Mission Impossible: Fending Off Family Food Wars
Ok, last night I got excited about roasting butternut squash with minced shallots and garlic topped with a drizzle of olive oil. My kids, on the other hand, were not so thrilled. It goes without saying that my gourmet flights of fancy go unnoticed, especially with my two toddlers around. Their food repetiore has wittled significantly since they became free-thinking human beings. They don’t like this or will not try that…eating has become a constant negotiation. Although, I refuse to beg them to eat their brocolli, peas or asparagus, I have thought about dessert bribery, but I know that’s a no-no! So, what if I am a mom with a mission: to get my kids to eat (and enjoy) healthful food?! Is that so bad? Well, not if the outcome is me offering string cheese at the end of an uneaten, rejected meal.
I will continue to try….that’s all I can do. What’s your secret strategy to the never-ending family food wars? I’d love to know…
February 25th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
OMG! So frustrating when my little guy won’t eat, well… anything I make for him, especially not the yumminess that is roasted brussels sprouts or cauliflower with garlic, olive oil, and a dash of curry powder. YUM!
My son’s eating habits go in phases – right now, he’s eating just about anything he can get his hands on. But I know that by this weekend, he’ll be back to refusing everything but goldfish crackers. Ugh.
February 26th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Brian –
Thanks for the comment! We are not alone — It’s actually pretty common for kids to be picky eaters in the infant/toddlers years. Studies have shown that our brains are hard wired to reject foods that don’t “look” right, even before we taste them. It’s a defense mechanism to prevent poisoning (pretty smart!) So my advice is to keep trying — it can take a long time before a child “takes” to a new food.
-VSR