!
1. the blessing and ability to provide food and nourishment for our children
2. strong and independent personalities
3. eating dinner together as a family
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Anonymous says
like you, there are no special meals in our house. What we make for dinner is for everyone to eat.
If one of our kids does not like whats for dinner then we do not make them eat it. HOWEVER, if what they do like is a carb (usually the case) then they dont get to eat that until the main dish or veggie has been eaten.
Often times they will just eat the veggie and the carb and that is ok with us. They will not get another serving of the carb until the main dish has been eaten.
if they go to bed hungry, so be it. They will get eggs in the morning which is pretty healthy.
We rarely have issues and they eat pretty well. We try not to control their eating habits, but rather control our serving habits. One meal or even several meals skipped wont kill them….. but instead get them to eat whats served because they will be hungry enough.
Our kids might choose from what is on their plate. I only insist on trying everything new, if they don't like it, that's ok with me.
But we don't have any extras for our picky eater, either. He won't starve until breakfast next morning.
I've sooooo been there and done this. We tried everything when our boys were smaller. We tried the punishment and it did not good, only caused grief in our house. So normally, we'd let them eat a s/w or something. I must tell you – my now 15 year old son….is an absolute pig and will almost eat me out of house and home….so there is normally a light at the end of that tunnel. Good Luck!!!
I have a picky eater too! SHe used to "ruin" dinner time for everyone in our family. It was kind of stressful for everyone at the table. But then two things happened: 1) I read in one of James Dobson's books that "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink" so quit trying and 2) I spoke with my mother in law who raised 6 awesome children and she had the same problem but her picky eater is just as "normal" and well-rounded as the rest og her children. Her now 50 year old daughter ate a p-nut butter sandwhich every night for years. But she's an absolute delight! It was a R-E-L-I-E-F when we finally realized that "it's okay" if our picky eater doesn't have what we're having. This worked for our family, but I realize that it may not work for every family. I hope it helps. Blessings your way!!
LOL! Gavin[age 5] is SO picky!!! I, too, have begun to set a timer. Now Jen does the cooking in our house, not me!! HE is quick to say that she is the best cook and remind me of when I almost burnt the house down making brownies. He also mentions that Jen is a better cook that his Dad's girlfriend which always cracks us up!!!! But boy does he drag his feet at meal. If it is something I know he won't like, spinach and feta homemade pizza…he makes his own cheese one with red sauce…I must say that my 14 month old LOVES the spinach and feta pizza. If it's just something new….there is usually a lot of complaining but praise when he finishes…and sometimes when I'm feeling less than perfect….he just gets a hot dog lol!!!
We ask our semi picky eater to eat two bites of whatever it is she doesn't like. I do this because in my opinion, you can't say you don't like something if you've never tried it! Many times, this is what happens. It isn't that she has texture issues or aversions….I have a child with special needs who has those and I'm very familiar with them. She'd just rather eat junk and not touch the healthier stuff.
So, yes, we definitely demand some compliance to try new things, but then we do not force it. We have a standing rule in our house….if you are hungry, you are always welcome to two things – baby carrots or grapes. I'm amazed at how many times after a dinner that she didn't like that she'll pull out the baby carrots and start munching.
Oh….PS….I'm the Heather that just commented above. We chose baby carrots and grapes because they were two things that were a) healthy and b) she could get herself. She's 6, but we've been doing this since about age 4-5.
This is probably a rare case but sometimes there are reasons that kids don't eat things. My son became the pickiest eater and we found out he couldn't eat gluten.
I had 8 children and some were a struggle! I never made them sit there and eat it, but they had to have one or two bites atleast. My mom made me sit there forever to eat oatmeal cereal which I hate to the day. They'll eat when they get hungry..you survived and so will he! I never made something different for them either..it all works out. Come say hi :D
Recently, I've been wondering what others do at dinner time for picky eaters…so thank you for your post and the comments.
At our house, I have scheduled days for certain foods (like Monday is chicken, Tuesday is hamburger, Thursday is Kid Night etc). On Kid Night they get to fix and eat whatever they want that is in the house. Sometimes they have chips sometimes its cereal. It is a relief to me to not have to fix anything plus it gives them a chance to eat whatever. The other nights, if they don't like what I've fixed, I have them try it (atleast 2 bites) and eat their veges and fruit, then they can fix something else (pb&J, cheesey bread, etc). The key there is that they have to fix it. This way it isn't a restaurant and I'm the waitress. My kids ages are 7,4 and 1.
