Raising a non-picky eater when I am a picky eater...

just_peachy

This is going to be hard.

I have problems with tastes and textures so it has made me a very picky eater over the years.  I won't eat certain things that are mainstream like certain veggies and fruits ....even soup makes me gag at times.

How would I expect my son to not take after momma in this area?

I feel doomed.

 

MarMat

oyy that's hard...

maybe following after his daddy's steps.. and offer him although you don't eat everything?

I have no idea... I'm just like you but in terms of exercising... I have to start to set an example, but haven't done it yet.

PiRSquared330

can you slowly start to make yourself eat those thing?

SMA!

My DH's mother is incredibly picky.  She hardly eats any veggies (carrots, lettuce and green peas) but growing up DH says that she always made them and required her boys to eat them even though she didn't touch them.  Neither DH nor his brother are picky eaters, far from it, both are pretty adventurous.  It actually encouraged them to learn how to cook so that they could eat things that their mom wouldn't think of. 

rebus82

Don't make a big production out of foods you don't like. Prepare foods that everyone enjoys, and add stuff you don't like to LO's food to get him to try it. Say you don't like olives (DH and I hate them) - you can order olives on LO's pizza or subs, and he gets them without really noticing that you aren't eating them too (this is what we do, and B loves them). If LO does ask, you just explain that you don't enjoy that specific food very much, but a lot of people do so he should try it because he might like it too. Always encourage him to try new foods, but don't punish him if he doesn't want to eat them. 

This goes for pretty much everything. You can easily alter pasta sauces, salads, side dishes, etc. to accommodate your preferences while still including new options for LO.  

And if your SO isn't a picky eater, encourage LO to take after his eating habits. Show him how much daddy enjoys certain foods, and underplay how much you don't like them.

 

PiRSquared330

This is said in a 100% non snarky way:

 

But if its not that easy (just forcing yourself to gag it down) then have you considered therapy? It sounds like it might be a deeper issue.

 

I wish you the best of luck. H used to struggle with that when we first met. Luckily he's been able to force himself out of it, but I realize its not that easy for everyone.

DEBBIE33CASEY

Yikes.  Not sure of the advice to give because I agree with pp, it's kind of one of those "lead by example" things.  If you really cannot eat some of the things you're trying to feed LO I would try to keep that from him.  Not that I would suggest being dishonest to your kids, but if you can at least convince him that you're eating it then maybe he will believe it, and then follow in your footsteps. 

I would be careful not to verbalize your feelings about all of the foods you dislike. He is listening. Keep exposing him to all sorts of foods and don't automatically give in when he doesn't appear to like it.

I am an adventurous eater but still have my boundaries of what I will and will not eat.  But even when it comes to things I don't like, I try not to verbalize that to DD.  I don't want to influence that incase it's something she might really like. I'd hate to deny her that.

Good luck!