Comments on: every family has a picky eater. mine has three.

By: Claudia T

Claudia T — Thu, 12 May 2011 19:39:41 +0000

I’m not even a mom and I think these are good tips! My experience is being a boring kid growing up, in an Asian family. People say I’m so lucky to have been exposed to all the interesting Lao dishes my mom cooked, or the Thai/Vietnamese/Chinese dishes any of my aunts would be cooking, but I was such a boring child. Those are my mom’s words: “It wasn’t that you were picky, you were just boring! All you would eat is bread and water. Like at a prison.” I would try anything once and without fail, I wouldn’t like it. One of my more evil aunts was a terrible cook and always tried to plate my food for me. She got mad that I didn’t eat enough (I honestly believe she was trying to fatten me so that she would remain, in years, the skinniest female in the house. I’m glad my uncle divorced her), and when I pushed my food around she gave me a bigger plate- with more food on it. My mom realized that if all she made available was laap (a Lao beef salad I still dislike today) I wouldn’t eat at all. So she let me be with my plain rice, or my bread and water, or my pho soup with only noodles and beef and nothing interesting to spice it up. She made the same hoisin beef and green beans for me at least once a week. She taught herself spaghetti, even, for me and my brother (I love spaghetti the way my mom makes it- with ridiculous amounts of vegetables like carrots and peas, and occasionally cut up hot dogs to be “more American”.

And it worked. When I was allowed to choose what I wanted, I actually made choices. When I was forced to eat something, I opted to go hungry. And now (22 years old) I call my mom up and ask her about hoisin beef, and all my non-Asian roommates manage to be impressed.

By: Rachel S.

Rachel S. — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 23:08:14 +0000

I love the idea of involving my children in the cooking – I just need to develop more patience for the process of doing so. However, the other night my 3 year old helped me make the noodles for our chicken noodle soup and I think because he did this he gobbled up the dinner. Love the suggestions!

By: jed

jed — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 01:09:21 +0000

I don’t have kids but a few of my nieces and a nephew seem to be the pickiest of kids relating to food. Nothing about their interests are remotely logical or usual. I thank you for your insight and advice, I’m sure it will help when I cook for them. I will also forward this column on to their parents.

By: Tia

Tia — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 17:23:26 +0000

these are great tips – i especially like the one about reducing the power struggle – if only I could just step back and trust that they won’t starve themselves.

By: Jaime

Jaime — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 05:49:30 +0000

Wow, thanks, Jenn! What a nice thing to say.

Ugh, I was hoping my kid that is like that would have grown out of being picky by then! You know, though . . . my little brother ate like that also, probably until he was about 17 or 18, and then he grew out of it. Now he’s a total foodie. He loves sushi, Indian food, seafood—anything that typical picky eaters hate. So there is hope.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 03:02:28 +0000

Oh my gosh I HAVE BEEN MISSING OUT!!! I just found your website and I AM HOOKED!!! Don’t think I will leave my computer for a good 3 days, as that is how long it will take me to see all that needs to be seen!!! Anyway I have a 13 year old who eats Chicken nuggets,hot dogs,cheese pizza and grilled cheese sandwiches…oh and most forms of candy!!! Any suggestions for those of us who have older kids??? It is total insanity!!! By the way YOU ROCK!!

By: Maria

Maria — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:05:13 +0000

Great post with helpful tips! I love the photos too!

By: Stoich91

Stoich91 — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:04:32 +0000

“Change the topic to something safer, like religion or politics.”

ROTFL

By: Jaime

Jaime — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 06:31:13 +0000

Thanks, @Angie, for the name of that book!

And @Jenifer. That is too funny.

@Jen I hope these tips work for you!

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:09:12 +0000

Thanks for these tips. We are struggling with our 6 year old son right now. He won’t eat anything, he turns up his nose at the mention of the word “dinner” my husband is ready to pin him down and force feed him. We have sent him to bed with out food but always give in and let him have some bread or cereal because we don’t like the thought of starving him. We are going crazy right now and meal time is a huge battle, nobody looks forward to. I am going to print this tips off and see how it works for us. Thanks!