I understand from my mother that I gave her some difficulties when it came to eating. Apparently I did *not* approve of junior baby food. The story has been handed down unto the next generation. It did not, however, help me when I had to go through the same thing.
Our eldest daughter had a few foods she wouldn't eat as a toddler, but not many. She enjoyed most foods, and I thought that was great! So, we avoided pureed green beans and broccoli and all was well.
Younger daughter was another matter entirely. It was kind of a shock, as she was very like her sister as a baby, but when she got old enough for regular table food, we had quite the fight on our hands. She would rather be hungry than eat things she did not like. And she did not like a lot of things.
We tried everything. Perhaps she had trouble reaching the table, so my husband bought a booster seat for her. Maybe the silverware was too big, so we bought special silverware just for her. It improved slightly, but not much. In fact, the only way we could get her to eat for several months was if one of us fed her.
It took her getting old enough to have the words to tell us what the problem was. One of them was oil. She did not like oily foods or foods cooked in oil. I'm from the South, and at the time, most meals involved at least one cast iron skillet. Boy did I have a lot to learn.
I'm sure we aren't the only parents who have had to deal with a picky eater. I can't tell you that all picky eaters have the same issues, there are several that could be the problem. Here are a few and some ideas you might try. Some I've tried and others I've found from talking to other parents. Whenever the issue has come up on news programs, we are assured that the child will probably grow through the problem without health problems, but...
Control: There are two possible reasons control could be a problem. The child may be trying to control you. A few do, for whatever reason. That's one best decided by someone who understands child psychology.
However, the child may be trying to control him or herself, to begin to express individuality. This can be handled, usually without to much fuss. If your little one will only eat three or four different foods, it won't hurt a lot to let them eat that. Rotate which of those limited items are on the table and try to introduce more foods.
Taste: There are several foods I detest. In fact, I'd rather skip a meal than eat them. Kids are the same way. Some are supertasters, which makes eating them torture. Very young children may not have the words to explain the problem, and they come off as brats.
Allergies or Sensitivity: These are two separate issues, but are usually lumped together. When a child dislikes a certain food, it is possible that their body is trying to tell them something. I listened to that with the girls. I suspect our younger daughter is allergic to chocolate, as she never liked it.
Sensitivity is harder to explain, but I'll use the example of younger daughter and oil. There are foods she'd eat cooked any other way, but the minute they're cooked in oil, bam. Also, I found that she can tell the difference between how the oil is produced. Cold pressed oils are much more tolerable.
Heat: With this last one, I don't mean hot by fire. Young taste buds are a lot more sensitive than adult ones. I remember how much I hated black pepper and raw onions as a child, but I love them as an adult. If the food you are making is on the hot side for whatever reason, the child may not be able to handle it.
Picky eaters don't have to be a problem, as long as you pick your battles. Find out first if there is a good reason for the problem, then work on dealing with any issues that might require some discipline.
While children cannot use all herbs, there are a few that can be used once they are over two. My main eBook discusses a lot of herbal remedies, some of which are safe for children. Here is the link to my site: http://healing-home-remedies.com/. While there, you can download my free report, the Top Ten Herbs. It discusses the uses, side effects, precautions and drug interactions of popular herbs. If you have questions, you can e-mail me at mary@healing-home-remedies.com.
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