You know you’re a mom when the most exciting news you have to share with your friends is “He ate ASPARAGUS!”. But it’s big news in my house, right up there with “She finally went pee pee in the potty!”. You guys, HE ATE ASPARAGUS, and BROCCOLI, and CARROTS! WAHOO! Anyone who knows my son and our struggle in this department, knows my excitement. He has had texture issues since birth, and after a short stint of pea and green bean loving when he was two, has never let a vegetable pass his lips. If he did, it usually resulted in losing his lunch. But we kept trying, and to my amazement, he now loves them…steamed no less. Want to know the secret? I promise it has nothing to do with spending an hour working to make vegetables look like a cartoon. Catch me after the jump, I have a list for you!
First, a list.
Then I will reveal the big secret. Here are a few of the things I have picked up from reading various articles, advice from friends, family and doctors. This is a list of the ones that helped.
- Always Dish It Up. “Just keep offering” was what my son’s Doctor had to offer when I pleaded for advice on the matter. That’s all you have for me?! I remember thinking. I wasn’t very good with this. Knowing that there wasn’t a chance he would touch it, I would often leave it off his plate, trying to avoid the frustration all together. Until I read the next tip…
- Enforce a one bite rule. I read this idea in a magazine years ago, and started it right away. You have to have at least one bite of everything on your plate. Mom and Dad included. Now mind you, having a son with texture issues, this often back fired on me, but I persevered. It was that one bite, that one night, that he decided he actually liked asparagus.
- Let them pick it out at the store. I think I read this on a blog somewhere. The idea is to let them pick it out. Tell them they get to pick their most favorite vegetable, put it in the bag, and even weigh it (for some reason that is big fun in our world). When you prepare it that night, let them help. Let them wash the vegetables. Ask if they think it needs some seasoning, or maybe some cheese, but let them take the lead. When you serve it up make sure everyone knows that this was all their doing, and make a big to-do out of it.
- Don’t tell them what they do and don’t like. I actually did this the other night. We were out to dinner and I asked my son if he wanted broccoli and he said no, he wanted apples. I replied “But, you don’t like apples.” At the store the next day I was picking out some apples and he said, “I don’t like apples, huh mom.” palm to the forehead moment
. This one often comes from the older kids in the house too. Make sure they know not to remind the younger ones what they don’t like. It just affirms the idea in their heads. - Don’t underestimate them. My two year old has never been as adverse to vegetables as her brother, but I still underestimate her. I had made a spinach vinaigrette salad one night, and didn’t even think to offer her any, surely she wouldn’t like it. I was wrong. She asked for a bite, then preceded to eat the rest of mine plus some. Who would have thought?!
Now for the big secret….
Just Keep Trying!
I know, so generic. But really that is it. Don’t give up. One night they will take that bite, they will keep chewing, and possibly even ask for seconds.
One last thing, and this one comes from my husband, but I think there is something to it. When they do take that golden bite, don’t make too big of a deal, or make a big production out of it. I had to fight my urge to bring out the string confetti and fireworks, but my husband was there kicking me under the table. I am glad he did!
Okay, now it is your turn. What tips do you have? Did you have that golden moment? Do share, I can promise their is a parent out there needing to hear it!
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I think your husband is right about not making a big deal about it! The other night my daughter actually ate a piece of carrot and I was shocked and made a big deal about it. Then it was like she realized what she was doing and stopped and just stared at me. Oops! Now I can’t get her to eat the carrots again…but I will keep trying
I think everything you said is such great advice. I took baby carrots to the pool the other day for part of my lunch. When I pulled them out my little girl asked for one. I almost said “you don’t like these” but I stopped myself & gave her one. She at 6 of them!
We always make her try 2 bites. Two because sometimes the spits out the first one because she wasn’t expecting the change in texture. So we get her to try it a 2nd time & if she still doesn’t like it we move on.