I don't have much advice…we're in the midst of this at my house. Just wanted to say that I know what you're going through! I've got a really picky eater (blogged about it recently) who also has a couple of GI issues complicating what I would "normally" do with a picky eater. Your timer idea sounds like a good one.
My kids have to at least try what I make. If they just don't like it, they can fix themselves a sandwich or some ramen noodles. They are 14, 12 and 9. I won't fix 2 meals, unless it is something that I know that they won't eat.
As a mother of 5 that range in age from 2-16 I struggle with these same issues. I don't make special meals either. Everyone eats the same thing. My 6 year old just started to turn his face at certain veggies. I still put a SMALL amount on his plate, and he has to eat it if he wants a snack after dinner. If you start giving in now- you'll have a picky eater for life! My 16 year old turned his face at asparagus last nigt- I told him "just eat one". He did, and had seconds! Everyone will have their own way to get a fussy eater to eat(or not)- it's the consistency that matters.
My 4 year old has been pulling this trick. He used to eat everything in sight, and now this. It's making me nuts! But I've learned that it's very important that there is no fight. I think it's often a control issue. I also don't want to be "force-feeding" him. So he has a choice– eat, or don't eat. I feign complete indifference as to whether or not he chooses to be hungry. If he chooses not to eat, however, he will get that same food the next time he wants to eat. That means he frequently (by his own choice) goes without supper, and has supper for breakfast. He always ends up eating the food I give him.
I have always felt this way.. "I sure wouldn't want to est something I didn't like".
Mine would have to try it and if it wasn't something they didn't like I wouldn't offer it to them again.
I have the worlds pickiest eater and he comes by it naturally beacuse his Daddy is too! I have 2 picky eaters and I agree that I only cook one thing and if you don't like it that's fine but the kitchen is closed. We had just used the try try again method with our son. He has to at least take a couple bites and if not, no desert. He's actually come around and tried some food that have now become favorites. It's tough and I once read an article about picky eaters-most of them eventually come out of it. I just try and sneak in as much healthy stuff and talk about healthy eating with him. It's not easy either way!
I have children in my house who make the same face at dinner.
We make one meal as well. My Mom always said she is not running a restaurant. They have a to eat as many bites as they are years old. Sometimes my 7 year old tried to get away with mouse or bird bites instead of girl bites. I ask that they at least eat the veggies and as someone else mentioned no other carbs unless everything else is gone.
My son is our "selective eater". So I just make one thing in the meal I know he will eat. I never force it. Just suggest he tries it. Sometimes curiosity gets the better of him and he tries something new. Look at food choices being balanced over a day or week and not by the meal. And remember to teach them to be polite when they don't want something "no complaints, just no thank yous". God will always appreciate your efforts even if the kids don't!
Amy,
I am right there with you. My youngest is the same way and has been since birth. There are nights she goes to bed hungry. I tell her the same thing, I am not making a "special" meal for just her. I try to let her help in the prep of the meal, like cutting the veges,mixing etc… That has helped a bit. She is more excited and willing about trying things when she has had a hand in the making of the meal. Good Luck! I feel your pain. It can really ruin dinner time for the whole family.
My father had the perfect solution for stopping complaints at the table. If I said one bad thing or even made a disgusted face at something we were eating I was promptly given another scoop! No negotiations, no warnings, no discussion – just more of whatever I didn't like. Worked like a charm – I NEVER complained about the meal no matter how much I didn't like it. I'd just grin and chow down so I wouldn't have to have more.
My younger sister tested the limits of their resolve by refusing to eat some foods. My mom would save whatever was left over on her plate after the fight for breakfast. I don't remember hardly any dinner time battles in our house.
Our kids have to try three bites of whatever it is they don't like or haven't tried before. If after three bites they still don't like it, fine, at least they tried. More often that not they end up liking whatever the food might be, eating all of it and asking for seconds.
