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S/O: Kids being 'picky eaters'

What are all y'all's thoughts on this? I don't have kids, but from what I've observed, kids will eat what they see their parents eating and what choices they're given.

Ex.: I have a friend who allows his kids to eat nothing but white pasta, pizza, chicken fingers, mashed potatoes with gravy, french fries, etc. And then he's surprised that the kids are called 'picky eaters' and that he can't take them places because there's nothing on the menu for them to eat.

Ex.: My brother and SIL don't believe in coddling my nephew. He eats 'grown-up' food (unless they're splurging and having shrimp or something) and he eats what they're eating. If he doesn't like something about it that's changeable (i.e., he prefers his pasta sauce on the side, not on the pasta), they'll allow that, but he doesn't get to have something entirely different. If they're having spaghetti, he's having spaghetti.

Thoughts?
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I'm gonna go with 'not my circus, not my monkeys.'
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Re: S/O: Kids being 'picky eaters'

  • I was the pickiest eater as a kid, and not for my parents lack of trying. I just didn't like it. In my defense, I would at least try it before I said I didn't like it. It's a texture thing for me. 

    I do have to brag on my cousin's three daughters. I went out to eat with them last weekend, and the oldest (7) and youngest (3) ordered a salad instead of fries, at their own request. These are the same girls that don't eat Halloween candy. Their parents never really gave them a lot of sweets when they were younger and you can tell. I definitely think parents have the option to lead by example. Some kids, like me, may not follow, but I do think parents have the responsibility to teach their kids healthy habits.
  • You managed to cover bio mom and me both in the examples you gave.

    FI's son is a ridiculously picky eater and I have been fighting an uphill battle. Prior to living with me if it didn't come out of a freezer or a drive they it was not food and he wouldn't eat it.

    I cook every night and its usually fairly healthy. If I can modify it slightly like sauce on the side fine, otherwise that is what is for dinner and no you can not have pb&j, cereal, cookies, etc if you chose not to eat. He is slowly opening up to real food, but there is still a limited menu of things I know he'll eat. Although I finally for him to actually like brussel sprouts (thank you bacon!)
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  • Like Scout, some things are a texture issue for me so when we have kids, I'll try to be understanding about it.

    My parents didn't often make concessions for us.  We had to at least try the food.  If we refused, the food was still there for dessert and if we still refused it would be there for breakfast.  I was a stubborn kid but even I didn't have yucky hours old veggies many times before realizing I should just eat the food when it was fresh.

    I can promise this: when I'm a mom and cooking dinner after work, I will not be making more than one meal....
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  • afox007 said:
    If I can modify it slightly like sauce on the side fine, otherwise that is what is for dinner and no you can not have pb&j, cereal, cookies, etc if you chose not to eat.
    My parents once told me I couldn't leave the table until I finished my plate. I ate everything but the porkchop. I sat there until it was my turn to take a bath. They never tried that trick again :)

    To this day, I don't eat pork. I don't like the flavor at all. I finally started eating meat around 12, and now I will never turn down a steak. 
  • It depends on the kid and her mood.

    I was a picky kid and when faced with the "east this or nothing" I chose nothing.

    DD was picky and still is. Lunch is just easy with her often wanting a PB&J but I can give her quality ingredients that she'll eat. She wants noodles all the time but we still expose her to other things.

    Still, the kid won't eat a veggie unless it's hidden in a smoothie and she's thrown temper tantrums when it's not too her liking. I rarely give in but it can be really tiring to reason w/ a 3 yo especially when you're fighting the urge to collapse in your first trimester of pregnancy. The kid picks out the fresh basil from tomato sauce and says, "I'm not eating the herb!!!"

    Basically, it's about making smart choices. She also knows that she won't be rewarded with treats unless she eats and if that means minimal dinner before bed, the kid won't starve. But I still won't make her eat a ton of broccoli either.
  • My niece isn't bad, though if she doesn't like it, she just doesn't eat it.  My Brother/SIL don't allow dessert (when they do have it) unless she eats her dinner.  She'll often tell you she doesn't get dessert cos she didn't finish her dinner, so she knows the rules.  She's totally ok with not eating the sweets cos she didn't eat dinner.  Both kids tend to eat whatever the adults are getting

  • When my daughter was younger, I would cook a little different, making more kid friendly foods.  However, I would also (not on a schedule or anything) introduce things like hummus, pesto, various fruits and veggies, and other things that you wouldn't find on a restaurant kids menu.  The rule has always been that she has to at least try everything on her plate.  As she has gotten older, I amended the rule to: if I serve it you eat it, but feel free to let me know your thoughts.  If she doesn't like something I either don't make it, or tell her I won't make it too often.  

