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Baby-Ko's appetite and palette is completely unpredictable. One day he may devour an entire plate of spaghetti and "meat-a-balls," and another day he may completely protest it. Unfortunately, this combination, and my inherent neurosis as a Jewish mother who runs a parenting website and has access to far too much information, means that I am at his every whim come meal time... I come with more choices than a menu at Cheesecake Factory.
Just this morning, Baby-Ko got in to bed with me for our normal 6:30 am visit, and asked for a "snackie." Before I could even offer him a cup of cheerios, he was already asking for "something else!" Nine different options of snacks that I have gotten used to finding under my covers night after night later, he settled on sliced apples. (BTW, you realize that means I had to actually get up and slice the apple... BC (before coffee) that is a painful, painful process). The point is, I. AM. A. RESTAURANT.
While I'm certain that I'm not the only mom who turns in to a short order cook every meal, I'm also certain that there are moms out there that have trained their little ones to eat what they're served... even if the spinach is god forbid touching the macaroni and cheese.
Check out the video that's up on Momversation and tell me, ARE YOU A RESTAURANT? If not, what is your trick? Do your children eat what is served? Tell me your thoughts.... Please!
4 comments:
Before breakfast and lunch, I give my kids a choice between two or three things - but if they don't eat what they ask for, they get nothing else until supper time. For the evening meal, since I'm cooking for the entire household, they eat what's put before them: period. I don't have the time or the energy to cater to finicky eaters when I'm trying to get five people fed. They're allowed to decline their dinner if they want to, but ONLY after they've had what I call a "no-thank-you taste" (because nine times out of ten, once they take one bite, they discover they like it after all). If they do choose not to eat, they understand that there's no bedtime snack ... nothing until breakfast the next morning.
Overall this system has seemed to work for us. There are times when my kids don't eat more than a bite or two, but it's rare. They like their bedtime snack. :)
I guess I take this approach with my little cherubs: I don't make anything crazy that they don't like, and I don't force them to eat...but they always have to sit at the table with us as a family and if they don't eat, they are hungry. I say things like, "that's your choice". It's funny...they always want dessert, but dessert doesn't happen if you don't eat the healthy stuff. Plus, they don't die if they choose to miss a meal. They're just hungrier (and less picky) at the next one. ;)
Hmm well I'm definitely no restaurant. I've been super lucky though, my little guy is a total piggy and will eat anything but cucumbers.
Oh I feel your pain! My 22 month old daughter is so picky. She is getting better now that I don't let her drink like 10 sippy cups of milk a day. But my rule is I give her 2 choices and if she refuses both then she doesn't eat. Kids won't starve themselves. Usually she will be back to the plate in like an hour. If I break down I will let her eat a banana or yogurt.
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