I was a picky eater as a child. My cousins like to remind of the phase I went through when I wouldn't eat green food because it was my favorite color. (Just for the record, that wasn't really it. It was because I hated most green foods. Especially lima beans. And broccoli.)
Naturally, I assumed that my own children would not have to rebel in this way. I wouldn't demand that they eat their vegetables, I would simply present them with healthy choices and eventually they would find fruits and vegetables that they liked.
Karma is such a bitch, isn't she?
My children are worse than I ever was. They don't even eat pasta or cold cuts, let alone vegetables. The only fruit Ironflower eats willingly is apples.
So we decided to try a more forceful strategy. Now they can't be excused without trying everything on their plates. We figured that if they tried enough new things, they'd learn to like some of them. According to the parenting magazines, it can take 20 tries. We knew we'd have to be consistent and persistent. We were prepared for that.
We were not prepared for Ironflower, however. At 5, Ironflower has the will of an Olympian. An Olympian who refuses to eat any vegetables. Recently we've been working on baby carrots. (Do not tell me about dipping. The child won't use any dip but ketchup, and then only on some kinds of french fries.)
Is one bite of carrot really such an unreasonable request?
The child has refused the carrot 4 times now. Each time she has not been excused from the table. She has stayed there until bedtime. FOUR TIMES.
I mean, she's KNOWS we're serious. She KNOWS that we're not going to give in. And yet. . .
She won't take ONE FREAKING BITE OF CARROT.
We've had the same issue with peas. And green beans. And pears.
But carrots, dude. Even I liked them as a child.
Anyone got advice they can pass on before dinner this evening? Because I'm getting kind of desperate.
