My Child Only Eats Three Things
My Child Only Eats Three Things
Ok, so, maybe it's 4 or 5 things...but you know what I mean. You make spaghetti, you've simmered sauce in a crockpot all day. You pureed zucchini in hiding last night and snuck it into the sauce, because if this kid doesn't eat some vegetables soon, she's going to be wandering around blind and constipated and you're going to go crazy from failing. You spent the day at work congratulating yourself on getting one step ahead of your favorite little picky eater. You know she likes spaghetti, because when you worked late last month your husband fed her some jarred sauce with crumbled burger in it over pasta and she gulped it down. Little Miss Picky has commented a few times since she got home from school about how good the house smells and that she can't wait to make the garlic bread with you. You're going to win the food battle this time, she likes the planned meal, she's invested because she's a part of the cooking. You hid VEGGIES, even your husband doesn't know he's eating zucchini! You revel in the sweet feeling of victory. As you and the young lady of the house make the garlic bread together you have not so much as a clue of the frustration that awaits you. Everyone is given their plates and just as you're about to begin a conversation, it hits "I don't like this" . You look at your kiddo questioningly and observe her staring down at her plate like she was just served a plate of roadkill...complete with gravel. Your husband says "Oh, honey, we ate spaghetti last month and you loved it, did you forget?"
" Not this kind" is the answer given. While she continues looking down in disgust.
"You're right, this is so much better than what I made!" says hubby, trying to convince her. You sneak a glance at her and that set look on her face tells you all you need to know, she will not touch it. Consequences, pleading, bargaining.. nothing will sway her. At your wits end, you try logic.
"How can you not like this? It has all of the same things in it that the other spaghetti did." You ask in an even tone.
"I don't like it."
"You haven't even tasted it."
"I don't like it" And just like that, you've lost.
If this sounds familiar at all I offer you sisterhood, me and every other parent of a child who seems bent on turning mealtime into an experiment in parenting fails, we are your tribe.
First, and most importantly, you have not failed. Your child is not set on making you crazy. Make no mistake, having a challenging eater can make you think you're crazy but I have help! Through much trial and error and the advice of a pediatrician, I have figured out how to not make dinner time battle time. Like anything, these methods are not guaranteed to work on every child every time. But they have stopped meal time stress in my house, and I have a kiddo who largely exists on peanut butter and chicken nuggets.
We have tried two different methods and they both have been relatively successful. At the time I started using these methods meal time in my house was torture. Now, though there are still peanut butter nights and chicken nugget nights, neither of us leaves the dinner table frustrated.
One method is the "No Thank You Method" Basically, the child needs to try a bite and then has the option of saying "No thank you". The other method is the "Rate The Meal" method. We use a combination of both of these methods and have had lots of success. I've included links for info on both methods, but I would also encourage you to remember three things
1. No child has ever eaten just peanut butter and chicken nuggets into adulthood
2. No child has ever overdosed on peanut butter
3. Mental health is as important as physical health
4. Trust yourself, your child, and your family because you know them best.
https://thatdarncarrot.com/the-no-thank-you-bite-get-your-picky-eater-to-love-food/
https://theseacoastmoms.com/health-wellness/why-i-ditched-the-no-thank-you-bite/
*Jeana Lavallee, Wearer of many hats, Kin Mom, Edie's Gigi, Autism mom*