    It also helps that my daughter is multi-cultural (she's Latina) and in an urban setting, because by age 5-6 she had tried Indian food, Mexican food, East African food, various Asian foods (my step sister and her mom's side of the family are Korean).  She definitely has her favorites and they all involve cheese, but she's a trooper about trying new things. 
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  • I was a picky eater as a kid, in that there were many foods I refused to eat. My mom and babysitter more or less gave in fed me chicken nuggets and other terrible food so I would eat at least something (Doctor kept saying I was underweight as a kid, My grandparents actually paid me a dollar every time I gained a pound) . Once I got to being a teenager, I ate what was provided or went hungry. Or made my own dinner. Late high school/college I got alot better.

    I hated trying new things as a kid, and from what I can remember, our family meals weren't all to healthy to begin with. I'm hoping that with our future spawn, I can get them off to better eating habits by eating better myself (better then I was, still working on it though) and being able to control the food they are exposed too (within reason, I know I can only control so much) 

    I'm slightly worried about what to do if they pick up FI's eating habits. He was also a "picky eater" who refused to eat certain foods (his mom apparently had to get a certain pasta dish for him or he would not eat, and would only eat at dinner) and now, he'll eat gargantuan amounts of food, more because he can then actually being that hungry.

    I was such a brat as a kid, I fear what motherhood will have in store for me. :(
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  • I think you all raise good points. Certainly if the kid is exposed to something and doesn't like it, that's one thing.

    I think with my friend, what astounds me is that he's never made his kids eat green veggies -- he doesn't make broccoli or spinach or whatever, and then he's surprised when his kids (ages 11 and 13) won't eat them and won't try them.

    Nephew definitely doesn't like some foods -- like guacamole, for example. He tried it after I had made it and said, 'Yuck, sour!' and won't touch it. But he'll try anything you put in front of him, I think because that's what he's been used to his whole life.
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    I'm gonna go with 'not my circus, not my monkeys.'
  • I used to babysit the daughter of a well known chef and there were always gourmet leftovers in the fridge when I came over, but the daughter refused to eat anything except mac and cheese or spaghetti o's.

    The only kids I regularly dine with are my two little cousins, ages 8 and 10ish. One of them is incredibly picky, plus he’s on adderall which makes him not hungry. He's chronically underweight because of it. At family dinners my aunt has to prepare special food for him (like chicken nuggets or mac and cheese) and then it’s still a fight to make him eat it. The other cousin is a little porker (I say that with love…really) and he loves all food. So while my aunt is force feeding one kid she’s stopping the other from eating five helpings of junk food. Suffice it to say that family dinners are quite an ordeal.


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  • My parents made us eat what they ate- and they're foodies with broad interests. There were things we were picky about (my sister hated mushrooms, I hate bananas) but they accommodated that as long as it didn't get out of control. Our biggest arguments were about getting us to eat a few more bites of meat. Even then, it was low impact.

    The big exception: dining out. When trying a new ethnic restaurant, my parents always promised McDonald's if we left hungry. The only time we used it, my parents did too- it was a wretchedly bad Indonesian restaurant. We found out years later that we all liked Indonesian food, just not from that restaurant!

    Following the same approach, my 2 year old niece eats anything and everything. Except blueberries. It's weird but not a big deal. Though we'll see how long it lasts...

    On the other hand, my future step son lived with his mom in his early years and was allowed to eat what he wanted. At 15, he basically eats chicken (white meat only, unless its fried), beef (preferably ground or a steak), pork/ham and most carbs, though preferably when covered in ketchup or butter. Fruits and vegetables are a regular argument and he doesn't like sauces that aren't creamy (mayo and cheese sauces are favorites) or tomato-based (loves ketchup on anything, classic marinara is "safe"). He's learning to deal with my love of sesame oil but still would prefer everything to be grilled/fried/breaded and covered in cheese.

