I have officially decided that picky eating ruins our family meals, and I have no idea what to do about it.
In our home, we have a three, almost-four-year-old, who could definitely live on fruit, mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, pizza, and french fries. How did this happen? Was it my fault? Well, I have no idea. I also have no idea how to correct his picky behavior.
Do I have an idea of where it went wrong? Maybe? What I do know is that I am a sucker. I used to be worried about just getting him to eat something rather than nothing at all. I am sure that’s where some of his picky eating comes from.
As a baby who was starting to eat, he loved almost everything. He ate green beans, sweet potatoes, squash, lots of fruit, the list is endless. Once he transitioned from pureed food, he would eat the same things we ate for dinner. He mostly ate everything; some textures got to him, like mashed potatoes. But in general, life was easy, and meal times went smoothly. Fast forward to two years old; he started refusing dinners. I would give in and give him something I knew he would eat because, well, he was only two. I didn’t think picky was a problem then.
So, was it my fault? Should I have tried harder not to give in or maybe just let him go without because “he will eat when he is hungry?” Geesh, that’s so hard to do. It sounds easy, but when you’re faced with a hungry toddler who is picky and refuses to eat, there is a lot of screaming and tears, and sometimes you want it to stop.
Fast forward again, he will be four this summer, and he practically lives on the foods he likes.
He is so picky that I can’t even get him to try anything else. It is driving me CRAZY. Dinner time is now the biggest struggle unless I feed him what he wants.
We added a second child last April, and he is now to the point of shoveling all food into his mouth. And I mean ALL the food. He eats everything you put in front of him. But I can’t help but be worried. I do not want to create a second picky monster. Currently, every night I make two different meals, one that is toddler approved and our regular meal. To say it’s a lot of work is an understatement.
But this second kiddo is helping me realize that it might not all be my fault. The babe’s meals have always gone smoother than our firsts. It’s rarely a struggle. Sure, there are foods he doesn’t care for, like watermelon. He also has never had an issue with the texture of food. Something my first continually struggles with.
So, maybe it’s less of a “me” thing and more of a “him” thing. It still stinks, and I am at my wit’s end.
Maybe being picky is just a phase? Who knows? I know my mom always told me I went through a picky phase too. I spent a year only eating mac and cheese. Now, I would consider myself pretty adventurous in the food world. Sure, this childhood story makes me feel a little better.
But I am still filled with what-ifs.
What if it doesn’t get better?
What if he isn’t getting the right nutrients?
What if I could do more to help the situation?
What if….?
It’s endless.
I have resorted to reading other testimonials, I’ve spent hours on google looking for tips and tricks, and I have even asked our family doctor. Nothing I have tried has even helped.
We are currently trying the two foods he likes and one he doesn’t on his plate. This is to encourage him to try different things. I always try to be encouraging, and I hope over time that watching his brother eat different foods will help. On the flip side, I pray my baby doesn’t pick up on the tot’s habits.
Making two different dinners every night is getting old. I am sick of hearing phrases like: “I don’t like that” and “Yuck.” I am ready for this phase to end.
Shout out to other moms with picky eaters:
I would love to hear what has worked or hasn’t worked for you!
