The Jacksons, Week 12: The Adventures of Cooking for a Choosy Eater

Actually some picky eaters will practically starve themselves. Only a person who has never had a truly picky eater would make comments like this. My daughter is struggling with her older son who just turned 5 and he will hardly eat anything that is good for him. they are keeping him away from sugar and he is really good about going along with that, but he will just not eat real food. He would happily leave the table and go off to play knowing he will get nothing else to eat that night, while his younger brother, 3, will eat a reasonable amount of food. both of them have body types that are tall and thin already, so the not eating is a problem. It is hard to not give in to food you don't really want them to have.

I completely agree with you. This child sounds like a brat, and his mom is an enabler. In my house, if you don't eat the food the adults prepare then you miss a meal. End of story. Kids learn soon enough not to be wasteful. Trust me, they won't go a full week without eating - you can actually live two without food.

You people have no concept! Children don't need Weight Watchers, and they don't need sugar-free diets. Feed them good, nutritious (but not ridiculously esoteric) food: make a Shepherd's Pie one night, cook a roast once or twice a week, give them some mashed potatoes, gravy, and a good serving of green beans; for lunch, whip up bologna sandwiches and tomato soup. turn the tables once in a while, and serve breaakfast for supper - kids LOVE pancakes in the evening! Hamburgs, hot dogs, beef stew, chicken pie, etc. - Then send them out to play! Kids' obesity today isn't just a result of eating habits - it's their sedentary life style. Active children need to take in legitimate calories, then go out and burn them off. This worked for grnerations before computer games, and kids grew up healthy, happy, and slim! Save the Weight Watchers for yourself, if you feel the need, or, better yet, eat with the kids, then go out and play with them. Activity, not deprivation! Wake up smell the roses, and run in the grass! It worked for us, and it'll work for your kids!

Marilyn

I could not agree with you more. Most of these "mom" articles do not even resemble actual parenting. Those recipes are just plain silly to feed a picky eater.

Exactly what I was going to say! I raised 2 children and my motto was, take it or leave it. Eventually they decided it was better to eat than starve. I encouraged them to help with the food prep. They hated onions, tomatoes, green veggies, but when I incorporated these items in sauces or casseroles it was better. I made food they enjoyed eating, such as tacos, pigs in a blanket, macaroni. I also would use a protein powder and till this day they remember my adding the protein powder to their food. We always had a fresh veggie tray with carrots, pickles and olives. Desserts were also stuff that was home made so I was able to control the amount of sugar. Oh, and before I forget i was a single, working mom...

My kids aren't very picky, nor am I, but none of us would have eating that stuff either! Instead of spaghetti pie, why not serve regular spaghetti? Kids usually like that. The sauce is full of tomatoes too, so skip trying to sneak veggies in. Most kids don't like casseroles, or something like the jambalaya because they can't see the separate foods in it. When my kids were younger the place that had the most kid friendly recipes was in the magazine Family Fun. I still get recipes off their website. They know what kids will eat.

It isn't always that simple. And no, I'm no permissive first time mommy. Often, these kids who are picky have underlying issues that need to be addressed, such as mineral deficiencies that disrupt the ability to taste or smell food (and therefore they can't enjoy it), or they have developmental issues such as autism (or ADHD or Asperger's, which are also on the autism spectrum), or they can not deal with certain textures or temperatures, or whatever, due to sensory issues. It is not always as black and white as a permissive parent and spoiled child.

My picky eater is #8 of nine children--and my only picky eater. He looks perfectly normal, and most often acts perfectly normal--but internally, there's a different story. Many kids these days, for a variety of factors, are dealing with food issues. We're making some progress in healing his body, but progress is very slow. For now, we do our best. Just wanted to present another side of things.

my grandson is very picky eater and I would give anything for him to eat more foods. he will not put anything in his mouth if he does not like what the food looks like, he was never a child to put anything in his mouth, even when he was little, like most kids, he is now 6

Hello, John you idiot. Did you ever stop to think that is what we now call child abuse in the law. You need biffed upside your head. Parents do the best they can for their kids, you need a wake up call. Leave this poor woman alone and be nice!!!!!!! I also have a grandson who has ADHD It is hard to deal with him but, he has and is starting to eat healthy and LOVES to dance with ME. Also, very good exercise and I have found and helped him get into drinking a V8 daily. He loves it !!! And yes I was not so nice calling you an idiot or saying you need to be biffed upside the head. But, you ticked me off big time !!!!

John, you're right! Excepting medical issues, picky eating is another case of the tail wagging the dog. I dated a man who 2 girls were "picky". I made them lasagna and before eating it (I'm a great cook!), they said they did'n't like it. I asked why and they said their Mom made it and it was yucky and burned. I said mines not burned, so just try it. They loved it! Ditto for cesar salad, potato skins, pot roast and all the other things I got them to eat that they claimed they didn't like. But the "diet" food being served doesn't sound so good to me either. You'd have to be an awfully good cook to make those things tasty.

On the practical side to parents of picky eaters, try introducing vegetables in a kid-friendly manner. Even tractor tires are yummy if you dip them in ranch or cheese sauce! Veggies can be added to casseroles and you hardly know they're in there. Yes, it works. I raised 3 kids that, at the ages of about 10, were not only eating, but ASKING for collard greens, creamed spinach, grilled salmon or chicken and even escargot. Really!