Does the idea that if the picky eater makes the dish, will they eat it?
If you have a picky eater like I do, dinner time is often a challenge for all parties involved. Sometimes mealtime is more of a game of chess and hoping that you can successfully mask your stress while hiding healthy ingredients as well. We have victories while other times defeat is the name of the game. Whether it is a win or loss everyone has an opinion and a suggestion. We have tried so many different methods to try things, but the end of the day, we love sausage and cheese homemade biscuits while hating sausage straight up.
First we tried the reward method where trying a bite of something new would end up with a sticker, toy or a dessert. Our picky eater would start by taking a bite, but spitting food out. Let me tell you if my daughter does not become a lawyer, she is missing her calling. This kid can find any loophole if given the opportunity. Eventually the method fail because she would often taste, but would refuse to swallow the food. Luckily for us, we always have a full balance plate of tried and trues on the plate covering all food groups.
Then we moved on to the three bite rule. A family member recommended a kids book with her favorite feline character who would take three bites with his family and friends to try new foods. We purchased the book and found a matching cartoon online. She tried the three bite rule for a little, but began to refuse this idea as well. I think we had some new foods enter into the rotation as a result including bacon, raspberries and tater tots. The three bite rule was not a complete failure for us, but I was really hoping that this method was going to score us a few more victories than what it did.
When threes became useless, we moved on to assisting in the kitchen (with safety first in mind of course). This was perhaps the most successful method to date. Someone loves making her version of tacos with out the seasoning of course, making her own biscuits and baking yummy desserts. At times, it goes great as long as our daughter is happy with the ingredients (anything green is still difficult except for grapes). We have learned through this method there is still no rhyme or reason for the choices that this kid makes. How can one hate potatoes, but loves tater tots and chips? Or even better, likes dunking fruit in yogurt, but cannot have them mixed in a bowl before being placed on the table?
While we have a lot of new food options than we did before, this year lunch at school has thrown a curveball at us. This year my daughter can buy lunch at school, but most of the time she prefers to pack. I normally can pack different kinds of food that this girl would eat at home, but as a worrier that I am, I can only hope she is eating everything instead of throwing food away. This child has maybe purchased lunch five or six times so far this school year, but she reports only eating the main dish and threw away the rest of the meal including the drink option. We have talked with her teacher to make sure to check to see if she is eating or recommend trying to finish her plate.
No matter what, we are always attempting to derail that picky train. Sometimes different methods work while other times they just won’t. One is for sure, we will keep on trying to play this game while trying to be cool like cucumbers!
