Our Authors
Terri Coles
- Location: St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
- Favorite foods: Salted caramel anything, penang curries, garlic mashed potatoes, dal tadka, my grandmother's homemade bread, and mallocreme pumpkins
- Last bite on earth: Green & Black's caramel chocolate bar sprinkled with sea salt
Recent Posts
I really enjoyed this, from the perspective of someone who is both a parent to a toddler and a recovering picky eater herself. It is so frustrating to see a child refuse foods that you either know he likes or has never tried (or specifically requested, in some cases...toddlers). I definitely understand the impulse to just make what you know he or she will eat, especially because a parent's day can have so many battles as it is. I grew up in a house where we got what was offered, and were expected to stay at the table until we ate it; the result was a lot of unpleasant meals where I choked down food that made me gag or stared at a half-empty plate until one of my parents gave up. I don't want my son to have that experience at mealtimes, however picky he may or may not be. It sometimes makes the balance between offering new foods and encouraging him to try them and not forcing them or making it a battle of the wills very difficult.
At the same time, I also know that some people really do taste things differently, or have sensory issues with a lot of foods, and that does not make them spoiled or unadventurous. For some people, this is the result of sensory issues. I really identified with the discussion of the awkwardness that can result from being a picky eater as an adult. I hope to save my son some of that as I work to continue to overcome it myself, and I'll keep some of the tips here in mind.