Is your child a picky eater?
Feeding my child often takes a lot of arguing and arm-wrestling on the dining table before a small serving of rice and viand gets even touched. Of course, that’s a little exaggeration but my daughter, Bianca, is one of those kids you’ll find so challenging to feed. She doesn’t run out of excuses to escape from having a decent meal so it takes a lot of convincing prowess and exemplary cooking and presentation skills to get her to eat. Such is one of my biggest challenges being a mom - to give my daughter proper nutrition especially now that she’s in her formative years. How can I do that if all she wants to eat are french fries and ice cream? 
I’d be lying to say I’m good in the kitchen but I’m definitely trying my best to master the art of cooking and food presentation in my own little way so my daughter would touch her meals. So far, my daughter has been praising my progress. She makes my day when she empties her plate and even asks for another serving. I can say I’m doing better everyday, basing on my daughter’s remarks and my hubby’s dwindling criticisms, lol! Thanks to healthy online recipes and to Del Monte Quick and Easy. Apart from that, I don’t fail to give my daughter food supplements and three glasses of milk everyday. She used to say no to this much milk but lately, she’s getting the hang of it.
One thing I’ve also learned is to make meal time an enjoyable bonding time with the family. I’ve noticed that when the family is complete, my daughter likes eating more than when she’s alone. I also learned that meal time isn’t the perfect time to reprimand the child for things she’s done or failed to do. It’ll further lessen her appetite to eat and she could view meal time as “sermon time.” So instead of fighting with my daughter over dinner, I sometimes tell stories about a train (that’s a spoonful of food) going into a cave (that’s her mouth) until she enjoys it and finishes up her plate.
But despite my dedication to the kitchen these days, we still love to dine outside on most weekends. It gives me a break (and my family too, teehee!).
It remains a big challenge for me how to make my child love eating more without me having to play trains and airplanes. But I can live with that. It’s a challenge that teaches me to be more creative and extra patient.
Is your child a picky eater?
Posted in Family and Parenting
November 11th, 2009 9:54 pm
My son is sort of picky, and my daughter just does not have a large appetite. I try very hard to cook what I know they will eat, and to let them choose. For example they have to have a veggie, so I let them pick it, as well as fruit. My son is not a huge meat eater, but he does love yogurt, and cheese, and peanut butter which can all make up for the protein in meat. I do have him at least try the meat, then if he does not like it, he can pass. If you have V8 splash in your country, most kids love it, and two glasses gives them two servings of veggies. We used this for years, not so much now, as I have learned how to get them to eat them. Raw veggies, they can dip, works great for my kids, rather than cooked in a fancy way. Simple meals, with a simple, uncomplicated look, works best I find. We like to eat out too, if finances allow. I agree with all the other things you said about dinner time, and family time, excellent points, overlooked by many.
November 12th, 2009 1:13 am
Great tips! My kids tend to eat better when we are eating as a family too.
November 12th, 2009 8:43 pm
Wow! That’s nice. Changing routines and setting side traditional feeding approaches are indeed helpful. I can say you really succeeded in taking advantage of your creativity. Good job.
Looking at those pictures make me starved. haha!
November 12th, 2009 9:53 pm
My daughter is very picky and very selective with her vegetables. She’s already grown up, and slowly she is eating them. Her favorite is spaghetti. I have read so many tips and I am sharing this one. I add carrots and spinach or zucchini squash grind them in the blender, she hardly can see them. The sauce even taste better.
November 13th, 2009 4:06 am
My daughter was a picky eater. I used to get frustrated especially when she went to school. She only consumed 2 to 3 tablespoons of her baon. I asked her what she really liked, and she said sandwiches. So instead of rice for lunch she brought sandwiches. At least she was eating. I had to be creative with the sandwiches too so she won’t get sawa.