What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food? Mine is my mom’s creamed corn. You really have to be patient and let the heavy cream slowly simmer into sugary, creamy perfection. It’s worth the wait. But if you ask my daughter that same question, “What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food?”, her answer would simply be “Nothing.”
Not turkey, not mashed potatoes, not green beans. Thinking through the traditional menu, there’s nothing that she actually would pick to eat. As much as Thanksgiving is about being together and expressing gratitude, it’s also about the food. As a picky eater, there’s dread where there should be excitement.
And I find that just sad. Last year, she ate chicken nuggets. I figured major family holidays weren’t the right time to fight the food fight. But this year, we’re trying a different strategy.
How I’m Helping My Picky Eater Through Thanksgiving:
Step 1: Every three to four days, I have been preparing a food item that will be shared on Thanksgiving. I started with turkey. She knew the rule that she had to try it, so she slathered it in ketchup. I won’t go as far as saying she loved it, but she ate the required bites (if you’re 7, you have to eat 7 bites). Sometimes you just need to try a food a couple of times to realize you like it. So I’ll be making turkey at least once more before the holiday.
Step 2: Next, I include foods that are well-known and enjoyed. You can see the worry spread across her face when she looks at her dinner plate. She is scanning, looking for what she actually wants to eat. If there’s nothing there to grasp onto, she abandons the meal mentally. If I want her to eat green bean casserole, then I need to throw some strawberries her way.
Step 3: Limit the serving size to a tablespoon. This isn’t a reality TV eating contest, so I don’t need her to consume multiple sweet potatoes. Just as seeing nothing you like on your plate is disheartening, seeing a mountain of it is daunting. A dollop is more manageable as a quick swig of milk can wash it down in a flash.
Step 4: Part of my plan is to stop stressing and keep my initial goal in mind. I want my daughter to enjoy the holiday, including the meal. If I stop harassing her about eating, she’ll eat an extra bite or two. And even if she doesn’t, she’s not going to starve.
Somewhere along the lines I got the silly notion that having a picky eater reflects poorly on her and on us. So the aunts think she’s high maintenance…who cares? Anyway, the Pilgrims ate venison, not turkey. So if she eats her turkey with ketchup and substitutes the traditional sides for a Go-gurt and string cheese, it’s not going to ruin the holiday.
Helping her enjoy the feast is challenging, but it’s been getting better each year. I’ll continue listing my sweet girl, even with her “selective palette,” as one of the things I’m thankful for. And another source of gratitude this Thanksgiving, more creamed corn for me!
Do you have a picky eater? How do you get ready for the holidays?
Kecia says
My 4 year old son is quite picky. He has become a little more lenient in trying new foods, but usually not a big family dinners like Thanksgiving. We pack a snack or two, and assume he will only want to eat a roll while we are there.
Liz Mays says
Most foods, including veggies, were no problem for the little ones. The one thing I was never able to trick my son into liking was bread. He is an adult now and still doesn’t care much for it.
Mickey says
We have a picky eater too. We reward her for trying new foods (and not complaining) by letting her choose a dinner once each week.
Digna D. says
Great ideas. Fortunately our son isn’t a picky eater.
Shop with Me Mama (Kim) says
Oh my goodness do I EVER have picky eaters! My daughter and my littlest one are horrible! They will not eat much and when they DO decide to eat, they are PICKY. It drives me batty. I love these tips, thank you!!!
Sara P. (@SensiblySara) says
That’s a really smart idea. I do have picky eaters, but they aren’t as picky as your daughter. I like the bite rule, though!
Donna says
My son is very picky, although he is getting better. There’s only a hand full of food he will eat well. He hates all vegetables. 🙁
Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting says
Oh, her FACE, mama! LOL adorable! Gosh, I have a couple of those, and it’s SO tough! Love your plan of action!
Penelope says
My sons are REALLY picky eaters! I love the idea of at least as many bites as your age 🙂 #3 no mountains of foods they hate is a good one too! LOVE these tips!
Beth says
What a great plan! Our picky eaters have been adding more and more foods to what they eat so we are excited about that.
Denine Anderson-Regan says
Great ideas. My kids struggle sometimes too, but we make a game out of it.
Debi says
My kids are fussy about their food too. They actually do not love the food we eat at Thanksgiving
Jenna Wood says
Ha, I let em starve! But in all seriousness, my father used to play a ‘one more bite’ game that worked no matter the event or occasion I still practice with kids today!
Karen W says
I too have a picky eater and she is also 7. Last year I tricked her after Thanksgiving and told her the turkey she had on her plate was chicken. It looks exactly the same, doesn’t it? She too, dipped it in ketchup and I really don’t care that she does. She had no idea it wasn’t chicken so this year she’ll eat it without hesitation. Thankfully she also likes mashed potatoes so that’s what will be on her plate. But I get where you are coming from and I like your approach.
And being a mom of a 7 year old girl, the picture of your daughter, and the look on her face is priceless! It’s so ‘the age’ and such a ‘fun’ time.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. Someday they will all be grown and cooking us Thanksgiving dinner and including all the things we have on the table now, and enjoying them all too!
Lena says
My son is that way. He just says: Thank You I am so full! even if he didn’t eat anything.
Tammy says
We do have a picky eater too. She’s 18 now, so she eats what she wants and I can’t do much about it, lol. When she was younger though we did require to take a spoonful of everything whether she wanted it or not (unless it was an aversion she had for a long time, like peas). We always told her it wouldn’t kill her to eat something she didn’t want to, and she’s still living…and we still remind her of that, lol!
melissa says
My daughter is the same way. One bite and she is full. Desert though is a different story!
Cecile says
I was a picky eater too, but I always loved Thanksgiving. It was actually foods I loved!
Mel @ Outnumbered 3 to 1 says
What great tips! My kids were picky when they were little too.
HilLesha says
My son is a very finicky eater. So, it is always hard to get him to try different foods over the holidays. Great advice, though!
Scott says
We used to have a picky eater. A few nights of going to be without eating and now she eats whatever we put on her plate.
Raijean says
My son drives me crazy with this, he is such a picky eater.
Anne - Mommy Has to Work says
Those are wonderful ideas. We prepare foods that everyone enjoys. We are lucky that they will eat most of it.
Shell Feis says
What a great plan! I really hope it worked! My son is super picky too {I hear you on the chicken nuggets!} but this year I was really proud of him, he decided to try the turkey and loved it so much that he had seconds! He wasn’t quite ready to try the rest of the meal {opting for watermelon instead} but maybe next year.
Marina says
My now 8 year old was a terribly picky eater as a toddler but slow introductions of various foods slowly changed that and now she’s a pretty adventurous foodie.