2 under Two: Finicky Eater
Posted by Catherine on October 20, 2010I mentioned in an earlier post that BigBoy is a picky eater. Picky, finicky, choosy, refined palate, however you describe it, what it really is is a pain. A pain in the backside for me. I know this is more than me, believe me, I think about his health, his disposition, his immune system, his growth and more. I realize he is asserting his independence, he hates transition, he doesn’t want to stop playing to eat, he has no interest in food and more. But since I use this blog as my vent, I’d like to say that I’m OVER it. Three times a day, this is a battle. Here’s where we are today and what I’ve tried:
This morning I asked him, “Would you like pancakes or oatmeal?” I’ve been told that in order to avoid power struggles and empower your child you give choices – both choices that work for me. “Pancakes, great.” Something I've leared is to only put him in the chair when the food is ready and waiting at his place. BabyBoy and I sit beside him at the table, me feeding the baby and hoping to create the “family food time” feel. He sat down and chewed up ¼ of one pancake, spit out a chewed up part of the second ¼ and then hopped out of his chair. And then, that’s it. No more, he’s out of the chair and running around despite my asking, threatening, pleading, etc.
So, I tried tactic number two and three: have him cook with me AND show him what I’m going to eat. He helped me make oatmeal and prepare my oatmeal and then he ate out of my bowl, with me. Ok, so now he’s got the energy he needs.
Then onto lunch. I’ve attempted creativity with a variety of foods, shapes, plates, etc. So my latest attempt is the Bento Box,the Japanese lunch box. I got a few ideas from this blog, http://lunchinabox.net/ where the author comes up with a lot of beautiful and creative food ideas – some are a little too adventurous for my child, but the compartmentalized concept of mostly finger foods works well. This new magazine, Yum food and Fun also inspired me. It also mentions the bento box inspiration.
I purchased this bento box and so far it seems to work. I put in mostly foods he likes and then I always throw in one he either hasn’t liked to date or hasn’t tried. And there is the last tactic: keep trying. I’ve decided to just keep putting some things on his plate. Like carrots: he loved pureed carrots as a baby and hates them as a BigBoy. So, I just keep putting them on there and finally, yesterday he actually asked for them – after at least 10 attempts. He ate them. Small victories, small victories.
I’m still frustrated by the tremendous effort it takes and the energy I expend on something so regular (thinking, “surely by now he understand he MUST eat three times a day”), but as a mom, I am persistent. My sole purpose as a mother is to nurture my child, so I’ll keep trying and trying. And whining about it on this blog.