I feel your pain more than you know. At 10 months my son refused to continue nursing, wouldn't take a bottle, and everything else he was "allowed" to have was not fattening enough. He fell off the bottom of the growth chart and it was a nightmare. He is now 6 and not much better about eating. I also do not cater to his every food demand, because if I did we would eat mac n cheese for every meal. I do however try to include at the dinner table something I know he will eat, something I know he might eat, and something I know is a serious stretch for him. I also DO NOT let him know that I am making these special considerations for him. It is just a balanced meal for everyone. If he chooses not to eat, he goes to bed hungry. Too much attention in any form only reinforces the undesireable behavior. We don't discuss his eating issues, we don't fight, we just set the rule that if he doesn't eat what is presented, he doesn't eat anything else for the rest of the night. Dinner is the final offering of food for the day. I hope this helps, but remember that you have to do what works at your house with your child. But my best advice is the less attention you pay to this, the quicker it should resolve. Make a rule, whatever it is, and stick to it!
I have a 6 year old boy who wont eat, either. 3 bite minimum is the rule. He holds his nose, too. If he doesn't eat the 3 bites at night he gets it for breakfast. :)
Our rule about food is eat what you want from the table (I always serve at least one thing they like, even if it is just the tortillas from the tacos.) but if you complain about food, you get to eat it. I don't care if they don't like something but do care about saying YUCK or gagging sounds. It is unappetizing for the rest of us, bad manners and makes the younger kids not want to try the food.
My kiddos actually eat really well, but if they don't like something just by the look…they have to at least try it. Another thing that we have started is having them help more. Every night, I have a special helper to make dinner with me. I do one at a time so that there are no fights. They seem to enjoy dinner a lot more that way & they take ownership in what they made.
I too have a VERY picky eater. He will get himself so worked up that he throws up so we won't make him eat anymore…. He is a PB&J and chicken nugget kid!
So funny! It is nicew to know others experience the same frustrations I do! I love the look on his face. I see some serious strength of personality in that determined countenance. :)
I know it sucks to have a picky eater in the family….BUT, he might not be eating because he's allergic.
When I was a kid, I was allergic to bananas, watermelon and lots of other things. Allergic like my throat would start to swell but I had no idea it was an allergic reaction I just thought that's what happened when you ate that stuff and I didn't like it. My mom would get so frustrated with me because I was too skinny and never ate.
Now, my kids have lots of food allergies too. I've been told one of the first warning signs is darkened circles around the eyes (which is what I see in these photos but it might just be the photo being weird).
Anyway, I think you should have his allergies tested and see if he happens to be allergic to the things he isn't eating. (hugs)
We have a really strict policy here at my house, if you don't eat what's on your plate, that' fine, I'll just save it in the fridge and they'll have to eat it for breakfast, and if they still don't eat it because of it's grossness, then they can save it for lunch, and so on, and so on. Now I would never starve my kids, and make them wait a whole day to eat, but so far this threat has worked. Only once has my picky guy gone to bed hungry. I do the same thing, they have to pretty much finish most of it. We tell them to take "daddy bites", because my hubby takes the biggest bites known to man kind! But our strictness, and consistency, ususally nips all that in the butt. We also IGNORE complaints, and cries. Our home motto is Good boys get good things, and bad behavior gets bad things.
funny I insist on the 5 bite thing too, My little Maddie used to eat anything now she is the pickiest eater in the house..ugh… I just hope someday she will go back to just eating normal without all the fuss and complaints… :)
Our two year old is very familiar with the phrase, "If you don't like *insert meal*, then I guess you're waiting to see if you like *insert next meal* better." We don't coddle, we don't pressure, we don't beg or plead. In our house either you eat what is on the table or you don't eat at all. But you do have to try it if you want treats later. She can't refuse to eat breakfast and then ask for snacks an hour later. Well I suppose she can ask, cry, and beg all she wants…but I don't have to respond.
My best friend was a SUPER picky eater when we were little. She would eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (with grape jelly only- we kept a jar of this at our house at all times even though nobody in our family really cared for it) and pizza. So usually we just lied and told her everything tasted like pizza. And then on the off chance that she tried a bite and realized we had lied to her once again somebody would usually make her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (with grape jelly). I would like to report that she has matured over the years and will now try basically everything very politely and even finish meals that I don't know whether she actually likes or not. Her husband, on the other hand, responded, "I don't eat salad" when we had them over for dinner a while ago. I think I ended up giving him a banana to eat while the rest of us finished our grown-up meals. Ha!