Thank you so much for sharing this. My 22 month old has had texture issure from birth as well and it is so difficult!! I could write alot on this topic. I have to pack his meal no matter where we go and it is a quite limited diet. Plus he can only tolerate some dairy! Anyway. I am lucky enough to be aquantances with an OT who is a specialist in this exact thing. She has helped alot.
That is my first suggestion. Find out what OT in your area specializes in Sensory Processing Disorder with food and eating. She has saved our lives.
The biggest key for us has been lowering our expectations of how much and what he is going to eat and not being afraid to serve the same thing over and over. Slowly add different textures until they are eating what is satisfactory to you. Add one mooshed up pea to an entire bowl of food then the nexttime two then slowly but surely you add more and then bigger chunks. It is called the just right technique. You give them just enough of the new stuff that they know its different but it is not offending. THis is a long slow process but it works and will pay off.
If any one has more questions I would be happy to share. It is difficult. Know that you are not alone and there are ways to improve it.
We do the one bite rule too… Rest assured we’ve spent a LONG TIME at the table some nights.
My 2 yr old LOVES smoothies. So, I throw some strawberries, banana, really whatever fruit we have on hand and some yogurt in the blender and mix it. But my latest trick? Adding raw carrots/veggies and getting them totally pureed, then adding fruit. The kid can’t tell the difference, she sucks it up just the same. And, BAM, like that 10 baby carrots down her! ONE point for mom!
Blimey, well done you (and kiddly-winks). You are right it is SO easy to just not put the said item on the plate and be done with the ‘blach’, ‘yucky’ ‘I don’t like……’ moments, but slowly it works here too. May be it is being around older children who do like xyz, may be something else…who cares.
We had success with a taste of chicken the other day. Now it was just in his mouth and out again, but the point being it actually went IN his mouth (and then out again, but IN!!!)
One other thing we have found is that children may very well like only steamed carrots or raw asparagus… in our house veggies are good but apple has to be peeled, as does cucumbers and apples from the fridge so they are cold and juicy and carrots loved raw……
hoorah and banners and trumpets and strings and anything else for you…. in your head, celebrate like crazy – I sure am!
Smiles
x
We play the “there is a secret ingredient”. This is especially great for the older kids. It prompts them to taste everything, chewing and savoring each bite as they attempt to guess the “secret ingredient”. I don’t tell them what it is in or what it is so they have to try everything. It is also a great way to introduce a new spice or seasoning technique to your meal times. I have used everything from sugar to chocolate to cinnamon to capers to anchovies in my meal prep. We make a BIG DEAL when the secret ingredient is guessed and they have at least tried everything offered for the meal.
We start with the “3 tries” rule. They need to take 3 bites of whatever it is that they think they don’t like. They don’t have to be big bites, but they have to take 3 bites – one to taste, one to make sure, and one to make really sure
. When they get older they have to take a big spoonful. My kids still have food likes and dislikes…. and they are all different. My oldest (9) dislikes some meats and casseroles but loves vegetables and beans. My second (6) dislikes vegetables, especially peas, but loves meat and most casseroles. My third (4) dislikes ground beef, beans, and broccoli but likes pretty much everything else. He is probably my most adventurous eater (he likes mixing dips like ketchup, honey mustard, and regular mustard together to dip grilled cheese sandwiches in….go figure). They still fuss when I serve them stuff they don’t like but because we have been consistent and everyone gets a turn eating “something they don’t like” we have experienced success. I also agree with helping them cook with you and we talk a lot about nutrition and what being healthy means. Every once in a while when I am preparing the shopping list, I will ask each of them what they want for dinner. That has helped too. One thing that is for sure…. it is an ongoing process!
once they have that a-hah moment, you can use it LATER to remind them “remember honey, you used to hate carrots, and now that you are growing up into a big kid you like them! Maybe someday you will like broccoli if you keep trying:)” it helps when enforcing the one bite rule.
Yes! And, now I can add carrots to my list
it seems that once the ball starts rolling, it just keeps rolling. Now I just hope he keeps it up!
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