Insp by Imsorry---do you make your kids try everything?

[PrincessPatty]

I dont have kids but Im with my nieces and nephews very often so I will go by what their parents tell them to do

The kids have to try one bite, or if they have a for instance mac-n-cheese (a favorite) and carrots, they have to eat most of the carrots before more mac-n-cheese. My brother and SIL love 'different' foods. And I have told them that they are doing a dis-service to the kids future dates. My nieces and nephews (18 months-6yrs old) LOVE sushi, calamari, prime rib, shrimp, lobster, EVREYTHING that was at the Biergarten, pretty much everything. They are great kids and definately wont pass on mac-n-cheese or PBJ, or pizza, but they will try anything. My own experience has been if the adult (my mom-grandma) will turn their nose up at something so will the kids.

 

[skiwee1]

Princess Patty, being picky doesn't mean having to be eating unhealthy. My kids were always picky when growing up but they never ate any of the normal kid stuff. The oldest two loved lobster, calamari, and any kind of crab dish growing up. They would turn their noses up at mac and cheese and hotdogs but inhaled gnocchi and calamari. My kids just didn't eat a lot of choices and we never made them try anything new. If they liked what they saw they tried it. If not, they didn't have to. My now 6 y/o DD only eats very few foods. Her favorites are pb&j, yogurt, bagels and cream cheese, and and asparagus. That is about it! She will eventually try stuff but only when she is good and ready.

 

[disneymcgraw]

My daughter will be 6 next week and she has a very good palate. We never force her to eat anything that she doesn't like but we do insist that she at least take one, little bite of something if it's new to her. If, at that point she says that she doesn't like it not a problem.
She eats a very wide variety of foods and I'm proud of her. How can a child really know that they don't like something, unless they taste it.
I do believe that the poster who related the story of the father making the child stand in the snow was extreme and I would never dream of doing that. I do think that one small bite to judge like or dislike is a good thing.

 

[lulugirl]

I encourage dd to eat new foods but I don't force her to try anything. Most of the time she'll try it. I don't make alternate meals unless I'm making something I know she doesn't like.
I guess I have it easy. Food has just never been an issue w/ Dd, she has always liked a lot of healthy foods. I don't see what the big deal is if she eats a turkey on whole wheat (makes it herself) instead of the enchilada's the rest of us are eating. Some here seem to think that's "catering" to the child.

 

[chobie]

I think there's a world of difference between encouragement and force. We have never forced, but encouraged strongly. I agree that people who are forced to eat things against their will do become pickier eaters. My DH is a prime example of that. His mom put cheese on top of every vegetable and since he hated cheese sauce, he decided he hated veggies. It wasn't until we met and he saw me eating veggies every night (and was encouraged to try them) that he began to eat green food. He was 35 years old.

My DD11 has extremely healthy eating habits, and quite an exotic palate (including calamari, which she has eaten since she was a toddler, and which she does know is squid) because she was encouraged to try new things and not to assume she did not like them just because other children didn't eat them (or other adults thought it was weird that she would; you can't imagine what it's like to have your best friend tell your 5 yo that she's "brave" to eat brussel sprouts!). I watch the majority of her friends turn up their noses at simple foods bc they've never been exposed to them and I find it sad.

Food is one of those delightful parental balancing acts -- I think we all have to try not to be too extreme on either side of the line.

Well exactly. I also strongly encouraged my kids to try new things, but have no "rule" that they must try something. I never assumed they would not like something because other kids didn't; I just never forced them to try things.

And I never said I assumed my kids would not like things; you assumed that.

All I said was that I never forced them to try anything, which, apparently is the same philosophy you have. So, what's your disagreement with me?

 

[Swimnoid]

We encouraged DD to try new things but didnt force her. She ate a lot of Mac n cheese and still does at 18. But she likes lots of stuff I dont, like curry, and broccoli (that make me gag! ) because she was willing to try new things.