Homesteading Forum banner

Made some progress

1K views 25 replies 11 participants last post by  cfuhrer 
#1 ·
Anyone who has read my posts,knows I struggle to get one of my kids to eat anything other than garbage food. Well I have finally made progress. For example tonight we had spaghetti and meatballs to which I hid spinach,red bell pepper and mushrooms in the sauce. He was given a choice for a vegetable side of either peas,mixed vegetables or green beans and he chose mixed vegetables with shredded cheddar on top. Then he had applesauce as another side instead of cantaloupe. So he got servings of vegetables and fruit. Pretty big deal if you knew him. Hoping that by giving him choices as to which vegetables or fruits he wants with dinner, that we can continue making progress
 
#5 ·
I find the whole "choices" thing amusing.

When we were kids, mom made what mom made, breakfast, lunch and dinner. She did sometimes ask what we wanted, and was glad for the suggestions. But mom made what mom made. We were free to eat it or not eat it but weren't given a buffet of options. It was usually an entree and two vegs, three occasionally, with the chance of some kind of simple dessert most days, which was often a piece of jelly bread.

It was not a restaurant. We did not eat off of a menu. We did not have a tantrum if we didn't get what we wanted. And occasionally, someone didn't eat everything offered. None of us starved. And none of us were scarred for life. And none of us have been to see Dr. Phil because our parents abused us as children and force fed us what they ate. LOL!
 
#9 ·
I find the whole "choices" thing amusing.

When we were kids, mom made what mom made, breakfast, lunch and dinner. She did sometimes ask what we wanted, and was glad for the suggestions. But mom made what mom made. We were free to eat it or not eat it but weren't given a buffet of options. It was usually an entree and two vegs, three occasionally, with the chance of some kind of simple dessert most days, which was often a piece of jelly bread.

It was not a restaurant. We did not eat off of a menu. We did not have a tantrum if we didn't get what we wanted. And occasionally, someone didn't eat everything offered. None of us starved. And none of us were scarred for life. And none of us have been to see Dr. Phil because our parents abused us as children and force fed us what they ate. LOL!
Same when I was a kid,you ate what there was or went hungry
 
#6 ·
I'm with you on that one. In my Dads house you ate what was served and you had to have a little bit of everything or you could elect to go to bed hungry. He was very diplomatic. I raised my 3 children the same way. Last time I visited my son and his two boys we had lunch together, he had the same rules for his children. Everybody ate what was served. I was so proud of him, his boys both have different drug addicted moms and he fought for out right custody and was awarded it. He wasn't the easiest to raise and had his own drug and legal problems, but at 26 yrs. old he is finally a man.
 
#7 ·
Had to chuckle a little when you started talking about the boys, catsboy.

I married my wife a little later, when she had two teenage kids. Rough time. Both had their issues with drugs at the time, one some alcohol, but they've both turned into pretty decent people. The younger, a son, we really wondered whether he'd ever amount to anything. He moved across the country to be with his girlfriend when he was like 18 or 19. But he kinda surprised us. He ended up going to college and getting his education in something like computer generated animation and he's quite good at it. Got a job doing what he likes. Married the girl. (She's turned into a really awesome person, too.) And we actually have a pretty good relationship at this point. I think he's early 30's now and I think he's gonna be OK. Daughter turned out pretty well, too. She got pregnant and started out in a rough place. But she made the best of it, got some education and a decent job, married the guy, and had two more. Relationship isn't quite as good on that side but they're doing OK, which is a good thing. We're civil and we tolerate each other... wish it could be a little better than that but not sure it ever will be. Just glad they're all doing OK.

Ya just never know what's gonna happen. Seems like something clicks on some of 'em, they figure stuff out, and they turn out just fine. Others, it never quite clicks.
 
#18 ·
Having to raise my girls after divorce I can't tell you how much I sympathize with you.
The fact you continue to try without becoming an evil stepmother is great to hear. Appreciating the fact he's a teenage boy (one of the dumbest of all God's creatures) and not a rational adult I think will make a world of difference down the road even though it's stressing you now. Regardless of what he learns from his mom he is also learning from you and his dad, whether he embraces it now or not, remember that and enjoy every little victory.
 
#20 ·
Having to raise my girls after divorce I can't tell you how much I sympathize with you.
The fact you continue to try without becoming an evil stepmother is great to hear. Appreciating the fact he's a teenage boy (one of the dumbest of all God's creatures) and not a rational adult I think will make a world of difference down the road even though it's stressing you now. Regardless of what he learns from his mom he is also learning from you and his dad, whether he embraces it now or not, remember that and enjoy every little victory.
Thank you I hope someday he will appreciate it. Also trying to teach him how to cook now so he can make more than top ramen when he moves out lol
 
#21 ·
I my self find life and living it, to provide A WHOLE LOT OF WORK, no way I would be cooking or expection my wife to cook special meals.
Ya eats what set on the table for a meal or starve to death I could care less as I have provided. It was the kid who refused to eat.

Was the way I was raised so is good enough for my children too.
Part of todays problems are people model coddling kids. Spare the rod and spoil the child and make every one around miserable too.

Restaurants should have brat free area, I mean children Less areas for those of us who would take them to the parking lot for a meeting with authority.


:D. Al
 
  • Like
Reactions: Oregon1986
#23 ·
The sense of taste is very different in children.
The basic tastes are
  • Sourness.
  • Saltiness.
  • Bitterness.
  • Umami.
  • Pungency (also spiciness or hotness)
  • Coolness.
  • Numbness

  • The fact that they dislike sourness and bitterness and love sweet is actually evolution at work. Our ancestors learned to stay away from these tastes as they were most often poisonous. Kids in general love Umami which does support those who believe humans have always been carnivorous and omnivorous.
  • I don't know if you garden or not but we have found that all kids we know who were picky eaters changed completely when they became involved in growing their own fruits and veggies. Pulling carrots right out of the dirt and eating them when a carrot on a plate made them cry.
My parents were from the "eat what is put in front of you" school but they also started us on all foods at a very, very early age. We never knew what it was to not have multiple veggies , meats, cheeses, sauces etc served to us. I never liked meat but still had to eat it until I was old enough to make a choice about being vegetarian.
 
#25 ·
The sense of taste is very different in children.
Tastes are also much more vivid/intense/pronounced in children.

If I cook my son's egg (no salt) in the pan after my husbands (little tiny bit of salt) my son wil ask why I put salt on his egg.

So things like bell peppers and tomatoes have a much more intense flavor for my son than they do for me.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top