Caution to parents about forcing kids to eat foods they don't like.

[mom2boys]

My 10 yr old has always dispised peas. He would actually gag on them every time we insisted he eat a couple of spoonfuls. He literally could not swollow them. He is a picky eater but will usually eat something if we insist. I can count on one hand the # of times I have served him peas - DH doesn't care for them either. Well yesterday DS was had an allergy prick test - he was a trooper, I might add. Anyway, he came back allergic to all sorts of things including PEAS. No wonder they make him gag. So please, if your child seems to "overreact" to certain food item, there could be a true medical reason for it.

 

[stinkerbelle]

I'll never forget the day my mom decided we were to eat brussel sprouts. She made a big production of making them and putting 3 on each of our plates.

My brother and I of course had NO INTENTIONS of eating them and were putting up quite a squawk.

2 minutes after sitting down to dinner...my mom takes a bite of her Brussel Sprouts. Next thing we hear "Kids - give me your plates - no one should be forced to each these nasty *** things." heheheh

I'm sorry you found out the hard way with your son...who would have though - a pea allergy?

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

I don't insist my kids eat something they hate, especially if it made them gag.

 

[wendyl]

Thanks for that story--I have a very picky eater, and wonder about making him try new foods (only because sometimes when he tries something--he ends up liking it-and then we get to add it to the small list of food he will eat)

I'll have to be more careful about what I make him try!

 

[poohtown]

poor baby - I can only imagine how bad you feel. I know my daughter is picky too and I've tried to force her to try foods. Usually I've had her take a little bit of something new. Most of the times it's 'yuck, i can't eat this' or 'i'm going to throw up' but once in a blue moon she actually likes it.

 

[KristiKelly]

I don't force my kids to try things. They don't like broccoli and neither do I , but DH loves it. Once we were eating in a K&W Cafeteria (very crowded I might add) and DH asked DS, "do you want to try a bite? It's got a lot of cheese on it" relunctantly DS said "ok", he chewed about 2 times and made that loud vomit sound (sorry, don't know another way to describe it), he didn't throw up but everyone around looked at us. DH & I were both whispering "please don't throw up, please don't throw up,..." So no, we don't force our kids to eat things they don't want.

 

[mom2boys]

[\QUOTE]Thanks for that story--I have a very picky eater, and wonder about making him try new foods (only because sometimes when he tries something--he ends up liking it-and then we get to add it to the small list of food he will eat)[/QUTOE]

His response to the peas was beyond the usual scrunced up nose. It was way out of proportion.

I don't want this to turn into a debate, we don't usually force our kids to eat things. I think I've severed peas 3x in his 10 yrs. This child has tried things, he turned his nose up & ended up loving them - including brussel sprouts. YUCK!

Occassionaly it's nice to serve a meal that all four of us enjoy - it is a challange.

 

[RitaZ.]

Mom2boys~ Very good point! It seems like his body was telling him to reject that food.

My kids really don't care to eat vegetables, I serve them anyway. When they were younger, they did eat vegetables. I really don't worry too much about it, they do eat other foods and take vitamins to make up for any deficiencies.

I was an extremely picky eater growing up, so I understand what it's like to be told that "you've got to eat". I would eat, but then I would vomit. It was pointless...

 

[CamColt]

I agree!
When my DS was young I offered him peanut butter and crackers. He would always make a funny face and spit them out. So much so that I even videotaped it once, the face was so funny. Come to find out a few months later, hes allergic to peanuts. Yep, Im a good mom!

 

[momof2inPA]

mom2boys,

I'm so glad your son never had a severe reaction. My older son is also allergic to peas. Many people don't know that peas are a legume and a close relative to peanuts. Is your son ok eating peanuts?

 

[4greatboys]

I dont think there is anything wrong with having them take a bite of food they havent had before. We have you try something atleast once. Sometimes they still dont like it and sometimes they do. But I dont force the kids to eat things they dont like. My dh was brought up forced to eat everything he was given.

 

[JESW]

My DS9 is a VERY picky eater and there is only a handful of things he will eat. The smell, look and texture of foods bother him - he has sensory, among other things, issues. He now sees a psychologist once a week and when I brought up the food issues I was told NOT to fight that battle. My son is in good health and on the charts for his age and height. To get him to try new foods is a big deal and we are very proud of him when he does.

On the other hand, DD5 will try just about everything and will even ask us if we can go out for Japanese food so she can get sushi!

Jill

 

[CindyBeth]

I have asthma and I was retested a few years ago on what I am allergic to. It was very interesting. I was allergic to several foods and all of them were foods I don't like! So I think sometimes your body has ways of telling you things like that!

 

[Nancy]

I have never made myy kids eat anything...mainly because my dad made me eat peas once and I got sick after...I can't eat peas to thia day. Funny thing is my kids are more willing to try new things then I am. My 2 oldest DD's will eat sushi...I won't even try it. They ate Chinese food before I would..now I like it but only certain things and I have to know exactly what's in it. Oh yeah...they all like peas!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

My DS9 refuses to eat squash and peaches. He gets hysterical if I mention we're having either one. He starts begging me not to make him eat them. I just have him eat something else. His reaction is very atypical for him so I know he must dislike squash and peaches. He has had the allergy back pricks but he was only 6 at the time. The doc said that some things will show up when he is older.

Lori

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by RitaZ.

My kids really don't care to eat vegetables, I serve them anyway. When they were younger, they did eat vegetables. I really don't worry too much about it, they do eat other foods and take vitamins to make up for any deficiencies.

If I put a veggie on my daughters plate she wont eat any food that comes in any contact with them! When she was 18 months and younger she at every veggie there was, I made all her baby food from only organic vegetables but after that it was "no way I am not eating that"! She hasn't had a vegetetable other than a rare artichoke or two since that time. She is 4 now and still boycotting anything green! I just make sure she takes vitamins every day to make up for what she is missing...

 

[DisneyMim]

My Dad forced me to eat stuff I hated and I vowed that I would never do that to my kids. I never did, and do you know what happened?? I now have 2 teens that will try any food, even stuff that I would never in a million years think they would like. My son especially, likes stuff that I hate. My daughter made up her own mind and now doesn't eat much meat. They are both very healthy and great kids. So you see from experience that most kids will find themselves eventually and I truly believe that by my not forcing them it made them better eaters.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[chell]

Originally posted by CindyBeth
I have asthma and I was retested a few years ago on what I am allergic to. It was very interesting. I was allergic to several foods and all of them were foods I don't like! So I think sometimes your body has ways of telling you things like that!

About 6 years ago I developed an allergy to eggs and I started getting gagged every time I ate them. It took a while to figure out about the allergy. But it is interesting how your body can let you know.

When I was a kid I was allergic to chocolate and strawberries. They would make me have little fits - I guess I just didn't understand what was going on and it was the best way I knew to handle it.

mom2boys It's good that you found out about the allergy. Hope he doesn't have any more or develop any others.