    In our house, the rule is that you eat what you're served or you don't eat- and that includes any veggies on your plate. If you choose to eat, you are not done until all veggies are gone. The kid frequently turns down dinners because he won't eat the vegetables.

    It's a regular battle.
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  • labrolabro member
    5000 Comments Sixth Anniversary 500 Love Its 5 Answers

    Neither FI nor I are picky eaters. I never was. FI WAS a picky eater about some things. He's told this story multiple times but basically he once refused to eat his grandma's homemade fried chicken. So he took his plate and tossed his chicken in the trash after he'd eaten everything else. His dad pulled the chicken out of the trash and made him eat it. While I don't condone this approach at all...my understanding is FI never refused to eat anything ever again.

    I was never picky, but my youngest sister was. We'd all have to spend sometimes hours at the kitchen table waiting for my sister to finish her plate. She never wanted to finish her veggies so my parents would tell her she had to have 5 or however many more bites before she was excused and we all had to sit and wait. It would take forever for her to eat just those 5 bites. She's in college now and basically lives on a diet of carbs as far as I can tell but I don't think she ever states that she's picky...she's just unhealthy about her current choices.

    I like what my friend and her H do with their son. He's 2 and they've been feeding him whatever they're eating, or a mashed up baby version of it, pretty much ever since he started on solid foods. He eats everything and as far as I know isn't picky at all. Of course he's only 2 and that could always change, but I think it's great that he seems to be open to eating pretty much anything they give him.



  • ScoutF said:
    My parents once told me I couldn't leave the table until I finished my plate. I ate everything but the porkchop. I sat there until it was my turn to take a bath. They never tried that trick again :)

    To this day, I don't eat pork. I don't like the flavor at all. I finally started eating meat around 12, and now I will never turn down a steak. 
    We had a similar showdown over pork chops when I was a kid too. Since I ate all of the "good" stuff already, it was too late to back out of dinner. I ended up sitting at the table all night. It took me until I was almost 30 to eat one (by choice) again!
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  • I grew up in a eat what was cooked for you or go hungry family.   Eating something special was not an option.  However,  my mom was not a good cook. Veggies were thrown in a boiling pot for like an hours.   No wonder I hate them.   Well I take that back, I love them now I know how they should be cooked.  

    Dad wasn't much better with over cooking every piece of meat.   The very first time DH met my dad he pushed him out of the way of the grill he was so horrified at my dad's grilling skills.  The next night he wouldn't let my dad touch the $200 beef tenderloin he had bought.  Now it's pretty much known if DH is round dad's not allowed near his own grill.

    In addition to that my parents were plain eaters.   The most ethnic thing they ate was Italian.  My mom runs the other direction at the thought of a basic taco.  Chinese?  Hell, no.  Indian? Again, no. They do eat non-sushi Japanese food.

    Since they didn't eat it I wasn't exposed and for the most part not really an experimental eater myself.  I eat some ethnic foods now, but pretty basic, non-spiced "american" versions.  (I hate spice).

    We do not have kids, nor will we.  DH and I often cook separate meals, so I'm thinking if we did the kid would more than likely have something one of us was having.  Maybe some variation.  I would make sure they were exposed to different foods early in life so they didn't end up having their first taco in their 20's like I did.







    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • @HisGirlFriday13 I get where you are coming from about trying something and not liking it. I know FSS hate mushrooms so I add them to the dish after his food is served or pick them out if I can't wait until the end, but when there are only 3-4 things he will eat and it is a fight over everything I make I will be just as stubborn about him finishing. I didn't spend 2 hours on dinner to turn around and make you a sandwich just because you threw a fit.
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  • I was a picky eater as a kid, my sister, well she would eat anything and everything.  I would try everything that was cooked but if I didn't like it my parents didn't push it.  Even to this day I try broccoli and green beans when I make them for H and I still don't like them, but I figure that it may change eventually.

    As for my niece, she isn't as picky now (4 years old) as she was when she was younger.  Also, what I noticed was that she would eat things for me or my Mom (her Grandmother) that she wouldn't even touch for her Mom (my sister).  I know that we have sat down for meals and my sister was like "oh she won't eat that." And then we all start eating and I say "oh Maddie you should try such and such" and she does and likes it, but god forbid her Mom suggests it.

