Reply to What worked for your picky, picky, picky eater?!?

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[quote=Anonymous]OP, I have two kids who will eat anything and two who are picky. For one of the picky ones, the food issues are very clearly both sensory/texture in nature and anxiety-related. His list of accepted foods is pretty respectable but he is very rigid about it--has typically hated to try anything new, won't touch any sauces, won't let foods touch etc. He has really serious anxiety (generalized anxiety) and I think, as others have said, that controlling his environment is a way to feel less powerless. What I have noticed this year--as he has had made huge strides emotionally and his anxiety is lowered--is that for the first time since he was toddler he has tried new foods! This week he ate zucchini, last week kale, the week before gravy! He volunteered for all! I absolutely can't believe it.

If you think there is an emotional-anxiety component, I strongly recommend you do not punish him for food refusal. Try to keep everything very positive. I am not saying that he should get dessert regardless--do whatever your family rule is but don't make a huge issue of it. Even though it goes against my parenting philosophy in so many ways, I have instituted little rewards for trying new things (anything new, not just food) and it has really helped my son. He needs extra support/incentive because anything new is overwhelming. Often once he is over the initial hurdle, he is very proud of himself and willing to try it again.

My other son is totally different, sweetest, most complian t kid you'll ever meet. He just won't eat dinner unless it is meatballs, chicken nuggets or pizza--which I almost never serve. I figure he gets enough calories throughout the day and don't stress about it. He has eaten dinner once or twice a week for about two years now. So to those who think a couple of days of not catering to a kid solves everything... you haven't met my kids![/quote]

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