Finn is a picky eater. Its very frustrating. If there is something sitting in front of him that he does not want to eat, he will whine and fuss until he has annoyed everyone at the table. I will make him try new things and he will sample foods before he leaves the table, but he'd prefer to go hungry before eating something he doesnt like. When he was younger (like age 3-5) he would often throw up food when forced to eat something he deemed undesirable. It was probably around that time that I began catering more to his tastes than I should have.
The crazy thing is that he used to be a wonderful eater. When Finn was a baby he would eat anything we shoveled into his mouth. I remember a time when Finn used to eat potstickers! The idea of him doing that now is laughable.
If you ask him what his favorite food is, he'll reply "white rice." He could probably eat that every day and be totally content. Its hard to summon up more foods that he'll eat. However, I can write a huge list of things he wont.
What Finn will not eat:
bread
vegetables
peanut butter and jelly
eggs
chocolate
oatmeal
anything with sauce on it
ham
bananas
red spaghetti sauce
cereal
cheese
Honestly, I could go on and on. Its depressing.
Lately, I have been super frustrated because feeding Finn breakfast is an absolute chore. For the longest time he would eat yogurt in the morning. He's over that now and honestly I dont blame him. Yogurt was his breakfast du jour for years. He will sometimes eat a waffle, but only when its plain. He stopped eating that a couple months ago. About a year ago I got in the habit of feeding him normal food for breakfast. Pasta with butter. Dino nuggets. Mini pizzas. He would eat that stuff and I would feel satisfied sending him to school with a good meal under his belt. But lately, Im over it. Its so hectic in the morning and I have so many thing to do. I want him to eat something quick but nutritionally sound. For example, I dream of him eating an english muffin or toast. That would be awesome! Or cereal. Cereal and milk. I would love that.
The picky eater thing is a chore. But what really bums me out is the thought that Finn will miss out on experiencing great tasting food. Finn will never experience how savory a street taco topped with onions, cilantro and guac can be. He will never taste that awesome combo of lime and peanut that Thai food brings together. He'll never dare to try sushi or a pulled pork sandwich or chingale or my mom's enchilladas. Its such an incredible waste! There is a world of incredibly savory foods out there and he's going to miss it all. And for what? Another plate of white rice? Ugggh. Its just so sad.
I have a picky eating too Lisa. When Grant's friends take him somewhere the parents usually know that we will feed him before he goes. He does not eat fast food. He is pretty close to being a Vegan, which makes life difficult unless we are at home. He could live on, and sometimes does, edamame, chocolate soy milk, and salad with ranch only. He has just now, at 10, started to try other things. He often spits them out but he will try. He hates sauces and cheese as well so "hiding" stuff is out of the question.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope as they get older their palates will mature and change. If not, it will be their problem by that time, not ours!
Lisa, I have an eater like that too- however, since he has gotten older and he has been having lunch/dinner at friends houses he has decided that he likes things that before he wouldn't touch. There is hope...
ReplyDeleteI had picky eaters just like Finn - but look at Matt & Kris today, and you will think just maybe one day Finn will like the foods that we like.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, just hand in there! Love you.
he will someday sample all of those things, i am sure. jeff was INCREDIBLY picky as a kid. and i think just as stubborn as finn about it. and now you know he will eat anything, including the most questionable scary asian food you can find! haha
ReplyDeleteim with you on the frustration. its really hard. all i can say, having kids that run the gamut, is that they all go through varying phases at different times. what seems endless and hopeless will TOTALLY turn around with time. its not worth the fight for me. they eat it or they dont. they know im disappointed when they dont. they know how proud of them we are when they do. thats about where i stop.
breakfast-what if you made some type of chart and if he eats a normal breakfast he gets a sticker and after 5 stickers he gets to eat whatever he wants for breakfast for one day? EVEN A POPSICLE. make it a fun crazy game, what can he think of for his one special day?
someday we will all be toasting a yummy street taco and a beer, i bet you anything!!! :) :)
tara
Thanks for your comments everyone.
ReplyDeleteIts nice to know Im not alone.
im crossing my fingers he'll grow out of this.
I never eat a normal breakfast! Breads for breakfast are a fast way to a stomach ache for me. Give me protein...last night's leftovers are the only way to go!
ReplyDelete