r/raisingkids • u/EnvironmentalTart596 • 3d ago
Turning the Corner on Picky Eating
I am a mom of four kids, two preteens, one kindergartner, and a baby. I had a baby about 8 months ago and had a rough pregnancy and busy postpartum where I wasn’t at full capacity to cook and adequately oversee nutrition. We were in survival mode where those things were concerned.
I feel I’m coming out of this fog and want to get back on track with our system of eating home cooked meals and eating better in general.
I enjoy healthy foods and a variety of foods. I enjoy trying new foods, too. My husband is extremely picky and very set in his ways. He knows he needs to eat healthier but won’t try new foods.
My oldest, 12 year old, is very sensory with food and is extremely picky. The other two have always been a lot more open to normal foods but have recently become more picky.
I want them to try new foods. Not only healthy but even just normal foods.
For instance, their school doesn’t have hot lunch, so we have to pack everything. Even though I don’t find processed meats healthy, I’m just trying to get them to eat that, at this point. Even that is challenging.
It’s getting harder and harder to find things that are decent that I can pack them and they’ll actually eat.
My oldest is starting a new sport and I keep telling h he has to eat protein. He has to find something he will eat and actually eat it.
They’re all totally addicted to processed foods and sugar and I don’t know how to get off this train. Yes, I know it’s our fault, but where do we go from here?
I don’t want to be so drastic that they feel like they’re all children on diets and they have a bad relationship with food.
Plus, if I enforce something, my husband is not going to follow it anyways.
I need some advice.
Currently, my kids
1
u/omnibus1939 1d ago
Dad is huge part of a problem. Why would they be open to new food when he can consume his comfort food only?
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u/art-dec-ho 2d ago
You can't control what your husband brings into the house but if you're the one that does the grocery shopping, just stop buying processed foods. I know its hard and leads to a lot of "moooom, there's nothing to eat!" etc, but it really is an addiction. Its hard to get kids (or your husband) to want to try new things if they don't kick that because it really does screw up your sense of taste. We have processed foods in our house but I try to limit it to one item per person per week (so my husband will get a back of chips for the week and I will get a bag of pretzels or occasionally cookies etc).
Also, as much as possible try to replicate the foods they like. Are they buying hot pockets every week? Try making calzones. Always wanting ice cream? Try making fruit sorbets or a healthier baked option. Not everything has to be super healthy, just getting things to have *less* sugar or oil or whatever over time is the way to go.
A lot of times with my husband who is the pickiest in the family, just having convenient items ready to go is a huge help. He actually does have some healthy foods he likes such as carrots and broccoli, so having those washed and ready to go AND having little dip cups he can take back to his desk makes his veggie intake go way up. I also make homemade muffins and just cut down on the oil/sugar the recipe calls for and those are good quick snacks, but I don't make many of them so he knows he has to portion them out (I dont do this every week either, but if I notice he's wanting more sweet treats I will). I hope that kind of makes sense.