Picky Eater - Chandler,AZ

My son is picky. Has been since he was a baby.
No biggie.
He is 6 now, and is, all by himself and naturally.... expanding his palate.
We never force or punish or reward or bribe, about food or eating.
Doing so just gets a child into dysfunctional "emotional" eating.
We just go by our son's cues.
I don't make special dishes ONLY for him... I cook normal as usual and there will always be something there that he will eat.
And he knows... himself.
He also KNOWS, when he is "hungry" or "full." A child needs to know their body's cues, for hunger or fullness. He grows well and is healthy and is developmentally great... and per our Pediatrician... even if he is "picky" he is great. Why? Because, as our Doctor says, our son KNOWS his body and his cues, for hunger/fullness. And that, is healthy. And we never make him eat... ALL and everything on his plate. Nor do we threaten to take food away and go to bed starving, if he does not eat ALL.

We do not make eating, an issue.
We do not battle about eating or about foods.
Nor do I make foods all cutesy.
I cook. He eats. Fine.
It is not about emotionally... eating or eating to please, another.

Remember: NO adult, eats the same way they did as a baby or as a Toddler. EVERYONE.... changes, in palate and in what they like or don't like. Eating is not static or permanent. Unless it is dysfunctional eating. No Teen, Tween, college kid, adult, elderly person... has eaten the SAME way all their life since they were a baby or toddler.

So no fret.

I have my own food likes/dislikes. We all do. I don't expect my kids or Husband to eat JUST like me. But I cook. And they eat. Fine.
And keep in mind, that appetite levels changes everyday, and per a child's growth spurts or not.
It is never, static or the same everyday.

My son, even eats "exotic" foods. That even some adults, won't eat.
ie: Poke (a Hawaiian raw fish 'tartare' type of dish), and Lau Lau (another Hawaiian dish), and artichokes, and asparagus. He likes clams too. I didn't force these foods on him or make him try it. He just, all on his own, expanded his palate and likes it.

Also keep in mind, that the serving size for a Toddler, is quite small. ie: a tablespoon, for example. It is not in adult, sizes.
And, some kids or people, are "grazers." Meaning, they eat, small amounts throughout the day. And this is actually healthy. Versus, some people eat tons at one time per plate, per meal.

My tip is serve her small portions of what you are eating. But show no emotion and don't get upset if she does not eat it. Don't make it into a power struggle. If she does not eat and dinner is over then she has to wait till breakfast.

She won't eat when she gets hungry, she'll just get sick. So as much as you want to teach her to eat better there is a line that separates being a dictator and being a smart mom.

I say fix foods she'll eat then put a tiny bit of something she hasn't tried yet on a separate plate. I know that if I put this bit on the same plate that I'm probably not going to get the kids to eat a single bite.

Food is not something we should fight with the kids about. It only teaches them that food is power, that's the basis for future eating disorders.

She won't starve. She will eat when she is hungry. My Pediatrician told me this with my first one. I Have 5 and none of them starved. A few went to bed hungry, but they sure ate a good breakfast with no complaints.

Don't stress about it. This is very common, almost "normal" at this age. Lots of times they are holding out for the stuff they really like. Other times, it is just resistance to trying new things. All that cutesy stuff never worked for my son. Children are "picky" for a variety of reasons, and it's not because of processed food. That is a totally sepperate issue. I don't believe in ever letting a child go to bed hungry. No, they wont starve but that is a pretty hardcore approach, especially for a child so young. Just keep offering and don't force. Eat a variety of food yourself and let them help cooking. So if she wont eat what you serve, give her another healthy option.

By the way, maybe she should see a "consular".

Could be a growth spurt?? I recommend cutting back on fluids. No juice or milk, just water. My now 3 1/2 yr old son did the same when he was 2 and the doctor said it was common. Good luck to ya!