Look at all of us who have or had picky eaters in the house. I agree with whoever said that as adults we choose what we want to eat and expect our kids to like what we present them. My eldest son just doesn't like meat, he didn't like it as a child and doesn't like it now he's 23. He was my 'picky eater' but truth be told, I think there were some control issues in there as well. Looking back, I wouldn't make nearly such a big deal of it now – he never went hungry, me being anxious about it spoiled many a dinner time and, let's face it, they all grow up to be Just Fine.
We are English and meal times (from prep to clean up) are far different there than here – meals can take hours because it's a very social event. If I were doing it all again now, I wouldn't make him eat this or that but when eating and sitting around the table is over, he'd have to get up and help in the kitchen like everyone else. I can't tell you how many dishes he got out of doing because he was still sitting at the table staring at his food! There's a great amount of psychology around it all and I don't think I did my son any favours by making him it this or that.
Nowadays, we have the luxury of choice – it really isn't a case of eat this or go hungry for the next 3 days. That was probably the origin of cleaning your plate. And aren't we told now that it's healthier to leave a little something on our plate for our weight?
Food is so not worth fighting over – they grow up and leave home and eat what ever they want no matter what you do.
i am so glad to hear that you seriously the exact same thing we do. my daughter is 4 and she is required to eat 4 bites and her veggies. we also set the timer otherwise she would be sleeping at the table. it has worked wonders for her eating habits and the complaining has been cut in half. rules are rules. thanks so much for posting this!
If I'm serving a food I know they're not fond of then I give them a small portion that they must eat (a few bites). My middle child has been known to fall asleep at the dinner table before eating in the past but now usually it only takes him a little while because he knows mommy means business.
My mother was much stricter. If I ever said "this is gross" or something similar I got a double portion to eat. She did this because saying it was disgusting made my sister think it was gross and not eat. This way I kept my opinion to myself and the other kids would just eat up.
That is just so funny! I have started setting a timer for my son, because he was just taking forever and complaining about everything! I am not a short order cook. What is on the table is what you get or you get nothing!
I love your blog!!!!
Heh heh, I had two picky eaters – usually I would serve them raw veggies and/or fruit when we got home from daycare, which they would gobble up when they did homework at the table while I made dinner. We never made them eat whatever was served if they didn't like it, although they had to try three bites, and could eat it with catsup if they wanted. A bowl of cereal or plain pasta with butter substitute was fine. Luckily, once they hit high school, they suddenly stopped being picky eaters, and will eat just about anything; it tastes even better if someone else fixes it (including a peanut butter sandwich)….Also, once they got into high school, they shared salad making chores. If they complained about dinner one night, they were invited to fix the family dinner the next night. The complaints sure stopped quickly!
So what happens after 10 minutes and the bites aren't eaten?
haha, oh i think every parent goes through that! my kids are oppisites! one likes carrots, the other doesnt. have you got him "involved" in the food buying/dinner making process? it helped w/ my 4-year old to eat her broccoli :)
I try to have at least one thing they might eat on the table. Otherwise that's it, no dessert. I might let THEM make a sandwich, but I am done. One night my husband said, "Don't you get satifaction from just putting a great meal on the table? Like an artist." NO! I got to give him the same reply one night, now he understands! It is a little hard when your 4yr. is crying at bedtime, hungry.
My oldest son was a very picky eater and now he hogs on everything at 14. Although he hogs on food, he still will not eat certain foods because of texture itself.
I firmly believe NOT forcing a child to eat. I think it is extremely cruel to eat dinner for breakfast. I mean, as adults, I am sure that there are foods that we do not like at all, why the double standard? Makes no sense to me.
Now with this being said, I do not make extras for my boys but if they don't like what I serve for dinner they are encouraged to make their own food such as peanut butter sandwich. Not a problem for me.
I want my boys to enjoy meal times, I view those as family time together not a struggle time to force someone to eat. I want to enjoy those times as well for that my children will leave home before I know it!
My kids can be picky. But I tell them that I don't make anything out of the ordinary so they have to eat it. Like you I do the bites thing of how old they are. Then if they don't eat at all then it's off to bed with no snacks.
P.S. I LOVE YOUR PAGE! You have given me many gift ideas!
When my son was 5, I decided enough was enough. I told him that if he didn't eat his lunch, he would have it for dinner. He wasn't allowed anything else until he ate that lunch. That poor little guy skipped lunch, dinner, and had every intention of skipping breakfast the next morning (because it was the same meal waiting for him), when he took a sip of milk and threw up all over the carpet. That was it for me. I cried, scooped him up in my arms, and made him some homemade pancakes.
