recommendation for a picky eater

[MainMom]

I am sure that is true for some people. But it is also true that some will look at something, without trying it, and automatically say that they will not like it. You know this is true.

And? That is their right. Who cares?

I fed my kids a variety of foods from convenience foods up to more exotic. Guess what? They both have specific likes and dislikes different from each other. And things they hated at a younger age they now like. And no, I didn’t force them to eat it ever. Not my parenting style.

 

[MainMom]

I'm from the midwest and we do raise most of the cattle, pork, chicken and Turkey as we have an abundance of land to raise them on and we have the grain to feed them. But, we also per capita probably eat more vegetables out of the garden than probably anywhere in the states just because we again have the land. Growing up we had fresh rhubarb, beets, Turnips, six different kind of lettuce, onions, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, squash, all kinds of peppers to go along with the normal corn, peas, beans and potatoes coming from the garden. And it was all fresh. Cooked by my mother who was a great cook. But, in the end, I am a picky eater. Not because she didn't make me try every thing, but probably just because I have sensitive taste buds and more importantly the consistency of something is where I have issues. There isn't a bean on the earth (other than a jelly bean) that I can eat and not know it is in my mouth. So I don't eat them. Have fixed two bowls of chili each and every time for the last 30 years because of it. I myself will never eat something I don't like and think it amounts to cruelty to force a child of mine to eat something I know they don't like. Those of us that live through it adjust and have a level of understanding that some do not. Best part of it is a picky eater will find unlimited choices in Disney. We can complain about the cost, but their food service goes above and beyond for allergies, picky eaters and people with different food needs.

My daughter doesn’t like beans either. Or stewed type tomatoes. I don’t make her eat chili. She only likes lettuce if it’s a salad, not on sandwiches. Only likes tomatoes on a BLT.
My son is not nearly as picky, but he doesn’t like chocolate. I guess I have to keep making him eat it no matter what.

 

[Lilsia]

I'm from the midwest and we do raise most of the cattle, pork, chicken and Turkey as we have an abundance of land to raise them on and we have the grain to feed them. But, we also per capita probably eat more vegetables out of the garden than probably anywhere in the states just because we again have the land. Growing up we had fresh rhubarb, beets, Turnips, six different kind of lettuce, onions, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, squash, all kinds of peppers to go along with the normal corn, peas, beans and potatoes coming from the garden. And it was all fresh. Cooked by my mother who was a great cook. But, in the end, I am a picky eater. Not because she didn't make me try every thing, but probably just because I have sensitive taste buds and more importantly the consistency of something is where I have issues. There isn't a bean on the earth (other than a jelly bean) that I can eat and not know it is in my mouth. So I don't eat them. Have fixed two bowls of chili each and every time for the last 30 years because of it. I myself will never eat something I don't like and think it amounts to cruelty to force a child of mine to eat something I know they don't like. Those of us that live through it adjust and have a level of understanding that some do not. Best part of it is a picky eater will find unlimited choices in Disney. We can complain about the cost, but their food service goes above and beyond for allergies, picky eaters and people with different food needs.

I think you missed my meaning. I am not saying that you stand over your child and shove food in their mouth. EVERYONE has some foods that are not their favorites and that they will not like. But that does not make them inedible. It is not cruel to eat something that you don't particularly like. Having a balanced meal is the most important thing for your kids. If your kid has tried carrots several times and hates them, then give them some other vegetable most of the time and reintroduce carrots to them next year, etc. That is what I am saying. As parents, it is our job to make sure that our kids grow up healthy. If all your kid eats is processed junk(which many people on here have said that their kid "only" eats mac and cheese and chicken nuggets) then that is the cruelty. It is nutritional starvation. I am far from a health nut. We eat junk just like anyone else. But when your kids are very young in the in the important growing faze, they NEED good nutrition for their body and brain development. You can't just let your kids eat junk because they say that "they don't like" anything else. Of course they are going to say they rather have mac and cheese over broccoli.

