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 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:10:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Alice Williams http://inashoe.com/2007/09/10-ways-to-avoid-raising-a-picky-eater/#comment-44462 Alice Williams Wed, 23 Feb 2011 23:17:29 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1535#comment-44462 Kim, This sounds very much like the rules we had as children. We are vegetarians, so some of the problems were not there (like liver and sashimi!) but there were foods that each of us decided at one point or another we didn't like. My mom made us eat whatever the item was, even if she didn't like it either (like in the case of some rice patties that still make me feel like gagging to think of), for as many meals as it took for them to be gone. None of us is now picky, though each of us still has preferences. For example, I'm not a fan of mushrooms, but I'm learning to eat them. It's a texture thing, and if I can pick them out I will, unless I'm in someone else's home, then I eat them because it's polite. You are absolutely right in your response to the woman who thought rules like this are the reasons for compulsive overeating and anorexia. No child should be allowed to control his parents by his likes and dislikes--kids don't need that much power. I'll have to remember this list when my little-one-to-come is big enough to eat. :) Thank you for being a mother who cares about her children. Alice Kim,
This sounds very much like the rules we had as children. We are vegetarians, so some of the problems were not there (like liver and sashimi!) but there were foods that each of us decided at one point or another we didn’t like. My mom made us eat whatever the item was, even if she didn’t like it either (like in the case of some rice patties that still make me feel like gagging to think of), for as many meals as it took for them to be gone. None of us is now picky, though each of us still has preferences. For example, I’m not a fan of mushrooms, but I’m learning to eat them. It’s a texture thing, and if I can pick them out I will, unless I’m in someone else’s home, then I eat them because it’s polite. You are absolutely right in your response to the woman who thought rules like this are the reasons for compulsive overeating and anorexia. No child should be allowed to control his parents by his likes and dislikes–kids don’t need that much power.
I’ll have to remember this list when my little-one-to-come is big enough to eat. :)

Thank you for being a mother who cares about her children.
Alice

]]> By: Jacinthe http://inashoe.com/2007/09/10-ways-to-avoid-raising-a-picky-eater/#comment-35160 Jacinthe Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:06:59 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1535#comment-35160 I would like to add that it is difficult for the children not to be picky eaters if the mom or the dad are picky eaters. My husband is very picky and refuse to try some of the food he does not like. The children will imitate their father. Very frustrating. I would like to add that it is difficult for the children not to be picky eaters if the mom or the dad are picky eaters.

My husband is very picky and refuse to try some of the food he does not like. The children will imitate their father.

Very frustrating.

]]> By: My Boaz's Ruth http://inashoe.com/2007/09/10-ways-to-avoid-raising-a-picky-eater/#comment-34974 My Boaz's Ruth Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:21:34 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1535#comment-34974 I didn't like liver until my dad made it in HS. now I LOVE Liver -- when my dad cooks it. I didn’t like liver until my dad made it in HS. now I LOVE Liver — when my dad cooks it.

]]> By: carrie http://inashoe.com/2007/09/10-ways-to-avoid-raising-a-picky-eater/#comment-34962 carrie Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:02:35 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1535#comment-34962 I totally agree, in fact I could have written this post. My kids have each *tried* to be picky but it was a phase that I didn't pay too much attention to. I require them to take a bite or two of a food they don't prefer. I also don't allow adults to say they don't like something. LOL. My 7 yo decided she didn't like raw milk, after drinking it her whole life, because my mom said it "tasted like cow". Ditto for something my husband said he didn't like. I totally agree, in fact I could have written this post. My kids have each *tried* to be picky but it was a phase that I didn’t pay too much attention to.

I require them to take a bite or two of a food they don’t prefer. I also don’t allow adults to say they don’t like something. LOL. My 7 yo decided she didn’t like raw milk, after drinking it her whole life, because my mom said it “tasted like cow”. Ditto for something my husband said he didn’t like.

]]> 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

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