Wednesday 28 September 2011

Mealtime madness

Sometimes I think I’m not cut out for a life of responsibility and routine. I shouldn’t be in charge of sustaining people even if they are under three feet tall. Between five and seven most nights, I re-think this whole gig. I block out people with real problems and get a little pity party going for myself. I wonder why every little thing has to be so hard.

Mostly I resist the urge to think long on darker realms like vengeance and karma, but on occasion I do find myself fantasizing about a day when Deaglan will have a picky eater for a child. I try to visualize his face when after he toils over French toast or pancakes, lovingly adding cinnamon and strawberries; his little cherub screeches inconsolably that he hates French toast.

I smile with a little satisfaction knowing karma could kick in, gift him with a finicky little buzz-kill who only eats chicken nuggets and hot dogs. I imagine his sense of panic every night trying to come up with nutritious lunch box ideas because his kid gags at the thought of sandwiches, chicken, vegetables, egg salad. Hamburgers. Steak.

Conversely around six o clock those same nights, watching Naveen gobble down whatever I put in front of him, I have two thoughts: He’s officially my favourite again.

And how will we ever afford our mortgage and groceries when this kid comes of age?

Do you have a picky eater where you live?


13 comments:

  1. My husband is a picky eater. Does that count? Donut so far will eat whatever I give her--except broccoli. Ironic b/c that's the one veggie my husband will actually eat!

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  2. Mine were the same. I had one who ate everything and one who was so picky he wouldn't even eat the food he did like if it was touching each other on his plate. I learned to not worry. They don't starve. When they're really hungry, they'll eat. It's one of those things where I learned to pick my battles lol.

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  3. We have one picky eater and one that will eat anything. There are pros and con to both. For now, I'm just glad to have them both.

    Cute photos of them enjoying the apples.

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  4. No picky eater, yet. My son devours everything in sight and then asks for more. Like you, I'm not sure how we are going to be able to afford to feed him when he becomes a teenager!

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  5. I have one that eats everything, one that eats some things, and one that is picky. Last night the picky one gagged when he tried a piece of roasted acorn squash. Then he spit it out on his plate. I ignored the whole thing, and figured, well...at least he tried it!

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  6. Ha! I have a VERY picky 5 year old. It's Eggos for dinner almost every night for him. I have just come to accept it. I was very picky as a child too, and I remember my parents making me sit at the table until my plate was clean (hours), and I ended up storing the food in my cheek and spitting it out in a napkin or the toilet.
    I love your pictures :)

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  7. What a roller coaster this has been at our house over the last 5 years. It changes! Currently B is eating lots at dinner (hungry from Kindergarten maybe?) however he will only eat Jasmine rice, french fries, bacon, cheese sandwiches and PBJs.
    And b, who was eating anything is now not eating anything - except bacon and pink milk. LAWDY!

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  8. I have to admit that I was pretty lucky in that department when Amy was little. But a teenage daughter is a whole new creature. Gone is my partner in food crimes-she actually wants healthy food now LOL!

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  9. My older son was fairly reasonable and my younger son would eat absolutely anything, even as a toddler. I mean kalamata olives, brie, coffee - anything. But I was a supremely picky eater as a child and didn't fully outgrow that until I was an adult.

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  10. I have 2 out of 4 picky eaters. I can't tell you how much stress I am having lately with Ms. Jillian. I pray that she expands her menu somewhat soon.

    That last picture is beautiful :)

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  11. I can't call Marlie a picky eater because she eats so many things that other kids wouldn't touch with a haz mat suit on like beets and celery and quinoa. but she goes through phases were she no longer wants her favorites so we take them out of rotation for awhile. then they are like brand new foods when we reintroduce them.

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  12. Maya was a picky eater. For 5 minutes. And then I put my foot down! I realized I had to take action. So I stopped buying the chicken nuggets and started buying things like smoked salmon, edamame, and sushi. And guess what? She loves all three now! Sure she isn't thrilled with the carrots but she knows she has to eat them anyway. Most of the time it's without a fight!

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  13. Oh, that must be so crazy-making!! Noah is about 50/50. He has a variety of foods that he loves, but most of the things Devin and I like, he doesn't. I've learned how to work around it, but it was a pain for the longest...praying that you find your food-serving balance my friend. :)

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