Raising an Adventurous Eater 
7 Cures For A Picky Eater
Cooking Family Nutrition Tradition
A few weeks ago, I took our 6-year-old daughter out for dinner. She chose Japanese - chopsticks and all! At the end of the meal, the woman who had been sitting at the grill with us asked me how I did it, and that got me thinking about how we've raised adventurous eaters.
7 Cures For A Picky Eater
Cooking Family Nutrition Tradition
A few weeks ago, I took our 6-year-old daughter out for dinner. She chose Japanese - chopsticks and all! At the end of the meal, the woman who had been sitting at the grill with us asked me how I did it, and that got me thinking about how we've raised adventurous eaters.
Here's the short list:
We are adventurous eaters ourselves. Lead by example! I made their baby food. Whatever we were eating for dinner got put into the grinder, and that's what they ate too. (I believe this got them used to lots of different tastes, textures, and spices.)
There is no second option at mealtime. You eat what is for dinner, or you sit on your bed during the meal if you flatly refuse to even try. I read this tip in a book (can't remember which one) when my 12-year-old was little, and I've used it many times: If I'm introducing something new, I make a small amount of it and tell the kids I've made a special treat for daddy. If they ask nicely, and daddy is "willing" to share, they get to try a bite. If they like it, it goes into our regular rotation. If not, they do not perceive that being picky is tolerated. How ever old you are is how many bites of each food you have to try. (This works great for toddlers and preschoolers who are proud of age and accomplishment, 12 year-olds, not so much.)
If I am preparing something my kids absolutely cannot stand, and they have tried it repeatedly, I will occasionally allow them to have a bowl of cereal after we have eaten our meal.
The other key is variety! If you present a variety of fruits and veggies, grains and proteins, there will be something they can eat and enjoy at each meal.
Libby Wright, mother of four who homeschools, is an original founder of SupplementRelief.com in 2010. She suffered through challenging diseases including Interstitial Cystitis, Graves and Lyme. After years of little progress with traditional medicine, she pursued integrative medicine, applied what she learned, and got healthier. She became passionate about wanting others to experience the same "relief" she had come to know, and SupplementRelief.com was born. She is now managing her illness with a lot of prayer, a lot of nutrition/supplements, and a little prescription medicine. She has been able to resume her normal life and, while there is no cure for her particular conditions, she is able to cope, enjoy every day, and encourage others.
Learn more about Libby Wright.
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