My oldest child will try anything I put on his plate. If he likes it…he will eat A LOT of it. He has tried sushi, fried pickles, calamari…you name it and he will take a bite. I myself had been a choosy eater as a child so I was very excited to see him so eager to branch out and try new things. I should have known karma was going to visit me and bring me a second child more like myself…..10 times over!
Many kids scoff at veggies, don’t eat much meat or have favorite foods. My little man did not even try ketchup until he was FIVE! Yes, you read right…he was FIVE. I did what the experts say…offer it over and over until they try it. Well, this one might have set a world record. While most kids dip fries and nuggets, he would always refuse. Finally he caved in and now it is a staple in his diet. That is not to say he has tried much since then.
He has yet to take a bite of a hamburger or peanut butter and jelly. He whines when he sees vegetables on his plate and he picked off every sesame seed on a bun on our recent visit to Five Guys Burgers (it was a grilled cheese!). While I know he is healthy and that eventually he will expand his menu, it can be very frustrating in the moment.
I pledge that I will not fix him his own meal every night, but I am forced to make sure there is at least one item on his plate I know he will eat. At this point I can only sit back and wait for him to finally understand that everything new is not bad.
Anyone else with a picky eater? Any great strategies to get them to try something new? Help all of us out there struggling with these dear children. 
Tags: eating, food, kelly gump, onslow memorial hospital, picky eater, strategies