  • @maggie -  kids are funny. My sister would only eat tomatoes at my grandfather's house. She would flat out refuse to eat them anywhere else, even if you brought the tomatoes from his home.  She eats them now, but we still can't figure out what tomatoes were okay to eat at pop-pop's and not anywhere else when she was a kid.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • lyndausvi said:
    I grew up in a eat what was cooked for you or go hungry family.   Eating something special was not an option.  However,  my mom was not a good cook. Veggies were thrown in a boiling pot for like an hours.   No wonder I hate them.   Well I take that back, I love them now I know how they should be cooked.  

    Dad wasn't much better with over cooking every piece of meat.   The very first time DH met my dad he pushed him out of the way of the grill he was so horrified at my dad's grilling skills.  The next night he wouldn't let my dad touch the $200 beef tenderloin he had bought.  Now it's pretty much known if DH is round dad's not allowed near his own grill.

    In addition to that my parents were plain eaters.   The most ethnic thing they ate was Italian.  My mom runs the other direction at the thought of a basic taco.  Chinese?  Hell, no.  Indian? Again, no. They do eat non-sushi Japanese food.

    Since they didn't eat it I wasn't exposed and for the most part not really an experimental eater myself.  I eat some ethnic foods now, but pretty basic, non-spiced "american" versions.  (I hate spice).

    We do not have kids, nor will we.  DH and I often cook separate meals, so I'm thinking if we did the kid would more than likely have something one of us was having.  Maybe some variation.  I would make sure they were exposed to different foods early in life so they didn't end up having their first taco in their 20's like I did.

    Your family sounds like mine. For the longest time I thought I hated most vegetables. As an adult I realized it's because we almost always had canned veggies. Canned asparagus is one of the nastiest things ever invented. My father's family only eats their meat when it's burned to a hockey puck-like texture. 

    As soon as I got my own apartment I learned how to cook and now I eat just about everything. Except tomatoes. I still gag at the thought. I'll eat any ethnic food, whereas my family will literally run screaming from curry.

    As for kids, I don't have, won't have any. But I have seen many friends introduce their infants/toddlers to foods most kids hate successfully, and teach their kids to love all kinds of food. But it takes a lot of work. 
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  • Slight side note we went out for sushi with my family and FSS ordered beef teriyaki. My five year old sister insisted he try one if her tuna rolls. When he said no she stood up put her hands on her little hips and said "I'm your aunt and you have to at least try it before they bring you ice cream!"

    He tried it, spit it out and she rolled her eyes and sighed, but agreed he could have ice cream since he tried it.
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  • I have to admit that my mom used to make me something different if they were having something I didn't like. However, in my mom's defense, she didn't always do that. She used to do the sit there until you finish everything on your plate thing and there were certain foods that I just couldn't eat. I say couldn't but really there are certain foods I still can't eat. She didn't start making my separate meals until I was a little older and we learned that I have a form of OCD that is food specific. Foods that are certain colors or textures I just can't touch. I'm better about it but it is still something I struggle with. My nephews are nothing like me or my sister though. They will eat anything you sit in front of them.
  • daria24 said:
    lyndausvi said:
    I grew up in a eat what was cooked for you or go hungry family.   Eating something special was not an option.  However,  my mom was not a good cook. Veggies were thrown in a boiling pot for like an hours.   No wonder I hate them.   Well I take that back, I love them now I know how they should be cooked.  

    Dad wasn't much better with over cooking every piece of meat.   The very first time DH met my dad he pushed him out of the way of the grill he was so horrified at my dad's grilling skills.  The next night he wouldn't let my dad touch the $200 beef tenderloin he had bought.  Now it's pretty much known if DH is round dad's not allowed near his own grill.

    In addition to that my parents were plain eaters.   The most ethnic thing they ate was Italian.  My mom runs the other direction at the thought of a basic taco.  Chinese?  Hell, no.  Indian? Again, no. They do eat non-sushi Japanese food.

    Since they didn't eat it I wasn't exposed and for the most part not really an experimental eater myself.  I eat some ethnic foods now, but pretty basic, non-spiced "american" versions.  (I hate spice).

    We do not have kids, nor will we.  DH and I often cook separate meals, so I'm thinking if we did the kid would more than likely have something one of us was having.  Maybe some variation.  I would make sure they were exposed to different foods early in life so they didn't end up having their first taco in their 20's like I did.

