Food quirks and kids
I was serving up some food at a little morning tea gathering recently when one of the mum’s asked me somewhat uncomfortably if I could do her a favour,
“Sure” I said, without looking up from my chopping, whizzing and serving.
‘Do you mind putting all of Katy’s food on separate plates for me please?”
That did make me stop. I looked up to see the obvious discomfort such a request had caused her.
“Of course” I said, “not a problem at all.”
“It’s just she doesn’t like different foods on the same plate.”
I could understand this actually.
One of my offspring has a real aversion to foods touching each other on their plate. So the sausages shouldn’t touch the vegetables and the vegetables mustn’t touch the sauce. That kind of thing.
I have seen many different issues parents have had to deal with when it comes to their children and food over the years. There’s my friend who endured stares and comments while her child was fed with a naso-gastric tube as they waited for a transplant. I have another friend whose child doesn’t allow “wet” food to touch dry food on the plate and still another whose child would deliberately vomit up food they didn’t like at the dinner table.
The thing is, these are all lovely and caring parents. Their kids are pretty well behaved little individuals. They just all have particular quirks when it comes to food. I put up with the one my child has because really it’s no big deal in the scheme of things.
I think as long as they are eating a well balanced and nutritious diet then do their food quirks matter? Mine are encouraged to eat a wide range of foods and to at least try what is put in front of them. They’re close involved in cooking with me and trying new recipes. If they don’t finish it that’s ok, but they have to give it a go.
How about you? Do tolerate food quirks in your child?
4 Member comments Post a reply
Does your child have certain food aversions? Sarah shares her experiences.
Read the full blog post: Food quirks and kids
Posted 31 January 2011 - 03:26 AM
I am about to start my 4 month old on some baby rice but he's tasted a few little things. I think he'll be fine, if only I could get my husband to try some new foods. He recently discovered pork, after years of saying "I don't like it" he had no alternative at a friends place, now we eat pork at least once a week!!! I think children should be encouraged to try new foods as our taste changes and things that taste awesome don't necessarily look great (chocolate? dolmades?). Forcing will only make them not want to try.
Posted 02 February 2011 - 03:35 AM
Looks like our son is going to be refilcilitated to a new school because the principle of Clifton Park Primary doesnt like us going in and sticking up for our rights as parents. Peoples children should be allowed to have a treat in their lunchbox without worrying about there teachers taking it off them what a pathetic reason to refacilitate a child. this is the principles only solution!
http://www.det.wa.edu.au/healthyfoodanddrink/faq.html#9
What areas are not in the policy?
Areas where the principal is not directly responsible for food supply are not part of the policy. for example, fundraising by the P and C and school fetes,
Surley this includes lunches and recess packed by parents!
How we pack for school is
Recess = fruit or goodie depending on what he wants to eat first
Lunch = sandwich, roll, salad or wrap sometimes with a juice box if he didn't get to them at home first
Recess = fruit or goodie depending on what he ate at first recess
Arnotts was contacted regarding the confiscation of the canteen approved amber national standard snack of Tiny Teddies honey and they do indeed have the national tick, so this means the school is stomping on parental rights! Apart from the snack the juice box is not allowed water only. . . How can I stick up for my self?
Posted 10 February 2011 - 05:27 AM
i'd love some advise on getting toddlers to try new foods. My two and half year old has had a restricted diet since about 20mths when she just slowly stopped eating food. We are now down to fruits, yogurts, bread and weetbix and of course any amount of junk she can get her hands on. She is involved in shopping, cooking, preparing food. We set a good example. she has a smaller sister who eats well and we praise that. she just wont try anything, no matter how many times she is exposed to it, shown it in a good light (the rabbit is eating the carrot etc). my one bug bear in life is mothers who pander to kids about eating (bet no child in Africa is a fussy eater!!) and here we are in the position that i hate the most! just have no idea how to move her on except get really tough and not give her anything else to eat other then food on plate, which goes against every instinct and must be a sure way to develop a bad relationship with food. we have tried getting her to kiss food, lick it, anything that will get her to try but to no avail. has anybody experienced this and if so how did you deal with it? do kids outgrow this? at what age? what should we do? please help.
Posted 31 May 2011 - 11:06 PM
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