LO just started solids last week. So far she only likes squash and sweet potatoes. I have tried bananas, oatmeal and peas. No luck. I know it can take up to 10 times for them to finally like it, but that seems like a lot of trying and a lot of wasted food. I hope eventually she ends up liking more than just orange veggies. Does anyone know if it's possible to raise a non-picky eater from the beginning, by introducing a variety of foods? Or at this age (she is 5 months), is there anything you can do to start those good habits?
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I think the best thing to do is what you're doing. Keep introducing new things to them. If they don't like it try again at a later date. Maybe try it in different cooking methods. So far M has tried more food than my FIL has in his lifetime! The only things she doesn't like are bananas! Tried 3x. Will try it in muffins are cookies next.
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I have the least picky eater. We did BLW and started at 6m, but he didn't really consume anything until 7m. I made eating a total non-issue. I put stuff on his tray and let him explore. If he doesn't want something I don't react at all, he'll just get it the next day or a few days later. He started to drop food on the floor (ahem, throw) around 10 or 11m and I end the meal immediately with no reaction at all. I think the key is to offer variety, things that taste good (like seasoned, but not with salt), and to just make it fun.
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I don’t have any scientific evidence to back this up (haha), but I think one of the best ways to avoid a picky-eater is to lead by example. If your kids are eating little portions of what you eat; I think they are probably less likely to be picky. If you eat a very limited diet, or make a big fuss about eating certain foods; they will notice that at some point. I also agree with seasoning food, and preparing in ways that best highlight flavor.
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If it makes you feel better, my LO did not like bananas the first few tries. I was shocked because I thought everyone liked bananas, certainly all kids. Fast forward several months; LO is almost 14 months and has a banana as part of his daily breakfast and sometimes asks for a second one. He will literally eat anything now. For lunch today he had spinach stuffed chicken, shredded Brussel sprouts, peas, and mushrooms. Your LO may be a banana lover soon too!
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@yoursilverlining: I don't know..... my LO actually eats a lot more food that I don't, and she tends to not like the same foods that I like.
I honestly just don't think there's anything you can do. I offer LO a variety of food (food that I do and don't like) at each meal, she eats what she eats, and what she doesn't like I don't make her eat. She knows what she wants before she even sticks it in her mouth. I don't know how she knows..... but if she doesn't like it or want it she hands it back to me and that's that. I try again with the next meal.
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Hmm..that's a tough one. I think once they hit the toddler age, they just eat what they want to eat! I was so adamant about making sure my son wasn't a picky eater. So I made him fresh, organic, homemade purees, meals and snacks every day. He was a marvelous eater until he hit the 2 year mark. And then everything just went downhill. I guess he started developing his taste buds and started rejecting some foods that he used to love! Even now, we make sure he gets a variety of tasty and healthy meals/snacks but he won't eat anything except for rice, seaweed, fish, soup and anything crispy/battered. And the occasional pizza. I have to prepare his meals every time we go out and eat because he won't eat anything at the restaurant! We never pushed him or forced him to eat. He just became picky on his own.
So I think kids just develop their own tastes buds over time. In the meantime, just keep feeding him a variety of different foods and textures and make mealtimes fun!
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Well, my LO is a super picky eater and I did/am doing everything I can to circumvent that. We offer him new foods all the time, as well as a wide variety of every food group, and DH and I eat tons of meats and vegetables and cook meals of every ethnicity. I think there are some things you can control, and picky eating isn't...at least not for my baby!
Some added info: we started with vegetable purees, then fruit, them meat and full fat / Greek yogurt. He ate really well in the beginning. We started giving him table foods pretty early (6/7 months). Every day is hit or miss with this kiddo but he's a great self-feeder...he just chooses to not eat a lot of things!
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First, 5 months is very young. Many or most babies aren't ready to eat real food at that age. Secondly, it takes more than just a little while to establish good habits. Her rejecting them now probably doesn't mean much for later. Just keep offering them a bunch of good stuff, and little to no 'bad' stuff. That's all you can do.
True picky eating isn't something you can control, though. It isn't a reflection of your parenting.
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Liam was weird about food until about 7 months - he'd like something one day and not the next. Now he eats almost anything!
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9 comments