    Your family sounds like mine. For the longest time I thought I hated most vegetables. As an adult I realized it's because we almost always had canned veggies. Canned asparagus is one of the nastiest things ever invented. My father's family only eats their meat when it's burned to a hockey puck-like texture. 

    As soon as I got my own apartment I learned how to cook and now I eat just about everything. Except tomatoes. I still gag at the thought. I'll eat any ethnic food, whereas my family will literally run screaming from curry.

    As for kids, I don't have, won't have any. But I have seen many friends introduce their infants/toddlers to foods most kids hate successfully, and teach their kids to love all kinds of food. But it takes a lot of work. 
    The smell of curry makes me nauseous.  I can't even get it to my mouth before it makes me gag.  I have the same problem with tequila and a lot of whiskeys.  Just bringing the shot glass to my nose makes me sick.

    I contribute living in the islands (and DH) for boarding my palette.  It's not great, but it's way better than before.  Never will like spicy foods though.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • I grew up a HUGE picky eater. To some extent, I still am. Didn't help that the few veggies I did like as a kid, Dad didn't, and would make comments/snide remarks. I stopped eating them, and Mom wanted to kill Dad. DH and I joke if I could survive on steak and potatoes, and be healthy, I'd eat it every day.

    That said, I'll eat beef, chicken (though eating meat off the bone squicks me out due to family business), occasionally a pork chop or bacon. I hate fish/shrimp- it always still tastes fishy and gross to me. DH has gotten me to expand a bit (an occasional tasting bite of his fish here and there, and bang bang shrimp at bonefish). I'm working on the salads thing, but discovered if the green beans, broccoli, carrots, or peas are fresh cooked/steamed/frozen then cooked, I love them. If it's straight out of the can (Dad's preference) I find it disgustingly slimy.  The LOOK on my parents' face when we all went out to dinner and I got steamed veggies was priceless. Even better was when I ate it all up.

    That being said, when I was a kid, my preferences did not matter when we went out to eat. I knew to look carefully at the menu, and politely ask my mom questions about certain dishes (for instance, I hate mushrooms and tomatoes). If I didn't eat what was in front of me, I didn't eat dinner that night, or get any dessert. End of story. The one time this got me in trouble was the one time Dad took us to a little greek place that was shut down 2 weeks later by the health department. I took one bite of my chicken and knew it wasn't really chicken, it was mystery meat. I refused to eat more, and 15 minutes later threw up in the bathroom. Dad was mad that he paid for that meal and I wouldn't touch it, but it's not my fault he chose such a shady restaurant.

  • Reading these responses leads me to a question: how many foods can you dislike before you're labeled as picky?

    I hate bananas, milk (to drink), blue cheese and non-mainstream meats (things like goat, tongue, and fish cheeks). Beyond that, I'll eat most anything, though there are definitely things I prefer not to eat. To FI, that makes me picky.

    FI grew up in a traditional Mexican household and loves goat, all of the "scary" parts of a cow, and random other things that make me squeamish. But he's picky about a lot of vegetables (he didn't grow up eating them and really only enjoys them when covered in sauces). He fakes it in front of his son but it's pretty clear to those who watch.

    So how much can you avoid before being labeled a "picky eater"?
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  • Reading these responses leads me to a question: how many foods can you dislike before you're labeled as picky?

    I hate bananas, milk (to drink), blue cheese and non-mainstream meats (things like goat, tongue, and fish cheeks). Beyond that, I'll eat most anything, though there are definitely things I prefer not to eat. To FI, that makes me picky.

    FI grew up in a traditional Mexican household and loves goat, all of the "scary" parts of a cow, and random other things that make me squeamish. But he's picky about a lot of vegetables (he didn't grow up eating them and really only enjoys them when covered in sauces). He fakes it in front of his son but it's pretty clear to those who watch.