He's very, very…umm..willfull, but that doesn't mean his opinion doesn't count! My current solution is to make a two week menu of well-rounded meals that I know he can handle. After all, he lives here too–why not serve my little boy food he likes?
Most kids aren't this willful. (believe me!) Sometimes it helps to imagine what it must be like to be the child.
wow you have alot of comments – see how this really hits home with alot of us moms lol. Take it from an older and hopefully wiser woman – let it go. Forcing anyone to eat anything never made you like it more as a kid. And growing up and PB and J for a couple years or mac and cheese never stunted a childs growth. For most people your tastes change as an adult and usually your willing and open to a wider more adult range of foods, you try them later in life, decide you like them and add them to your menu. It doesnt have anything to do with being forced to finish anything. As long as the childs alternative isnt seriously unhealthy the need to create a tense situation isnt worth it. Read what other women write about making their kids eat stuff and going with out- dont they sound more like a power stuggle–eat this cause I said so? Your going to have bigger issues in life to solve with your kids than eating the tatertot casserole you love but your child hates. I love your blog BTW – Just take one stresser out of you and your childs life :)
I can relate! My son was a picky eater, and I panicked and made alternate meals, which really only made the situation worse. Now, I make one meal and try to incorporate a side dish that the kids will eat. But, if they do not eat what is prepared, they too will go to bed hungry. Although, I will not serve that for breakfast, as tomorrow is a new day, and we all need a fresh start sometimes.
If your child is otherwise healthy, then I feel it is nothing to fret over. Every child is different, and now it seems we want a one-size fits all approach, which doesn't allow for individual differences. Even the percentile ranking at the doc's office is unreliable because children are increasing more and more overweight. So naturally, it makes the smaller children appear underweight.
I do not buy into the "cleaning your plate" mentality of my generation. That just leads to overeating in my opinion.
In my family growing up we had a similar system as yours, but instead it was 3 large bites we needed to eat. However, we also had the rule that if you said something negative about someone else's food then you got a double helping of whatever they were eating…even if you weren't currently eating. We were also required to eat "something green" with dinner…salad, green beans, broccoli etc. But occasionally my mom would let me get away with just eating a big pickle! :)
My 9-year old daughter aparently went to the same academy of food snubbery as your son. It's been such an ordeal getting her to eat anything beyond her basic 20 food items. We recently started "publishing" a weekly dinner menu on Sundays by gathering around the table as a family and discussing what would be served for each meal. Each member of the family gets to call the shots for one night. The rest of them are discussed as diplomatically as possible. On the nights where my daughter won't eat the entree I try to plan some sides that I know she'll eat. Then I can fix one of her easy stand-by entrees (plain rice, plain pasta, etc). It's certainly made my grocery shopping easier and has resulted in much less food waste and tableside tantrums. Best of luck on your end! I feel your pain!
Yes, this is so frustrating! I don't even know why it started- she ate everything as a baby. Even raw rhubarb! Now, she needs to try everything. She can have bread and butter if she doesn't like it. (It's whole-wheat, home-ground…kind of nutritious, right?) Oh, and we never give dessert as a reward for clearing her plate. If we're serving dessert, everybody gets some. If she's still hungry afterwards, she can have more dinner or bread!
I make my kids at least try what is made for dinner. If they don't like it, they don't need to eat it..but they have to try it. We don't make a separate meal for anyone who doesn't like what we make. But we do usually have bread, carrots, fruit, maybe cracker and cheese and other things on the table. But they MUST try dinner first before they can have other stuff.
I've tried my best to explain that some people like onions (or other foods), and some people don't. But you don't know if you don't try. (My kids love onions.)
I was a picky eater myself when I was younger. Now, I am willing to try pretty much anything. There is a handful of things that I still just do not like. Picky eaters don't bother me in the least. The only think I don't like is if they aren't willing to at least try it. If it's in their minds that it's gross, I don't like that. But if they just don't like a taste, I'm not going to try and make them like something.
I'm proof that kids will survive picky eating and may someday really enjoy the so many awesome flavors of food that they just don't appreciate when they are younger.
