If you would call yourself a foodie, then it can be a little disheartening having a kid who just flat out isn’t into food like you, especially if they’re a picky eater. And yeah, picky eating can make a completely normal parent feel like they’re one rejected blueberry away from losing it. Of course, this is more prevalent in toddlers and preschool-aged children (hopefully not older than this).
Like one day a kid loves toast, and then the next day the toast is wrong because it’s cut funny, looks weird, or touched the wrong thing on the plate. And yeah, that’s what makes this so exhausting. It’s rarely just about food. It’s about hitting the end of a long day, already tired, already tapped out, already out of patience, and then having to act casual while a tiny person treats something they don’t like to eat as if it’s the end of the world because their emotions are regulated yet.
And so, as you can probably see here, that’s exactly why picky eating feels so personal sometimes. Parents are out here trying to keep their kids fed, healthy, and not surviving entirely on beige food. But it takes some patience and maybe some realism for parents to (thankfully) overcome this.
Yes, Dinner Can Turn into a Battle Really Fast
Well, this is probably the most relatable part. Dinner starts off normal, then somehow turns into a weird little power struggle. One bite becomes a negotiation, and this is almost every single day. Well, maybe every single meal is like this.
So, instead, that pressure just needs to be lowered. So just put the food out, keep one familiar thing on the plate, and try not to make the whole meal revolve around “please just try it.” Easier said than done, yeah, sure, especially when a parent just wants the child to eat something with an actual nutrient in it, but making dinner feel tense usually makes picky eating worse, not better.
Progress Usually Looks Super Small
As in so small, it feels like it’s pretty useless and meaningless. And of course, this part is so frustrating, because parents want progress to look obvious. Like, they want the kid to try the carrot, realize it’s fine, and move on with life. But a lot of picky eaters just don’t work like that. Actually, it can take up to 17 times of exposure before a kid will consider eating something they originally didn’t tolerate. And it doesn’t guarantee after 17 times they’ll eat it either, it’ll only be given a chance, and it’s still technically progress, but it feels so horribly small.
Sometimes, Going Out to Eat Can Help a Little
Eating out can be its own whole situation, because most kids seem deeply committed to the same lineup in public: French fries, chicken tenders, plain noodles, end of story. Well, just take a look at the kids’ menu, it’s almost always the same thing. But even so, going out can still be useful. Honestly, even at pizza places, kids get to see different foods on the table, watch other people eating, and get a little more comfortable with meals that don’t always look exactly the same. Besides, everyone loves pizza, so introducing new toppings can get them more comfortable.
No, that doesn’t mean restaurant night is going to turn a picky eater into some adventurous little foodie. But sometimes it helps take the pressure off and makes food feel less loaded than it does at home.
Leave a Reply