 

[Lilsia]

My daughter doesn’t like beans either. Or stewed type tomatoes. I don’t make her eat chili. She only likes lettuce if it’s a salad, not on sandwiches. Only likes tomatoes on a BLT.
My son is not nearly as picky, but he doesn’t like chocolate. I guess I have to keep making him eat it no matter what.

That is NOT what I am saying and you know it.

 

[Tigger's ally]

My daughter doesn’t like beans either. Or stewed type tomatoes. I don’t make her eat chili. She only likes lettuce if it’s a salad, not on sandwiches. Only likes tomatoes on a BLT.
My son is not nearly as picky, but he doesn’t like chocolate. I guess I have to keep making him eat it no matter what.

Yeah, I have the twins on each side of me in the photo to the left. One will eat anything and one is pickier than me. Both played college baseball and both have been extremely healthy. Neither one ever missed a game. The picky eater does like salads, pasta and potatoes but not very many meats. The non picky eater won't eat salads because they take too much time to eat!

 

[Lilsia]

And? That is their right. Who cares?

I fed my kids a variety of foods from convenience foods up to more exotic. Guess what? They both have specific likes and dislikes different from each other. And things they hated at a younger age they now like. And no, I didn’t force them to eat it ever. Not my parenting style.

That is what I am saying, feed your kids a variety of foods. Not just mac and cheese, pizza, and nuggets. Kids will always say that they prefer that stuff over something healthier. We all know that kids are stubborn and will act as if they don't like something when they think that they can get something "better". Just giving in to them and saying "well, they don't like anything else" is the issue.

 

[Tigger's ally]

Just giving in to them and saying "well, they don't like anything else" is the issue.

What people are trying to tell you is that you can't make definitive statements like that. You THINK it is the issue. But, those of us that are picky eaters and have lived life with other people (looking at you MIL ) trying to "cure" us of our pickiness (even though I am 54 years old), know that it very well may NOT be the issue. The issue is we have sensitivities in that area. And I really am trying to be as nice as I can on this issue.

 

[MainMom]

That is what I am saying, feed your kids a variety of foods. Not just mac and cheese, pizza, and nuggets. Kids will always say that they prefer that stuff over something healthier. We all know that kids are stubborn and will act as if they don't like something when they think that they can get something "better". Just giving in to them and saying "well, they don't like anything else" is the issue.

What I have learned as a parent and from parents I have been around is that not all circumstances are cut and dry. What I see out of one snippet of someone’s day or what is posted on a message board is not the entirety of their life. And if it is how they parent, it’s not my place to tell them to start feeding them veggies and limit the pizza.

 

[Lilsia]

What I have learned as a parent and from parents I have been around is that not all circumstances are cut and dry. What I see out of one snippet of someone’s day or what is posted on a message board is not the entirety of their life. And if it is how they parent, it’s not my place to tell them to start feeding them veggies and limit the pizza.

Ok, I get it, fair enough. My way of thinking was that kids need their parents to do right by them. I grew up with a girl who's parents let her eat McDonalds chicken nuggets, fries, pretzels, and cheese mostly on a daily basis. She never had vegetables because she claimed that she did not like them and her Mom wanted her to be "happy". She wasn't. She grew up over weight with all kinds of health and self esteem issues. And when she finally grew up, she did not thank her parents for it, she blamed them for allowing a child to dictate what was right for themselves. It is heartbreaking to see kids grow up like that. There are many kids that do not have access to good, healthy food that it should not be taken for granted if you have it available to feed to your kids.

 

[Allison]

Stereotyping people from the Midwest?

Yes.

 

[arminnie]

The world is different now.

But when I was a child we were very, very poor. We often had only beans to eat. My mother was not a great cook so beans only were navy beans cooked with water, salt and pepper.

TBH - this often tasted like library paste. But I ate it because there was no choice.

When there is no option and one is hungry you take what you can get.

 

[EveDallas]

You must have forgotten for a minute that everyone on these boards has perfect children and that if anyone dares to admit that their children are not perfect, then they will be Mommy shamed into oblivion.

