Drat, kids and eating your food, what is it?! I was just enjoying some homemade ice cream cake that a friend had given to me when my 2-year-old Thor stopped by to climb on me, only to discover what I was doing.
“Ehhh! Ehhh! Ehhh!” he said to me (that’s what it sounds like when he’s telling me he wants something).
“Okay, you can share it with me.” I responded. Then he and I exchanged bites of what was left of the yummy vanilla ice cream, caramel and Oreo cookie dessert that seemed like the right thing to be eating on a very cold, white and snowy day.
How my kids eat
Thor
In actuality, this is how Thor gets most of his food. I’ll give him his own plateful of food and place it on the kids’ table, next to the kitchen table. He may pick at it a bit, then play, run around, pick a little more, and play some more. Other times he’ll just come over to me and see what I’m eating (usually the same thing). Then he’ll crawl on my lap and try to eat off of my plate.
For whatever reason, my food just looks that much more appetizing to him, even when it’s identical to his. I guess it’s like when you try someone else’s homemade soup, eggs or toast, and for whatever reason, it just tastes way better than yours, even when it’s the simplest thing in the world to make. (Unless you really do make the best homemade toast…then I’d like to try yours!)
Well, often I’ll end up finishing the food on Thor’s plate, to make up for what he ate off of mine.
Heidi
Heidi, our 5-year-old, is a whole different story. While Thor will eat just about anything I give him (he actually loves broccoli as if he’s in a Hidden Valley Ranch commercial), Heidi will only eat the same few foods each day, and does so on her own schedule. She’s healthy and tall because, fortunately, she drinks so much milk, but for the most part when it comes to food, she is our little “dairy princess.” She mostly eats macaroni & cheese, yogurt, cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken nuggets, applesauce, cereal, and crackers. And she eats them bit by bit throughout the day.
Kids and Eating
I know there are other kids like this out there (is yours one of them?), but it always surprises people when I say she’s never even tried a strawberry (or any berry), an orange, a hot dog, a hamburger, lasagna, and most vegetables. (Unfortunately, of course she loves cookies and candy, which we have to constantly say “no” to!)
I’ve ruled out lousy parenting for the cause, because I’ve tried everything with her (seriously…her pediatrician knows this)…plus, Thor eats everything that she doesn’t, so I’m hoping it’s just a weird thing she’ll grow out of. In the meantime, she just keeps getting her Disney Princess vitamins, and I’ll keep offering her new foods…sigh.
Other circumstances to kids and eating
I won’t complain, though, because I know there are families with difficult situations like food allergies and Celiac disease, and food is truly a challenge. (I have family and friends with dairy and wheat allergies, and I know it’s tough for them!) All families experience food differently in their homes, and we should be grateful as long as our kids are happy and healthy.
Kids and eating. My response: Whatever!
