"I continue to worry about the cereal problem; and let's be frank here; eating cereal three times a day is not good. Thankfully I have friends who kindly kicked some sense into me and motivated me to start making changes. So, I have decided to start *the big food change*.
I tested the water by giving Nick the same evening meal as us; it didn't go down too well and I realised that the jump was too big for him. I needed to start off with a familiar food and slowly introduce new tastes and experiences. Fruit was going to be the best option to start with"
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To date, all is going well and we continue to move forward one step at a time. Nick is still having cereal (the healthiest one possible!); however, it is only once a day and it is for breakfast.
Lunch time is the easiest option to introduce new foods as this is when I have more time to devote to making any changes. Nick has a freshly homemade fruit and vegetable juice for lunch, which generally consists of an orange, a small handful of baby spinach, two carrots and an apple. I always add in a fifth/sixth ingredient, depending what I have in the fruit bowl or fridge. Admittedly we are a bit stuck on having the same old juice but I am applying the concept *same but different* to introduce slight variations.*In order for Nick to not become 'stuck' on having a juice every day of the week, we do miss the occasional day.
Nick has always enjoyed eating apples, therefore I decided to use them as a starting point. Bananas were introduced as a second fruit; and as with anything new, I gave him two little pieces to try. Initially when we first started on this new food journey, Nick dug in his heels and refused to eat. I helped scaffold the situation by letting him know (visually) that he could eat his fruit and then have some toast! A little bit of bribery did the trick, although during the first few days Nick would sit there looking at the fruit for a good half an hour before eventually giving in! My only rule was that Nick wasn't allowed to leave the table without my permission. If he did leave, I made a little noise to get his attention and then indicate that he needed to come back. Amazingly he did!
We are still on the apple and banana combo, however, each day I put something different on his plate. Yep, that *same but different* concept! He is never wildly delighted with new tastes but will now endeavor to try them. There is also no more sitting there frowning at the food, although he will often try to feed me the *other stuff*. I just shake my head for "no" and he will pop it into his own mouth. Voilà, all over in seconds!
To be honest we still have a long way to go on this crazy food journey, although Nick has made some good progress in only a few months. He has gone from being the kid who refused to try new food (and was slowly eliminating all other familiar food except for cereal, toast and apples) to increased flexibility about trying something different. I haven't made food into an issue and I am slowly and carefully adding further variations/tastes.
I threw my boy another little challenge today. Spot the difference!
Anyone else out there having problems over food?
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I am linking up with Ethan's Escapes #SSAmazingAchievements.... cos he is so cute! :-)
Archie had a lot of issues with food. He ate everything in sight as a baby but with regression came rejection of food after food after food. Until he was eating no meat, no fish, no fruit, no vegetables, no plain cheese. He would eat gluten free pizzas (cheese and tomato), gluten free bread and jam, crisps and er that was it. When he started at his special school his teacher decided to tackle the diet. He started with a crisp, broke it in half and put a tiny bit of baked bean sauce on one half, when Archie was eating that he progressed to one baked bean between the halves, when Archie was eating that he put a tiny piece of mashed potato on the crisp, then moved to mashed potato with a tiny bit of baked bean sauce. One we were at that stage things moved quite rapidy onto stews and casseroles, then suddenly he was eating everything and anything. He eats a very healthy diet now - although those tiny steps from baked bean sauce on a crisp to casseroles took about a year!
ReplyDelete@alifeunlimited ~ I was so fascinated to read your comment and also learn how far Archie has come on. That's it isn't it?... just one tiny tiny step at a time. You have given me hope that one day Nick will be where Archie is at. It will certainly make life a lot easier!
DeleteWe have constant food battles. I call my younger son the picky eater class drop out! WAY TO GO!! How old is Nick? (I'm a relatively new reader.)
ReplyDeleteHi Julie, great to see you here. I like your expression, 'picky eater class drop out'. :D Nick is just 15, scary how fast the years have flown by!
DeleteYou make my little moans about Monkey and eating seem really trivial. Well done for getting Nick to slowly try different things, there is no magic wand with kids and food is there #SSAA
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Mary @over40andamumtoone. Nah, your little moans are relevant to you and your child and are certainly not trivial. We all have different stories. :)
DeleteI felt hungry just looking at that juice! There was food regression here too, and while new food will be tried, it usually gets the thumbs down. However he does eat a reasonable variety of fruit and veg, so I haven't tackled things like this, but I would love to one day x
ReplyDeleteI know, Blue Sky, I also love the look of the juice..... but am restricting my sugar intake at the moment, even though it is natural!! :-) Great to hear that your boy eats fruit and veg, at least he is eating healthily!
DeleteI am in awe of your boy eating an apple! Or any fruit. Even cereal. Doesn't happen here. Breakfasts are a nightmare. Although he has improved so much with lunch and dinner options, and eating out, over the years. I'm definitely investing in a proper juicer. We borrowed one and tried some juices similar to yours and he loved it! xx
ReplyDeleteHi Jazzy
DeleteThese kids of ours, if it is not one thing it is another! Good to hear that there is improvement and I am thrilled to hear that he loves freshly made juice. Teenagers are also tricky with food. My first born practically lives on toast so I have to ensure that I make healthy dinners!
Food is always a battle for us. It's all about chocolate and cake here! I find Ethan eats his dinner so much better with my husband at his side so I keep out of the way. I think you have made fantastic progress, it's all about those small steps. I really hope this progress counties for you as you are doing so well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with Small Steps Amazing Achievements :0)
x
Hi Jane. I am very lucky that Nick doesn't have any interest in chocolate or cake (yet!). Mind you, it is a big problem for ME! :-) Great to hear that Ethan eats well with his Dad.
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