I don’t even want to know what she considers ‘kid-friendly’ food
“Mom, do you remember the time you gave me a Hoodsie cup for breakfast?”
Crap. “Yes, I do. Why do you ask?”
“Because that was yummy and fun. Can I have a Hoodsie for breakfast tomorrow?”
“No.”
“Well, I won’t eat anything else.”
And so began my night.
M is a very picky eater. I am a very picky eater. I created the monster. Lately, I’ve been trying my best to make something extremely kid-friendly for dinner and refusing to make something else if M turns her nose up at the meal. One meal, your choice: eat it or not. Not a popular new law for someone who has had the luxury of taste-testing every hot dog, chicken nugget, mac-n-cheese and pasta dish geared towards kids on a nightly basis for the last few years. I’m done with the catering. I’m not going to kid myself into believing she will suddenly love vegetables or unusual dishes (hell, I don’t love vegetables or unusual dishes) but when I make something fairly simple, I’m going to stop worrying if she won’t eat it.
I tried thinking about the foods I ate growing up. Like I said, I was extremely picky. I never ate salad or pasta sauce until I was an adult. I was that kid at the school pizza party whose mom paid a bit extra for a steak and cheese sub because I refused to try hated pizza sauce. I know where she gets it. My mom was great about cooking meals for the whole family that I would enjoy. We didn’t have hot dogs every night. We didn’t have pasta every night. She mixed it up, and everyone ate. Even me. Sure, there were times when she would make something that I would never touch – stuffed peppers? Really Mom? But I still didn’t get something else. If I didn’t eat that, I stayed at the table until everyone was done, and didn’t even consider asking for a snack later. Why am I finding this so hard? It’s probably because M is just a bit heavier than your average stick figure, and I don’t like seeing her skip a meal. I know, I know, if she’s hungry, she’ll eat.
This week, I decided to stick to my plan. One meal for everyone (modified, if possible for Abs’ allergies.) One night was baked ziti. Good response – everyone ate. My next meal? Shepherd’s Pie. I love Shepherd’s Pie – the way I ate it growing up. At home, at school, it was always the same: ground beef, corn and mashed potatoes. I could eat this for dessert. I never realized that people made it differently until I was an adult and saw it on a menu at my rehearsal dinner. Lamb? Carrots? Not in MY Shepherd’s Pie! It is made with 3 things that all kids should like. Kids who don’t like these ingredients are weird. I can say this because M refused to even look at her plate. My kid is weird. Who doesn’t like corn? Or, I should say, who refuses corn? Even if you don’t love corn, corn is not offensive, and mashed potatoes are just yummy. She wouldn’t even take a bite.
“M, why don’t you try it? If you don’t like it, you don’t have to eat it, but I’d like you to try.”
“But, I don’t like meat.”
“Yes, you do. Do you know that chicken nuggets are meat? Hot dogs are meat, too.”
“I just don’t like this meat. I only like Ostrich.”
“Are you sure you like Ostrich?”
“Yes, I only like Ostrich.”
Pause.
“Mommy, what’s an Ostrich?”
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Posted by LZ on October 3, 2009
Filed under: The Monsters
Tags: picky eaters
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October 3, 2009
HA HA.. hahaha. I was not a picky eater — both of my sisters were though… One would only eat taco shells with peanut butter—for years! The other continues to insist that she is allergic to tomatoes–despite negative blood tests. My husband (I’ve been told) ran home screaming as a kid when the neighbor tried to give him peanut butter with chunks. But wait, I take it back.. I can’t even look at mayo without gagging.
Ry Sal´s last blog ..Hank’s Pumpkintown – The first visit.
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October 3, 2009
Twitter: BOREDmommy
Sounds like my house! My kids (especially my son) are very picky eaters. They subsist on pasta, bread, chicken, potatoes, cucumbers and fruit. Its truly the hardest part about being a mom for me. I’ve tried the “eat it or go hungry” thing and my son didn’t eat more than cereal for a week. It was not a success.You daughter sounds adorable, especially with the ostrich comment.
Maria @BOREDmommy´s last blog ..Interview with a 3 year old lady
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October 3, 2009
I am so thankful the kids aren’t picky eaters. Although Miss Question certainly TRYS.
“Mom, I don’t LIKE beans.”
“Honey. We’re having leftovers for lunch. You ate the beans two nights ago for dinner. Just. Fine. Sit down.”
“Oh. Okay.”
I think they just think up ways to drive us crazy….
thepsychobabble´s last blog ..Why I’m Blogging About Boobs This Month
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October 3, 2009
That is hilarious! My mom cooked so plain and flavorless when I grew up that it took me years to get the courage to try things. I’m still very picky but I do like flavor now.
blueviolet´s last blog ..Saturday Giveaway Parade 10/3
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October 3, 2009
So far, the only thing my son doesn’t like is tomato sauce – it’s too sour. But he loves tomatoes. Raw, especially. Anyway, we’re going to instill the one meal for everyone rule, too. Mostly because it’s all I can do to think of ONE dinner, forget TWO! LOL!
