What if you have a child who claims to be a picky eater? Who N.E.V.E.R. eats his dinner unless you are having pasta or pizza? You place dinner in front of your otherwise endearing child and he claims, "I'm not eating this! I am all done!" This child at our house is named, Drew.
We have approached this battle many ways so far. We hold strong and say, "this is what we're having for dinner. take it or leave it." We've tried feeding him a banana before he goes to bed so that he doesn't go to bed hungry. We have also tried tempting him to eat his dinner with a yummy dessert. The only thing I've never done is make something else for him to eat. I just don't think it makes sense in a family to make several meals. I know that when he's a grown-up he can decide what he's going to eat. However this is my chance to build healthy eating habits and expose him to healthy options. That boy will NOT waiver!!
Tonight we had potato soup. It's yummy and the rest of us were eating away. Lily finished a huge bowl and so did Julianna. Tonight I tempted Drew with a cookie for dessert. When Lily finished her soup I brought her a big chocolate chip cookie and a new glass of milk. Drew tried every way around eating the soup, all while asking for a cookie.
Finally, after everyone had left the table, except for him and I, I told him he needed to eat four more bites. I hate doing that! But! Dude!! I just want the kid to eat!! So, he started eating and I started counting. One.....Two....Three....(then I stopped counting and just kept telling him over and over that he was almost done. I got him to eat at least 10 bites this way)!! He finally earned that cookie.
There has GOT to be a better way!!
2 comments:
I was that picky eater...I'll have to ask my mom if she had any tricks. I do remember sitting at the table several nights after everyone else had left having to take the bites that made my throat swell with the threat to vomit...believe it or not, I've heard that some kids just have taste buds that take a bit to develop...of course, how to tell ;) Good luck - as a picky child, I wish you the very best!
oh groan...i fear this is where i'm headed with zander. so you will have to give me advice when we get there! :)
love,
camille
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