Comments on: 10 ways to avoid raising a picky eater http://inashoe.com/2007/09/10-ways-to-avoid-raising-a-picky-eater/ the methods and madness of one family of 12 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 04:27:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: kimc http://inashoe.com/2007/09/10-ways-to-avoid-raising-a-picky-eater/#comment-12112 kimc Fri, 02 Nov 2007 21:44:27 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1535#comment-12112 E, I agree and this is pretty much how it happens in our house. They are strongly encouraged (or even required) to try a taste of anything new, but are not required to clean their plate. They're just not allowed dessert or second and third helpings on fruit salad if they decline the first portion of green beans. :) It's about an attitude of gratitude (hey, that rhymes!), courtesy, and good eating choices. E,
I agree and this is pretty much how it happens in our house. They are strongly encouraged (or even required) to try a taste of anything new, but are not required to clean their plate. They’re just not allowed dessert or second and third helpings on fruit salad if they decline the first portion of green beans. :)
It’s about an attitude of gratitude (hey, that rhymes!), courtesy, and good eating choices.

]]> By: E http://inashoe.com/2007/09/10-ways-to-avoid-raising-a-picky-eater/#comment-12094 E Fri, 02 Nov 2007 19:32:18 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1535#comment-12094 I'm more of the mind that you put it out and if they don't want it, they don't have to eat it, but don't provide something else. I mean if you are serving meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans and fruit salad, surely in that meal they will like 2 things well enough to tide them over to the next meal. I have yet to hear of a starving child because they dislike asparagus, etc. I just think the less "big deal" is made out of it the better. I can't think of any adult that likes to eat and does eat everything sat in front of them. That's why we have choices at the grocery store and restaurants. I’m more of the mind that you put it out and if they don’t want it, they don’t have to eat it, but don’t provide something else. I mean if you are serving meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans and fruit salad, surely in that meal they will like 2 things well enough to tide them over to the next meal. I have yet to hear of a starving child because they dislike asparagus, etc. I just think the less “big deal” is made out of it the better. I can’t think of any adult that likes to eat and does eat everything sat in front of them. That’s why we have choices at the grocery store and restaurants.

]]> By: Kim C. http://inashoe.com/2007/09/10-ways-to-avoid-raising-a-picky-eater/#comment-6992 Kim C. Mon, 15 Oct 2007 22:09:00 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1535#comment-6992 Dawn,<br/>I honestly think that many of our nation's eating problems come from parents allowing their children to eat whatever they want, whenever they want.<br/>These rules are general guidelines for courtesy, gratitude, and creating healthy eating habits - I said nothing about forcing a child to eat when she's not hungry. Dawn,
I honestly think that many of our nation’s eating problems come from parents allowing their children to eat whatever they want, whenever they want.
These rules are general guidelines for courtesy, gratitude, and creating healthy eating habits – I said nothing about forcing a child to eat when she’s not hungry.

]]> By: ~*Country Dawn*~ http://inashoe.com/2007/09/10-ways-to-avoid-raising-a-picky-eater/#comment-6990 ~*Country Dawn*~ Sun, 14 Oct 2007 20:02:00 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1535#comment-6990 OR you could have titled this: 10 Ways to Create an Eating Disorder. :x <br/><br/>Seriously, being this controlling about something as basic as food can lead to some major developmental issues in childhood and later in adolescence. I'm glad to hear there are some people out there (people listed friends who brought backup food or "catered" to a child's tastebuds) who actually listen to their children and respect them as individuals. <br/><br/>I'm all for providing healthy choices in the household (i.e. not buying the Doritos in the first place) but after that, it should be up to the child whether he or she is hungry enough to eat at meal times. If it's something they don't like, they should be free to find themselves an alternative, or not eat at all, if that's their choice.<br/><br/>If you set up battles like this with your child, you're asking for trouble. I guess it's no wonder we're a nation full of compulsive overeaters and leading the world in anorexia and bulemia.<br/><br/>*sigh* OR you could have titled this: 10 Ways to Create an Eating Disorder. :x

Seriously, being this controlling about something as basic as food can lead to some major developmental issues in childhood and later in adolescence. I’m glad to hear there are some people out there (people listed friends who brought backup food or “catered” to a child’s tastebuds) who actually listen to their children and respect them as individuals.

