My Tot, The Picky Eater

As a parent you will learn that you no longer have anything that is solely yours anymore. Now I see why parents hide their favorite snacks around the house or indulge in their favorite chocolate bar while their child is away at school. This reminds me of the time when I was younger and my mom had some kind of snack and my sisters and I asked her for some she said, “Its nasty, you’re not going to like it.” Not realizing my mom’s desperate attempt to hold on to something she can claim for herself, we believed her. Throughout the weeks that passed we kept discovering this snack in the house yet again and again and again. Then we asked her to share and she told us the same thing, “It’s nasty, you’re not going to like it.” Well as wise as children are, the wheels in our brains began to turn and one of my sisters responded, “If it’s so nasty, then why do you keep buying it and eating it?” Triumph!!! Score!!! The children have won again. As we took pieces of her snack, which became “our” snack, we said, “No, this tastes good!” I didn’t understand why my mom would say such a thing, until I became a mother and I can honestly say, “Mom, I get it.”

Ever since she was born, she loved to eat. She would not skip a meal and would even add more meal times within the day.  After she began eating solid foods, it didn’t matter what mommy or daddy had, she claimed it as hers. With her mouth wide open and eyes that pierced through your soul, she would stare at you until you were cast under her spell. Feeding her food that was intended for yourself became a common routine. Whether my food got cold from feeding her first or I was still hungry because she ate half of my dinner, it didn’t matter because my main thought was that at least she was eating. And once she learned how to say, “more” forget about it.

Now that my little one is older her desire for food has changed. She still eats but she no longer has the same appetite that she once did. I really want her to eat like she use to because I am constantly wondering if she is getting enough food in her little belly? Thoughts such as this race through my mind and I try to do my best to make sure she has a variety of food throughout the day. Either she has taken on one of my traits and has become a picky eater or she is just being a toddler I don’t know but either way, especially as a new mom I am constantly concerned with her eating habits. I have a picky eater problem myself. If the food doesn’t look good, smell good, taste good, or the presentation of the food is not presentable then I cannot indulge. Even if the atmosphere where the food was prepare is not sanitary/clean looking, sorry I can’t eat the food.

My daughter eats all day, throughout the day, but I never think it is enough because I guess I am comparing how she use to eat previously, when she was younger. Now she rips off her baby bib and desperately wants to feed herself, which takes forever. But, I have to just suck it up and no matter how long she takes at least she is eating. A great deal of patience is in order, especially when you have a toddler who loves to play with her food. She now enjoys putting strawberries in her hand and squeezing all the juice out of it. "Uh, you were suppose to eat that!" She also likes to pour her juice on the floor so she can get the paper towel to clean up after herself. So basically, she makes a mess so she can clean it up. Which really means, so I can clean it up, but it's all good. The messes don't really bother me as much, all I care about is her eating and being a healthy tot. I have to also try to keep in mind that a toddler stomach is not the same size as an adult. So my little one may be too full to finish her whole plate of food. I am trying to keep her away from too much sweets because she will try to consume all the sweets and as a result is too full to eat healthy meals.

I must think of creative ways for mealtimes that will interest a toddler. I can’t believe that I even have to go through all of this. Why do I have to work so hard to get someone to eat? But, it’s worth it to make sure I have an interested tot. One thing I have read and heard from my doctor is that children will not go hungry. No matter what they will make sure they eat if they are hungry. So no matter what, your child will not allow themselves to starve. When you prepare food for your toddler they may not be in the mood to eat or they may not want the particular food that you are feeding them. Yes, you will learn that they have preferences. I don’t force my baby to eat because that will leave her with bad experiences that she will begin to associate with food. I saw an article about making sandwiches for lunch and using a cookie cutter to make star designs out of the sandwiches. I saw someone cutting fruit to resemble a cartoon character which also peaked my interest- something I will try. I just have to be consistent, take it one day at a time, and do my best to try to make mealtimes fun.

How do you make mealtimes fun for your picky eater?