Reply to How long to make picky eater sit at table and eat?

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[quote=Anonymous]I made a deal with my picky eater at age 7.  I would cook one meal (previously had been short order cooking) and picky eater could eat it or not eat it.  If the meal was eaten, picky eater got a dessert.  I don't serve dessert mostly because getting an evening meal on the table is enough work without also planning a dessert.  I promised that the dessert would be a real dessert -- a portion of ice cream, cookies, a popsicle, etc.  I promised that the dessert would not be a non-dessert to a kid like fruit and yogurt.  If the meal was not eaten, picky eater was promised an acceptable meal replacement, but no dessert.  So, if the served meal was one picky eater was unwilling to eat, I made a grilled cheese and fruit or served some mac'n'cheese or some other known quantity.

I know all the food people are recoiling in horror at the bribe, but it is the only thing that worked.  Picky eater looked forward to trying new things and became *much* less fearful and anxious about new food when given some autonomy and some incentive to be open minded.  And when the meal was a fail, picky eater asked for a replacement and was given one with no argument and *never* tried to wheedle dessert.  The best part is we have really left behind the bribe.  We don't need it anymore.

If I were you, OP, if your kid did not want to eat the meal, I would put it in the fridge and bring it out later if a snack was requested.  Our family would only stay at the table for the length of a normal meal.  We wouldn't wait an extra 30 minutes for a kid pushing food around.[/quote]

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