Silly me. I'll hang my head in shame over letting my son choose what he likes to eat. BTW, he's 22, 130 pounds, and very active so I must have accidentally done an ok job with him

 

[Nancyg56]

Ok, I get it, fair enough. My way of thinking was that kids need their parents to do right by them. I grew up with a girl who's parents let her eat McDonalds chicken nuggets, fries, pretzels, and cheese mostly on a daily basis. She never had vegetables because she claimed that she did not like them and her Mom wanted her to be "happy". She wasn't. She grew up over weight with all kinds of health and self esteem issues. And when she finally grew up, she did not thank her parents for it, she blamed them for allowing a child to dictate what was right for themselves. It is heartbreaking to see kids grow up like that. There are many kids that do not have access to good, healthy food that it should not be taken for granted if you have it available to feed to your kids.

Oh my. I know you mean well, but you have lumped parents who refuse to teach their children healthy habits in with parents who know what their kids will not only eat but will enjoy. I was that parent who followed your edict: just like my own Mom I cooked one meal, and told the fam they would eat that or nothing. I am now a 62 YO parent who would turn back those hands of time to change that nonsense. While that style may work with you it backfired on my family, and I regret it most of all my parenting errors.

You are always going to find examples to validate your opinions, but what good are they to the parents who know their family, and for their own reason want to accomodate their needs?

When I plan our WDW trips, or any trip, I never plan a restaurant where one of us is not going to find a meal that is satisfying. Likes and dislikes, sensitivities, or preferences, call them what you will. And I sure to not teach parenting to other parents based on one post in a message board.

 

[Lilsia]

Oh my. I know you mean well, but you have lumped parents who refuse to teach their children healthy habits in with parents who know what their kids will not only eat but will enjoy. I was that parent who followed your edict: just like my own Mom I cooked one meal, and told the fam they would eat that or nothing. I am now a 62 YO parent who would turn back those hands of time to change that nonsense. While that style may work with you it backfired on my family, and I regret it most of all my parenting errors.

You are always going to find examples to validate your opinions, but what good are they to the parents who know their family, and for their own reason want to accomodate their needs?

When I plan our WDW trips, or any trip, I never plan a restaurant where one of us is not going to find a meal that is satisfying. Likes and dislikes, sensitivities, or preferences, call them what you will. And I sure to not teach parenting to other parents based on one post in a message board.

Do you think that it is in the child's best interest to let them ONLY eat the processed junk that is so common now? How many times have we heard people post on the boards that their kid only eats mac and cheese, nuggets, and pizza? Some have even said that their child could not find 1 thing to eat at the buffet at WDW. That doesn't sound odd to you? To be clear, I am not talking about, "my kids will eat green beans but not broccoli" type of diet. But the ones where the kids eat nothing with any nutritional value at all. Kids are getting scurvy now. You can't tell me that that is better then "making" a child eat healthier foods.

 

[Nancyg56]

Do you think that it is in the child's best interest to let them ONLY eat the processed junk that is so common now? How many times have we heard people post on the boards that their kid only eats mac and cheese, nuggets, and pizza? Some have even said that their child could not find 1 thing to eat at the buffet at WDW. That doesn't sound odd to you? To be clear, I am not talking about, "my kids will eat green beans but not broccoli" type of diet. But the ones where the kids eat nothing with any nutritional value at all. Kids are getting scurvy now. You can't tell me that that is better then "making" a child eat healthier foods.

How did you make that leap to only processed foods and junk?

 

[Lilsia]

How did you make that leap to only processed foods and junk?

That is what I have been talking about the whole time. Not a normal, I don't like this vegetable, but will eat this. The posters who come on here saying that their kid will "only eat" and they list off about 4 items that have minimal nutritional value. When a kid gets to the point where they will only eat a few items of little nutrients, they are in real danger of medical issues, including scurvy, which hospitals have been reporting seeing in the last 5 years.

 

[KellyHonos]

Welcome to my life. I've taken my little sister (13 y/o) on 2 disney trips and a cruise and she was always so difficult to feed. Buffets were literally the best balance for us because there'd be a little something for the both of us. Picking a themed restaurant was always too risky with her because if the food was themed to a certain country or ethnicity or culture, she rarely found something that she enjoyed. My recommendation is a buffet.