I’m all for providing healthy choices in the household (i.e. not buying the Doritos in the first place) but after that, it should be up to the child whether he or she is hungry enough to eat at meal times. If it’s something they don’t like, they should be free to find themselves an alternative, or not eat at all, if that’s their choice.

If you set up battles like this with your child, you’re asking for trouble. I guess it’s no wonder we’re a nation full of compulsive overeaters and leading the world in anorexia and bulemia.

*sigh*

]]> By: soupablog http://inashoe.com/2007/09/10-ways-to-avoid-raising-a-picky-eater/#comment-6987 soupablog Mon, 08 Oct 2007 03:58:00 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1535#comment-6987 This is a great blogpost. Thanks. I wish we had started down this road eleven years ago :/<br/><br/>grace & peace This is a great blogpost. Thanks. I wish we had started down this road eleven years ago :/

grace & peace

]]> By: Kim C. http://inashoe.com/2007/09/10-ways-to-avoid-raising-a-picky-eater/#comment-6985 Kim C. Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:35:00 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1535#comment-6985 Geneva,<br/>Thanks for introducing yourself!<br/><br/>To all those who have picky eaters, let me clarify just a bit. I don't claim that our children don't have likes or dislikes; some have far more than others. But the goal is to teach them to put aside their own preferences and eat (or abstain from eating) with gratitude and courtesy, so that "whether [they] eat or drink or whatsoever [they] do, [they] do all to the glory of God." (I Corinthians 10:31 Geneva,
Thanks for introducing yourself!

To all those who have picky eaters, let me clarify just a bit. I don’t claim that our children don’t have likes or dislikes; some have far more than others. But the goal is to teach them to put aside their own preferences and eat (or abstain from eating) with gratitude and courtesy, so that “whether [they] eat or drink or whatsoever [they] do, [they] do all to the glory of God.” (I Corinthians 10:31

]]> By: Stacy McDonald http://inashoe.com/2007/09/10-ways-to-avoid-raising-a-picky-eater/#comment-6982 Stacy McDonald Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:36:00 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1535#comment-6982 Your list sounds similar to what we do, Kim. Except we don't allow the bread and milk until after they at least have a small portion of the undesired food. We eat a huge variety of foods because we LOVE to cook and experiment with all sorts of new recipes. I have one daughter who is fat-phobic, meaning she examines each cut of meat to see if there is any fat or grizzle on it. The only time there actually is any fat is when we have pork chops, but she's a little compulsive (like her mother-I hate fat too). <br/><br/>Recently, I made veal and to her, it tasted like it had fat. She had a very long dinner, trying to find acceptable bites, but she ate it. LOL<br/><br/>When our children don't care for something, they only have to have a very small portion, but they are not permitted to decline it completely. Recently, we had sautee'd spinach and my 4 yo daughter decided she didn't want hers. There were brothers and sisters who were dying for her portion! LOL Yet we still required her to eat it herself, so that she might eventually learn to like it.<br/><br/>There have been times when our children had some pretty unappetizing breakfasts (shrimp creole) for breakfast, because they didn't eat their dinner, but not often.<br/><br/>I was a very picky eater when I was a child, but I was required to eat all my food and be thankful for it. I can only think of one food I just can't stomach - and that is liver (the one thing my parents didn't require me to eat). There are other things I just WON'T eat - blood pudding comes to mind. Ewwww!<br/><br/>Once, while having dinner with my grandparents, I secretly fed the dog my food under the table. The dog promptly walked over to my father and threw up my dinner at his feet. "Your sin will find you out!" ;-) Your list sounds similar to what we do, Kim. Except we don’t allow the bread and milk until after they at least have a small portion of the undesired food. We eat a huge variety of foods because we LOVE to cook and experiment with all sorts of new recipes. I have one daughter who is fat-phobic, meaning she examines each cut of meat to see if there is any fat or grizzle on it. The only time there actually is any fat is when we have pork chops, but she’s a little compulsive (like her mother-I hate fat too).

Recently, I made veal and to her, it tasted like it had fat. She had a very long dinner, trying to find acceptable bites, but she ate it. LOL

When our children don’t care for something, they only have to have a very small portion, but they are not permitted to decline it completely. Recently, we had sautee’d spinach and my 4 yo daughter decided she didn’t want hers. There were brothers and sisters who were dying for her portion! LOL Yet we still required her to eat it herself, so that she might eventually learn to like it.

