The Picky Eater

When it comes to feeding your family on a budget, nothing will kill a game plan faster than a picky eater. When you are grocery shopping, you must keep an open mind in your purchases since prices change so quickly. Sometimes squash is the cheapest vegetable. Other times, frozen broccoli is the best option. Spaghetti versus lasagna. Chicken versus pork. Whole milk versus skim milk. If you have a child who immediately shoots down new or unknown foods, you may find yourself forced into purchasing more expensive options to feed your family.

Every parent knows the challenge of combating the picky eater. There is the worry of whether or not your child is getting enough nutrition. You wonder if you should offer them an alternative meal. No parent wants to force their child to eat and no parent wants their child to go hungry. It is truly one of the most difficult challenges of being a parent, hence the overabundance of books and websites on the subject.

For me, it comes down to one simple principle: be grateful.

In our house we hold to a strict grocery budget. In order to make that work, the children must eat what we offer them. Our children should be grateful that they have food to eat at all.

Obviously people have certain foods that they genuinely do not like. My husband cringes at the idea of coconut. I would rather starve than eat sausage. It is important to take this into consideration. However, if your child is refusing to try new foods or only gives them one chance, perhaps it is time to open their minds:

• Remind them often that they should be grateful. If they are older, consider having them volunteer at a food bank. Also try encouraging them to say grace to thank God for their food.
• Serve variety. Odds are your children do not hate every food you offer. Switch up your menu regularly. I stay with the rule of one whole grain, one vegetable or fruit and one protein at every meal. As long as I constantly switch up each item, my children are bound to eat grains, produce and protein every day. This combats my fear of malnourishment.
• Don't cave in when your children will not try a dish. Being open-minded is a learned trait that will help them immensely through life. They should learn to try new things often, especially food. Imagine sending them to a friend's house only to hear that they whined to the hostess that they did not like the food and refused to eat unless offered something else. If it flies at home, children may think it will work anywhere they eat. Encourage open-mindedness and make them at the very least try every new dish.
• Involve them in your menu planning, shopping and cooking. Seeing the process you go through to ensure healthy meals will help them appreciate the food you serve. It also may trigger their curiosity and lead to excitement about food.
• Start early. If your children are still very young, introduce a variety of textures, colors and flavors as often as you can. Turn taste-testing into a fun and colorful game.
• Sneak it in. If all else fails, sneak in some extra nutrition. Never lie to your children about what you are feeding them or you may lose their trust completely and leave them questioning each meal. But if they do not inquire as to what is in the spaghetti sauce, try not to offer the information until after they have tasted the meal and given their opinion. Kids need more vegetables? Try pumpkin muffins, spinach spaghetti sauce, or shaved carrots tossed in a casserole. Protein and iron giving you problems? Lentils can be flavorlessly added to almost any dish. Whole grains? Bake cakes using whole grain flour or offer popcorn for a snack.

Purchase foods within your budget and make sure your children understand that they should be grateful for what they have. Not only will you help them eat a balanced diet as a child, but you will be teaching them a lesson they will carry with them through life. It is a difficult battle, but what part of parenting is easy?