Olga
From: "Heidi" <bunsofaluminum60@...>
<<Another table rule of ours: taste everything on your plate. If
there's something you don't like, you don't have to eat it. But at
least taste it. I've learned what's "edible" around here, and what
isn't, but trying things is a good habit, IMO. If it's yucky, I have
no problem with them saying so.>>
I think that is a nice idea in theory. Try to make my 4yo try
something new and he would be in tears and probably hypervenitlaing
within minutes..LOL!! I struggled with him when he was a baby. He
loved his baby food and trying to wean him off to table food was
torture. He still has a very limited number of things he will eat
(unless it involves chocolate and then suddenly it all looks good ;)
but it does not bother me anymore. He makes alot of healthy choices
and is a healthy, strong boy. In fact, he still gets a good bit of
fruit from the baby food aisle..LOL! If we happen to read a book or
watch a show related to picky eaters I will remind him they seem to
be enjoying new food. He agrees but cannot seem to truely comprehend
he is one. My dh was the same way when he was little and now tries
more things than me so obviously making kids try things has no huge
influence over how they will be as adults. My 2 yo will come up and
just grab something out of your hand if the mood strikes. I have
realized it just comes down to personality. Your kids may be more
easy going about trying things so it may not be coersive for you.
Also, I think some parents can get so caught up in these power
struggles over food that they lose sight of what it important. My
BIL has this big issue over eating as a family and they got to the
point with their picky eater son where they forced him to eat what
was on the table or he would get nothing. They claimed all he wanted
was chicken nuggets and the such which was not healthy. Well, my
first thought is who introduced him to all that *crappy* food and
then does not want to let him eat it? My poor SIL HATES dinner time
because it is full of fighting. She wants to hide in the bathroom.
Her dh is on her because she is below weight but he does not realize
that the stress of dinner just contributes to her not wanting to
eat. Also, my BIL is the PICKIEST eater. In fact, outside of my FIL
I do not know anyone as picky as him. He will not try anything new.
SO how the hell does he justify his son looking at food and finding
it gross and expecting him to eat it whereas he would never want to
try it. These are the really *old-fashioned* parents who are always
in that "I have all the power" mindset, kind of the Wonder Years
Dad. It is so stupid and sad really. Here you have a chance to have
a nice dinner with your kids and you ruin it over food. Of course,
now he eats different things so people like my BIL say it works and
of course everyone should just do it that way. Two of my BIL's have
that same attitude "Well, if he won't eat it that way then he just
wouldn't eat!". It is not worth the battle or control to me, when he
is ready he will try new things. At this point, I could really care
less :) and we are all happy!
Olga :)
<<Another table rule of ours: taste everything on your plate. If
there's something you don't like, you don't have to eat it. But at
least taste it. I've learned what's "edible" around here, and what
isn't, but trying things is a good habit, IMO. If it's yucky, I have
no problem with them saying so.>>
I think that is a nice idea in theory. Try to make my 4yo try
something new and he would be in tears and probably hypervenitlaing
within minutes..LOL!! I struggled with him when he was a baby. He
loved his baby food and trying to wean him off to table food was
torture. He still has a very limited number of things he will eat
(unless it involves chocolate and then suddenly it all looks good ;)
but it does not bother me anymore. He makes alot of healthy choices
and is a healthy, strong boy. In fact, he still gets a good bit of
fruit from the baby food aisle..LOL! If we happen to read a book or
watch a show related to picky eaters I will remind him they seem to
be enjoying new food. He agrees but cannot seem to truely comprehend
he is one. My dh was the same way when he was little and now tries
more things than me so obviously making kids try things has no huge
influence over how they will be as adults. My 2 yo will come up and
just grab something out of your hand if the mood strikes. I have
realized it just comes down to personality. Your kids may be more
easy going about trying things so it may not be coersive for you.
Also, I think some parents can get so caught up in these power
struggles over food that they lose sight of what it important. My
BIL has this big issue over eating as a family and they got to the
point with their picky eater son where they forced him to eat what
was on the table or he would get nothing. They claimed all he wanted
was chicken nuggets and the such which was not healthy. Well, my
first thought is who introduced him to all that *crappy* food and
then does not want to let him eat it? My poor SIL HATES dinner time
because it is full of fighting. She wants to hide in the bathroom.
Her dh is on her because she is below weight but he does not realize
that the stress of dinner just contributes to her not wanting to
eat. Also, my BIL is the PICKIEST eater. In fact, outside of my FIL
I do not know anyone as picky as him. He will not try anything new.
SO how the hell does he justify his son looking at food and finding
it gross and expecting him to eat it whereas he would never want to
try it. These are the really *old-fashioned* parents who are always
in that "I have all the power" mindset, kind of the Wonder Years
Dad. It is so stupid and sad really. Here you have a chance to have
a nice dinner with your kids and you ruin it over food. Of course,
now he eats different things so people like my BIL say it works and
of course everyone should just do it that way. Two of my BIL's have
that same attitude "Well, if he won't eat it that way then he just
wouldn't eat!". It is not worth the battle or control to me, when he
is ready he will try new things. At this point, I could really care
less :) and we are all happy!
Olga :)