Here are some of the steps we took.
Be Persistent and Consistent
We told, or warned, our son ahead of time that there would be no more restaurant style dinners. We would all be eating the same thing. Once you start, don't give up and don't go back or the next try will be even harder.
Take Time and Gradually Increase Portions
Those first dinners were rough. My six-year-old son would sit at the table, pouting face on, long after everyone else had finished and the kitchen was clean. He had to eat his required five bites before he could get up, or he just went to bed. Once he saw we were serious, he would eat, not happily, but he ate. He's usually (but not always) still the last one eating, but it's during regular dinnertime now. After a while of five bites (and they were very, tiny bites) we increased it to ten and then half of what he had and we're still working on all that he's been served.
Take Others Advice, With a Grain of Salt
Many people will be happy to tell you what to do. You know your child better then them, so listen and weed out the good stuff. Some advice that I like and that worked for me was….
- Keep offering. Your child may not like it at first, but as they grow and their tastes change, you'll be surprised at what they eat.
- If they say they don't like it, give them more. This quiets the whiner a bit if you follow through.
- You have to try at least one bite of everything, without spitting it out. This expands their horizons a bit.
Expand Your Pallet Along With Your Child's
Get out of that ten meal rut. With the Internet it's very easy to find recipes from other cultures, with different spices, and different meats and vegetables. Try new things. Take and adventure around the world through food. Don't forget to put on your best face and set an example. If you turn your nose up, what do you think you're child will do? You'll be surprised at the things your child will eat and you find you like.
Once You Discover What Spices or Flavors Tour Child Likes, Run With It
Say your child likes Tex-Mex flavors, you can make everything from chicken to fish to vegetarian meals with these flavors. Again search engines are extremely helpful with this task.
Praise Tastes of New Food
I was pleasantly surprised to see that my son, who previously would gag at foods he didn't like, actually started to try new things on his own accord! Not too often, but occasionally, he will come as I'm cooking or in the kitchen and ask to taste something. This was a huge deal.
Let Your Child Cook With You
This can build excitement and your child may be more apt to taste their own work. Even better, grow a vegetable garden and let your child taste what he's grown.
Don't give up. You and your child are on your way to saner meals. Just expand your horizons and keep trying.