There have been times when our children had some pretty unappetizing breakfasts (shrimp creole) for breakfast, because they didn’t eat their dinner, but not often.

I was a very picky eater when I was a child, but I was required to eat all my food and be thankful for it. I can only think of one food I just can’t stomach – and that is liver (the one thing my parents didn’t require me to eat). There are other things I just WON’T eat – blood pudding comes to mind. Ewwww!

Once, while having dinner with my grandparents, I secretly fed the dog my food under the table. The dog promptly walked over to my father and threw up my dinner at his feet. “Your sin will find you out!” ;-)

]]> By: Shari http://inashoe.com/2007/09/10-ways-to-avoid-raising-a-picky-eater/#comment-6981 Shari Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:54:00 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1535#comment-6981 I agree 100% with each and every rule you have listed. It is just good sense. It does not, however, guarantee avoiding creating picky eaters. <br/><br/>We have some pretty strict eating rules, including all of your and a few more, and I still have one who would rather starve for more than a day than to eat what he cannot stomach. The poor child tries hard and will ask for extra water to help wash the food down. <br/><br/>Thanks for the list. Like I said, it is a good one. I agree 100% with each and every rule you have listed. It is just good sense. It does not, however, guarantee avoiding creating picky eaters.

We have some pretty strict eating rules, including all of your and a few more, and I still have one who would rather starve for more than a day than to eat what he cannot stomach. The poor child tries hard and will ask for extra water to help wash the food down.

Thanks for the list. Like I said, it is a good one.

]]> By: Susan L. Prince http://inashoe.com/2007/09/10-ways-to-avoid-raising-a-picky-eater/#comment-6978 Susan L. Prince Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:20:00 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1535#comment-6978 My friend tried these rules for her kid and once he went three days without eating anything.<br/><br/>I too am a picky eater, and it's a curse. My parents tried these rules, but I sat at the dinner table many a night four hours until bedtime. I dislike being a picky eater, but can't make myself like things I just don't.<br/><br/>One of my friends has a theory that I am oversensitive to flavor. She got that idea when once I complained in a restaurant that the iced tea I ordered tasted like there was pepper in it. I sent it back, they brought me a new glass of tea and I tasted it. It was fine, until I added a packet of Equal. <br/><br/>Then I tasted pepper again. I discovered that the packets of sweetner were kept next to the pepper on the table and actually absorbed some of the pepper! I was tasting that! <br/><br/>Salt is too much flavor for me and my friend, who often cooks for me will remark "I can't believe it, one speck to much salt was added and you can tell!"<br/><br/>I tell you...being a picky eater is a curse. My friend tried these rules for her kid and once he went three days without eating anything.

I too am a picky eater, and it’s a curse. My parents tried these rules, but I sat at the dinner table many a night four hours until bedtime. I dislike being a picky eater, but can’t make myself like things I just don’t.

One of my friends has a theory that I am oversensitive to flavor. She got that idea when once I complained in a restaurant that the iced tea I ordered tasted like there was pepper in it. I sent it back, they brought me a new glass of tea and I tasted it. It was fine, until I added a packet of Equal.

Then I tasted pepper again. I discovered that the packets of sweetner were kept next to the pepper on the table and actually absorbed some of the pepper! I was tasting that!

Salt is too much flavor for me and my friend, who often cooks for me will remark “I can’t believe it, one speck to much salt was added and you can tell!”

I tell you…being a picky eater is a curse.

]]> By: mrsw http://inashoe.com/2007/09/10-ways-to-avoid-raising-a-picky-eater/#comment-6976 mrsw Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:19:00 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1535#comment-6976 If someone is serving sushi, instead of announcing against it, just ask "which rolls are vegetarian?" and explain you don't eat raw fish ... that way you can still try the cucumber roll or the avocado roll, and not be rude about the host's choice. Especially seeing as anyone except a wealthy host who is serving sushi has put a good bit of money into it, probably thinking you would enjoy the treat. If someone is serving sushi, instead of announcing against it, just ask “which rolls are vegetarian?” and explain you don’t eat raw fish … that way you can still try the cucumber roll or the avocado roll, and not be rude about the host’s choice. Especially seeing as anyone except a wealthy host who is serving sushi has put a good bit of money into it, probably thinking you would enjoy the treat.

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