Tips for picky eaters

My personal favorite for the random picky days (we don't have them often thank the GODS-hats off to those of you who do) is pretending I'm going to eat what they don't want.

"Oh, gee, you don't want that fantastic bowl of pasta? I'm suddenly STARVING."

Works so far, but I have a feeling I may not be able to stretch it much longer... :P

Otherwise we just deal with it, and write it off as one of those days like we all have. In our case, if we pay attention to it, it only gets worse.

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My daughter has been a problem eater since the day she was born, so it wasn't surprising that she is a picky eater now at two.

I used to make two dinners at night - one for peanut and one for my husband and I. Recently we've decided to try something a little different. My husband has been making a point to be home by 6pm so we can have a family dinner. We make one meal and put a little of everything on Peanut's plate. So far it's working - she's been trying everything from grilled chicken to broccoli and lettuce. We offer a "yummy" ketchup dipping sauce, as well. (If nothing else she's getting some tomatoes, right???)

I don't make a big deal out of it if she eats, but I also don't punish her for not eating. My doctor mentioned that toddlers end up getting all the calories they need - some days they eat alot, other days they don't. I figure that if she eats a light dinner, she'll eat a big breakfast in the morning.

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You know what happened at my house yesterday? 3 yo Kieran who normally acts like vegetables are poison ATE A MINI CARROT. RAW!

The angels poked their little heads out of the Christians' heaven, looked into our kitchen and sang.

Momcast: http://momcast.blogspot.com

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Yeah—all you can do is put a healthy selection in front of them and let them take what they will. In the end, it all balances out.

...Though I have been known to play broccoli games, such as:
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Me: "Oh, I hope A. doens't do a Broccoli Psych on me...."

Baby A, poking a broccoli floret onto her fork: "Mommy, here, have some broccoli!"

I lean in to take the bite, but she pops it in her mouth instead. "Psych, Mommy!"
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That's about the extent of it, though. (smile) I try to be as hands-off as I can stand.

- L

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My oldest is the picky one. It's been a frustrating ride, but what I put on the table is what's for dinner. That's a rule I'm firm on. No 2nd meal for the picky one, or running to the kitchen for a sandwich. You don't have to eat it all, but you need to eat a d ecent amount of everything. I try and compromise by letting them take turns making "menus". The oldest also cooks once in a while.

There has to be an entree, a vegetable, and potatoes or rice. They can't pick a starchy vegetable (like corn or carrots) every time. They have to alternate with something green (like peas, or broccoli). They have fun doing the menus, and now that they're older, it's easier. I guess making them feel like they have a part in making dinner has made them more welcome to trying new things.

Vegetables have been a challenge, but I have found ways to make them tasty to kids. I will usually roast them in the oven. If you add a package of dry ranch dressing mix before roasting, every kid that's ever eaten at my table loves them. I usually use red potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, zucchini, and garlic cloves. The only way my kids will eat cooked spinach is if I make manicotti.

We love smoothies, and go to jamba Juice at least 3 times a week. This is a great way to get vitamins into the kids. I have them put the vitamin boosters into our smoothies. Yes, I know we can make them cheaper at home, but I don't care.

My oldest is 17. She's one of the pickiest eaters ever. Even now, sometimes I just want to smack her upside the head. At her age, I can't force her to eat something she doesn't like. She has gone without dinner a few times, though I can't bring myself to confront her when I hear her sneaking into the kitchen after she thinks I am asleep :-)

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