PICKY EATERS—MY KID ONLY EATS 5 THINGS

TODAY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PICKY EATERS.

WHY IS THIS SUCH A HARD TOPIC?

WE HAVE THIS DISSONANCE—A GAP BETWEEN WHAT PARENTS WANT FOR THEIR KIDS AND WHAT THE KIDS ARE CHOOSING

IT IS ONE THING TO HAVE SOME TOUGH LOVE OVER CLEANING ROOMS AND DOING CHORES AND QUITE ANOTHER TO HAVE POWER STRUGGLES OVER WHAT THEY EAT.

WHY DO YOU THINK THE ISSUE OF BEING A PICKY EATER IS SO VISCERAL AS PARENTS—WHY THEY WANT SO HARD TO GET IT RIGHT?

WHERE DOES THIS VIEW ORIGINATE FROM?

WHERE THE MOM CUTS THE ENDS OFF THE ROAST AND THE DAD ASKS “WHY” AND THE QUESTION WORKS IT’S WAY BACK TO HER MOTHER AND THEN EVENTUALLY HER GRANDMOTHER WHO CUT THE ENDS OFF THE ROAST BECAUSE THAT IS HOW IT FIT IN HER LITTLE OVEN.

BECAUSE GRANDMA OR FURTHER BACK CAME FROM A DEPRESSION-ERA INFLUENCE WHERE THEY HAD FOOD SCARCITY AND UNCERTAINTY, THE VALUES PASSED DOWN AROUND EATING ARE MUCH MORE STOIC IN HAVING TO EAT WHAT IS FRONT OF YOU BECAUSE THERE WERE NO CHOICES

BUT ISN’T IT IMPORTANT TO HELP KIDS EXPAND THEIR PALATE TO INCLUDE A WIDE VARIETY OF FOODS TO HELP THEM BE HEALTHY?

HOW DO WE MAKE A PARADIGM SHIFT?

HOW DO WE HELP A MOTHER WHO FEELS PRESSURE TO KEEP UP THE BATTLE?

WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS WITH BATTLES OVER FOOD?

HOW DO WE KEEP THEM HEALTHY?

Start with making your only rule—No tears at the table.

NICE MOTTO, BUT WHAT IS THE METHOD TO HELPING PICKY EATERS BE HEALTHY?

THERE WILL BE SOME OVERLAP BETWEEN THEIR CIRCLES THAT MIGHT BE COMPROMISE FOODS LIKE CHICKEN NUGGETS, PEANUT BUTTER AND HONEY SANDWICHES, MAC AND CHEESE AND YOGURT

SO YOU HAVE TACOS FOR DINNER, THE CHILD HATES TACOS, WHAT DO YOU DO? ARE YOU ASKING PARENTS TO MAKE DIFFERENT MEALS FOR EACH CHILD?

THEN THEY ALL SIT DOWN AS A FAMILY TO EAT TOGETHER—MOST WITH THEIR TACOS AND ONE WITH HIS PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH.

WHICH BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT: WILL GIVING LATITUDE TO ONE CHILD AFFECT OTHER KIDS?

DO YOU TELL PEOPLE TO EVEN FORCE KIDS TO TRY ONE BITE OF SOMETHING?

WILL THEY EVENTUALLY GET BETTER?

THEY WILL EAT MORE FOODS SOONER IF YOU DON’T FIGHT ABOUT IT.

WHAT ARE THE MINIMAL GOALS FOR EATING? YOU TALK ABOUT MILK, MEAT, AND MULTIVITAMINS REGULARLY

ANY COMMENT ABOUT EATING FREQUENCY

IS THIS HARD TO DO AT SCHOOL

DO YOU GET MUCH PUSHBACK ON THIS

ANY GOOD BOOKS ON THIS TOPIC

Jessica Seinfeld: Deceptively Delicious—getting your children to eat wholesome food