My picky eater eater fewer things than yours. We just take him. He does not have sensory issues or any other issues - he is just stubborn. He eats
Asian - plain rice, sometimes noodles
Mexican - plain tortilla or chips with shredded cheese
American - soft pretzel appetizer, hummus appetizer, pizza, or a smoothie or milkshake (he doesn’t like burgers, fries or chicken nuggets / tenders)
Steak house - bread/rolls, dessert (doesn’t eat potatoes or any veggies)
Brunch - pancakes and bacon
Indian - plain rice, plain naan

We definitely go out less and to fewer places than we would if he actually enjoyed trying new things, but we’re not depriving his sibling of experiences because he is so picky. We try to balance the two kids’ needs and we can’t always just each take one and do our own thing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a certain age that restaurant would not allow us to bring outside food for picky eater with limited diet?

Yeah, the age they are eating anything other than breast milk or formula in a bottle. You are very rude to think it's ok to bring outside food into a restaurant.

Restaurants are in business to make money? If you can't eat their food, stay home!

It’s also a health code issue.

We have a rule in our family that you have to eat off the menu or we can find you a babysitter to stay home. Ordering ‘off the menu’ can be sides but more than just French Fries or white rice. We rotate restaurants to keep it fair for the picky eater. She loves to go out to eat and this has kept her trying new things. At home, different story...

Go to the restaurants you want, but try showing him the menu ahead of time to give him more time to think about what he can eat ahead of time.

Also try exposing him to more foods at home by serving unfamiliar foods alongside new foods (this really helps my son feel less anxious about trying new things).

I was a picky eater as a child. I often ended up eating plain bread (I hated butter -- it made me gag like other dairy did) at the resto while the remainder of the family enjoyed their meals. I did not starve but in no was i catered to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family is like this except it’s me and DD who are great eaters and DH is picky AF and will only eat American food. Basically burgers and pizza and some Chinese food, because seafood is “smelly” and any meat that isn’t fried is “gross.” I try to accommodate DH sometimes, but I’m not going to deprive my DD of developing her palate because a 41 year old man can bring himself to eat some vegetables or fish.

Sorry, I meant I won’t refuse my daughter just because a 41 year old man CAN’T bring himself to eat like a normal person. Because he’s not. He will just go out and eat plain rice or pasta and gorge himself on junk food later.

Is he in good shape? Active, energetic, emotionally balanced? Asking because I can’t imagine a deep-fried diet without vegetables does not sound sustainable. He will eventually regret the consequences to his health.

No but I’ve found you can’t really change people. He’s also aggressively defensive which I’m tired of so I live and let live.

My mother is exactly like the picky, defensive DH here. She had a horrific upbringing. I never linked the two until I read a study that did.

Anonymous wrote:Is there a certain age that restaurant would not allow us to bring outside food for picky eater with limited diet?

Yeah, the age they are eating anything other than breast milk or formula in a bottle. You are very rude to think it's ok to bring outside food into a restaurant.

Restaurants are in business to make money? If you can't eat their food, stay home!

He's a picky eater because you give into the demands of a 6 year old! I put dinner on the table and this was their.only choice. Three children and not one a picky eater at home, anyone else's home, it a restaurant.

My kid is a picky eater and also doesn’t have much of an appetite. He is now a teenager and rail thin - always has been. He has gotten a little better each year, and now he can go into any restaurant and eat a little something, enough for bare bone politeness. But there was no force on earth that could have gotten him to eat most foods at 5 or 6 - he melted down into a wailing puddle of goo if forced. Unfortunately he was also pretty hyperactive and sitting at a table for more than a few minutes was really hard.

We kept trying, and usually walked a middle road - restaurant had to have a kid’s menu, but besiythat we didn’t cater. He could eat or not, and since the whole experience was supposed to be fun we ordered dessert no matter what. We always brought toys so he could play while we ate. And he could have a PB&J when we got home. Make the eating out experience as stress free as possible and maybe she’ll branch out - in any case You’ll all enjoy it more, which is the point.

Anonymous wrote:Just don't eat in restaurants.
Eat at home. Restaurants are not nice places for kids

Why? I wouldn't stay at home to eat all the time because of a picky kid. If kids are even halfway behaved, there's no reason they shouldn't be exposed to restaurants.

OP, as a previous poster noted, there’s almost always something a picky eater can/ will eat at a restaurant.

Steak house? Fries and crudités. Most will also have plain chicken, hamburgers, etc. Bread and butter.
Sushi? Steamed rice and veggies. Tempura vegetables.
Indian? Again, plain rice. Naan. Some may give you plain yogurt.
Asian? Most can give you again, plain rice, or noodles. Some will be able to stir fry or steam some vegetables.

Is there a certain age that restaurant would not allow us to bring outside food for picky eater with limited diet?

Yeah, the age they are eating anything other than breast milk or formula in a bottle. You are very rude to think it's ok to bring outside food into a restaurant.