    So how much can you avoid before being labeled a "picky eater"?
    I find it more of the number items you WILL eat than the number of foods you will not eat.   When you will only eat chicken nuggets and fries there is a problem.  You don't like white foods? Meh?picky but certainly something you can work around and still have a balanced diet.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • I should also add that I went through a phase as a kid in which I would only eat raw veggies -- not cooked ones. My mom later figured out that's because my babysitter and grandmother were of the boil-it-for-an-hour school of cooking, and I didn't like that (too mushy; texture food). Mom was prepared to dig in her heels and fight me and my dad was like, 'For the love of God, just give her the raw carrots and be done with it!'
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    I'm gonna go with 'not my circus, not my monkeys.'
  • Cookie PusherCookie Pusher member
    Knottie Warrior 2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    edited March 2014

    I practically grew up in a restaurant kitchen, so there's not much I won't eat. My younger sisters were spared the experience of being in the kitchen as kids, and they are the pickiest eaters ever - even as adults. They flat out refuse to try new things and just assume they won't like them for no good reason. Where I was told I had to at least try whatever was being served (or else go hungry), my sisters ate whatever they wanted. We had very few snacks around the house when I was little, mostly fruits and home-grown raw veggies. When the other kids were born, it's like my parents just gave up. We were offered fast food, junk food, soda, and whatever else was "easy". No joke, I didn't have even pizza until I was around 8 or 9!

    FI grew up in a super boring food household. As Irish as he is, he was served powdered mashed potatoes. Everything came out of a box, a jar, a can, or was straight up store-bought crap. The only green vegetables he ate were broccoli (but only if it was covered in cheez), celery (but only if it was filled with squeeze cheez), and iceberg lettuce. As far as ethnic food? Taco Bell was as adventurous as things got, and spices/flavor was forbidden.

    It's taken 12 years, but I've gotten FI to at least try a lot of things he never thought he'd like. He's still pretty picky (textures bug him big time), but at least he's willing to try. We did discover that he's okay eating his "too slimy" foods if they're coating in tempura batter and fried, though! lol

    ~*~*~*~*~

  • I was pretty picky growing up, but it was with strong foods - fish, ham, curries, etc..  Even the smell of it would send me to my room.  I still can't stomach most of that.  I was allowed to make my own though if I didn't want to eat dinner and I loved me some veggies.  But people who make different meals for their kids bug me.  Your child is not going to starve if they don't eat dinner, but they've learned that they can get what they want but putting up a fight.  

  • I was a picky eater as a kid and I still am a little, but my pallette has grown. I think a LOT of it stems from my mom was a single mom for a long time and could NOT cook. Everything came out of a can or the freezer. After living with my grandparents for a year I started eating "real food" like steak, chicken, pork chops...a lot of basic "American" foods because my grandfather still to this day is a picky eater (wont eat pasta, or cheese or anything spicy or "weird") but after I started living with my mom again...it was back to frozen meal until my step dad moved in and he took over cooking, but its been a long road getting to eat different foods...and there are still things I won't eat, but at least I try to try things now. 
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  • My brother and sister were so picky my mom was like a short order cook sometimes I don't know how she dealt with it.  I wasn't too picky although around 12 I really started to hate eating meat I was forced to eat it until I was 16 then I was on my own with cooking.  I'm really not picky at all now, I am a vegetarian and I'm lactose intolerant but I love all veggies and different styles of food.  So I cook a lot of different types of meals too. 

    FI can be picky about what vegetables he liked and nothing creamy.  I hope our kids aren't picky.  The plan would be to experiment with as many different types of foods and veggie and expand their taste buds as early as possible.  I didn't even realize how many different vegetables were out there until I began cooking on my own.  I hope they will be at least willing to try and hopefully getting them involved in the meal planning when they are older will help. 

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  • Reading these responses leads me to a question: how many foods can you dislike before you're labeled as picky?

    I hate bananas, milk (to drink), blue cheese and non-mainstream meats (things like goat, tongue, and fish cheeks). Beyond that, I'll eat most anything, though there are definitely things I prefer not to eat. To FI, that makes me picky.

    FI grew up in a traditional Mexican household and loves goat, all of the "scary" parts of a cow, and random other things that make me squeamish. But he's picky about a lot of vegetables (he didn't grow up eating them and really only enjoys them when covered in sauces). He fakes it in front of his son but it's pretty clear to those who watch.

    So how much can you avoid before being labeled a "picky eater"?
    I wouldn't call that picky at all. Picky to me is when you won't eat entire categories of food(because you don't like them...vegan/vegetarian is a different story). If you eat cheese, just not the really stinky ones...not picky. If you eat meat, just nothing 'gamey'-not picky. If you eat most vegetables, you just don't like them pickled...not picky. The only fruit you will eat is apple slices and the only vegetable is green beans...you are picky. 
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