This incident started nagging me this morning when I was making breakfast for everyone. I asked Dulaney if he wanted pancakes or biscuits and he said biscuits. Well, then Cory chimed in that he wanted gravy too. So, I set to work making biscuits, gravy, and eggs.
When Dulaney asked what I was doing, I replied, "making biscuits and gravy." He said, "I don't like gravy." Before I could say anything, Cory told Dulaney that he'd never even had gravy and he needed to try it before saying that he didn't like it. Now, this is the hard part for me. I'm a very picky eater and do not try things very easilly. Cory knows this and it drives him crazy.
I do not like biscuits and gravy, but I have tried them before, so it's not like I'm just being picky.
I'm beginning to wonder how fair it is to make my kids try things or eat things that they say they do not like when I'm so finicky about what I eat. I do not eat cooked vegetables at all....with the exception of broccoli, corn, and certain variations of potatoes. It is a texture thing and since cooked veggies get mushy, I do not like them.
Most of you know that my parents raise my daughter and she is the world's pickiest eater and it drives me crazy. She's even worse than I am. My parents do not make her try anything before they make her a separate meal. I do not want my other children to be like that, but at the same time, I don't want to be one of those people who is like, "Clean your plate or else." Is there a good middle ground?
How fair is it to make my kids eat these things when I don't? I do think they should try them, but what about making them eat them after they've tried them?
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Comments (30)
@scrambledmegzntoast@hardestlevel - You realize that carrots, potatoes, and pretty much most vegetables grow in the ground. I actually wouldn't try mushrooms either until recently and found out that they are really good. Food is important because if my kids had their way they would eat crap all the time and no veggies ever. It is the parents' job to be responsible enough to introduce their children to healthy food. But thanks, you answered my question on whether or not I'm being a hypocrite. I may be being a hypocrite, but at least I'm responsible enough to teach my children good eating habits.
@MangoWOW@xanga - yeah I realize now that it doesn't say up there that I try foods now. I don't know if I didn't put that in there or if Momaroo deleted that from the original. I used to be insanely picky and thanks to my husband "making" me eat new things I like a lot more now. I've actually gotten to where I try things on my own because I'm curious. I just want my kids to eat healthy and not be picky like I was. Sometimes I do put things on my plate that I do not like so that my son sees me with it. If he asks, I will take a bite, but normally he doesn't pay much attention, so I let my husband eat it for me...lol. Sorry if I sounded mean in my reply earlier. I didn't mean to.
@scrambledmegzntoast@hardestlevel - You are just ignorant and immature. "I weigh 114 pounds, I play softball, basketball, skate, and snowboard and I am probably in far better shape than you." How immature is that? And no, you're probably not. I weigh 110 after three kids and am in great shape. I do karate with my son and work out. You obviously didn't read my post because I said that my husband is the one who wants our son to try new foods and I wish that my parents had. Most children will not try healthy foods on their own. And as far as insinuating anything, you are the one who said that your parents didn't make you try anything. You obviously don't have kids and are an immature child, so why are you even reading Momaroo's website? Grow up.
@scrambledmegzntoast@hardestlevel - And you just proved my point with the name calling and the cursing. How immature. I didn't call out your parents, you pathetic child. You are the one who brought them into it. And no, my children love me and will be glad that I did things with them and taught them what to eat and what not to eat. But good job proving how immaure and disgusting you are. Did your Mommy teach you to talk like that too?
@scrambledmegzntoast@hardestlevel - I'm sure she's real proud of how you turned out. I'm sure she's turning over in her grave going, "Oh my God, my daughter is horrible." Grow up and mature a little more before you say anything to people about parenting you petulent child.
I would always put a spoonful of whatever veggie or whatnot we were having. My kids ate it or not. I didn't make a big deal out of it. Usually they would eventually try it. Sometimes they would even like it. Now that they're older they love veggies and fruits, and are willing to try new foods. Just don't make an issue of it.
The rule in our house is that you have to try everything at least once. If you still don't like it, then you don't have to eat it, but there will not be another meal made for you. The only exception my mother has ever made was when I was going through puberty and meat literally made me sick to my stomach. Even then, the only thing she would do differently was taking some spaghetti sauce out of the pot for me before she added the meat.
This has always worked really well for my family. There's the occassional blow-up from my five-year-old brother when he doesn't want to try something, but it always gets dealt with in a calm matter, so he usually ends up trying the offending food. And, if he still doesn't by the time everyone's been done for ten minutes, he just doesn't eat that meal. Now, I know there's going to be some parent who's going to say this is child-abuse, but, we're middle-class North Americans, it's not like he's going to starve.
Maybe try this with your kids? It really does make things easier for their friends' parents when they go over and have a meal at someone else's house.