Jennifer @ It’s A Beauty Filled Life´s last blog ..Aloha Friday – Girlfriends
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October 3, 2009
this is plain funny and sweet conversation!
glad that my boy is not picky cos he eats everything basically @_@.
hope he keeps that way when he grows up!
lululu´s last blog ..To Ethan (Gap, Cute Baby Alert!)
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October 3, 2009
LOL! My kids are picky eaters too. If I make something new it’s try it first then fend for yourself. You have to try it first. No snacks either! My oldest doesn’t like Green Beans but will eat Green Bean Salad. Go figure. That took me a long time to get him to like that. LOL
Stacie´s last blog ..Saturday Linky Love
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October 3, 2009
I was an awful eater too. I used to hide my food behind furniture
My son is even worse. One day he’ll like burgers and the next day he won’t. I could go on forever with this topic!
Nancy@ifevolutionworks.com´s last blog ..Great Sunday Reading
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October 3, 2009
My brother was and still is the pickiest eater ever! To this day, the only vegetables he will eat are corn and potatoes. I’m serious. He eats only a handful of dishes and makes them in a rotation. He makes spaghetti with Prego and groundbeef, steak with the above mentioned veggies, americanized tacos with groundbeef and cheddar cheese ONLY, macaroni and cheese (yes Kraft and he’ll be 29 this year). His hamburgers and hot dogs are eaten with ketchup only.
I was once a semi-picky eater. I always said I hated things and had never tried them. I would have breakdowsn over food, literally cry if it was something I thought I didn’t like. My hubby made me a convert and in the last 6 years I have discoved a whole world of food I never knew existed. You have to stick to your guns with her or she’ll never grow out of it. I have a rule with the hubby. I will try anythign once. If I hate it, he can’t make me try it again. I have found there are very few things that I thought I hated that I don’t like now….excpet eggs. That will never change!
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October 4, 2009
My kids went through this stage. Really kids have to be exposed to foods sometimes 15 times before they like it. I always offered that if they do not eat what I have made they have the option to make a peanut butter sandwich themselves. I am done cooking for the night. After a while. They get tired of the sandwich they are making and decide they are going to try dinner for a change. Soon they are eating all kids of things.
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October 4, 2009
I am a picky picky eater, my daughter is the same way. She is driving me crazy. She will only eat cheese right now. My husband will eat anything. My son is just like his dad. I want my daughter to be a veggie lover. Now if I could only train my self too eat them!
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October 4, 2009
My hubby & Ben are both picky eaters…Camden will try & eat just about anything! We offered him steak in Florida & told him it was alligator & he tried it! Hubby loves the tradtional shepards pie, Ben will not try it, he doesn’t like any form of potato except extra crispy fries dipped in ketchup. Ben will not eat american chop suey cause of the tomato & hamburg in it, BUT he will eat sauce & hamburgers…..go figure! Drives me crazy!!!
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October 4, 2009
That is classic! My girls aren’t really picky when it comes to eating but they both like completely opposite things. Foods that don’t even GO together. We try to make sure they at least take a “No Thank You Bite”. Usually after they have taken the bite, they realize they actually do like it. Best of luck with your picky eater
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October 4, 2009
Ostrich! Haha. But yes, frustrating. I think it’s like any habit that’s hard to break. And especially with kids, habits are hard to break. I say stick to your guns. Like you say, you don’t want to be cooking 3 different meals every night because she won’t eat the first one. It’ll be easier on you in the long run. Oh and Shepherd Pie – I always had the lamb, carrots, mash version – but I’m interested to try the one you mentioned.
Lady Mama´s last blog ..Tip: when your other half wants to watch sci-fi, distract him by taking off your clothes and setting off the fire alarm.
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October 5, 2009
I can SO identify! My girls were only moderately picky, and they greew out of it relatively quickly, but my son is the King of Pickiness. I feel like the list of “acceptable” foods dwindles for him every day. Packing a school lunch? Nearly impossible. I need help!
Lynette Mattke´s last blog ..Get a Head Start on Reading While on the Road!
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October 6, 2009
Ostrich, eh? Gotta love her spirit and creativity! Seriously, we had the two-bite rule: the kids had to try two bites of a new food before they could reject it. And, no, I never cooked special meals for them. The trick with some veggies is to sneak them into foods they love in tiny pieces (food processor is your friend here) – nothing with too strong a flavor. Also, I found my kids would eat some veggies raw that they wouldn’t touch cooked – especially if they could dip them into some sort of dressing or salsa.
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