Wow…what amazing readers you have. I read your tomorrow's post (about the brownies) and you mentioned the comments on this post. I came here half expecting the whole, if I make it you'll eat it attitude. I agree with so many people when they say that the child must try it (just to verify that it is indeed gruesome — to them) and then there are no screaming matches or ugly words said at the table. (A place to give glory to God.) I have a picky kid who is now a teen and we just ask that he is polite in his pickiness. And he has learned how to be polite.
I'm loving reading everyone's comments. My girls are half French and I grew up in Pakistan so we have introduced unusual ingredients from a young age – they will quite happily chow down on zuccini, curry, olives and sundried tomatoes etc… If we didn't they wouldn't survive at my in laws place and nor would my sanity! I grew up with the 'No Thank You Helping' and its been great! Any noses turned up at dinner have to have a small serving spoon of the food to eat. I had to laugh at the dad who put another scoop of the food the kid didn't like but in reality, don't we all want our kids to express their opinion on things and there are things we all like less than others. My kids will pick the onion or the avocado out of things or the pineapple off pizza but it doesn't stop me putting it in if the dish calls for it. Interesting to see that there are not as many moms out there who are making multiple meals for their kids as I thought there were. Hang in there Amy! Your house rules sound great and I'm sure that as you persist they will pay off in peace! Eventually.
My kids are so spoiled. Every night they get a CHOICE of what to have for dinner. Can you believe it? Yup. I remind them sometimes that every night they have a choice- they can eat what is on the table or they can be dismissed from the table (to bed) and there is no more food for them for the night. We have had a small handful of difficult nights in which one child chose the latter option (including one with company over!), but now they know we will definitely follow thru. We don't allow the kids to ever complain about the meal, either, as I would never allow them to get away with it if we were guests somewhere, so we "practice" at home. Good luck in your training! It's tough sometimes, but stick with it & you'll see the reward. :)
If it's any consolation, my daughter was a horribly picky eater at that age, we tried to be firm, yet laid back (so, there was no special meals, but we didn't force feed her either), she'd literally make herself gag and vomit, over the most bizarre things…things that she loved the day before, even mashed potatoes once!
Today, she is 11 years old and eats everything…that's saying a lot when your mom is a vegan and you love salami! Tonight she happily ate kale, no complaints and asked for seconds. I think, to a certain point, you just have to wait it out, but hold fast to your structure as well.
My pickiest eater will eat many fruits, so if he refuses our meal he can have two fruits instead of the normal two. But, there is no dessert after the fruit if a healthy meal hasn't been eaten.
Now both boys have been complaining about my meals recently, so I went on a cooking strike for two weeks. The entire family was glad when I was willing to have "hot meals" again. No complaints, either!
LOL! Put red hair & freckles on that cutie pie, and it would be my eight year old! We do the same thing with ours; no special treatment, and always ask that they try new things. But, I tend to stick to what I know we all like, as well.
I've just found comfort in knowing that I'm not alone in my battles. :) Thanks for that. (and the cute pics!)
Sounds like you are doing good. Out of my 6 kids we have had a few issues but nothing that lasts long. I will not fix another meal. One thing I have done was each kid got to pick 2 things that they did not have to eat. It did not get put on there plate even, and they still got dessert or snack. And this worked great! It was a big decision as to what you wanted to be your 2 things. And then it didn't change until I said we could pick our 2 things again. I would only do it every 4-5 months or when I thought about it. It gives some control to them but you are still running the show.
Your son looks so much like my picky eater son. The resemblence is scary. He gets the same scowl and everything! He too made dinner miserable every night.
We too make them eat a certain number of bits, but I love your timer idea. I have been amazed that he finds out he likes food when he tries it! Thanks for sharing. It seems from all the comments that we are not alone. That makes me feel so much better!
I know this is an old post but I recently found your blog and I LOVE it! I've been going through your previous posts and I love your ideas!
I was a picky eater too and my 1 year old is already showing signs of being the same so I just wanted to tell you that I love the idea of the timer. I figured I would have the same problem with my kids so that is something good to know!
Thanks for sharing such wonderful and inspiring ideas!
I came from a family of six kids and there was only one meal cooked for the whole family. If you didn't like it, then you could choose to eat it anyway or go hungry. We never went hungry – even when liver and bacon or tripe and onions were on the menu!
We pretty much used the same tack with our three (one of whom has three of her own now).
I know we worry about our kids starving, but no child will voluntarily starve themself to death! :D