Food Issues - Part 1

Ceilidh has been driving us nuts lately at dinner time. She was generally an angel during year 2, so we thought we had been spared the terrible two's. Nope - it just had a delayed start.
We're parents with some common sense, so we accept the fact that kids will be picky eaters at some point in their lives. We know that kids will pick junk over vegetables, and that there will be struggles over food. There's a whole genre of cookbooks dedicated to kids. From making organic baby food to sneaking in mushed up veggies, from making happy faces and designs (out of food) on the dinner plates to 101 ways to cook with pasta for kids. And in my humble opinion, every parent that says their child is not a picky eater is either delusional or is letting their kid eat whatever he/she chooses. At some point in every child's life, there will be an issue with food.
When Ceilidh was a baby, she was a very good eater. She would eat a variety of foods, more so than big brother Devlin. She ate vegetables without fuss. She devoured rice and pasta. She loved fruit. (And she still does.) Meats, fish, chicken dishes. I never fretted about the menu with respect to Ceilidh. (Devlin - that's another story for another day.)
And then, she slowly began to turn down certain items from her gustatory repertoire. Vegetables have all but disappeared from her plate, and some red meats too. Had it only been red meat, then I'd be okay, because she's choosing a healthy lifestyle already! On occasion, she'll eat chicken and fish. Fruit is always a hit, and generally, all carbs. I don't care too much about the vegetables because eventually, they will return to her diet. Tomato sauce and french fries are still part of the vegetable group in a child's - and this parent's - mind.
I have read the books and articles about dealing with picky eaters. One expert suggests having at least one item on the menu that the child will definitely eat. So, there's always rice or pasta at our table. Or fries. Another expert suggests implementing 5 spoonfuls of food, and trying at least one bite of a new item. We do that too. All experts agree that children will copy their parents. If mom and dad eat a variety of foods, kids will eventually pick up on that. We always have some vegetable component to the meal, and both Wayne and I have lots. (To set an example, and to prevent waste.) And if all else fails, then offer a glass of milk, BUT DO NOT cater to the child, otherwise parents become short order cooks. We tell the kids "this is not a restaurant". But on occasion, I have fed the kids some cold cuts and cheese when I know the 1 bite rule will not be enough.
I have neglected to mention that she will drink milk continuously all day. That commercial - about how milk does a body good? So true in Ceilidh's case. She's almost as tall as Devlin and weighs almost as much. They're often mistaken for twins. (Another post some day.)
So, she's not malnourished, and definitely not underweight. Why is she driving us nuts? Because, while she will generally eat well at breakfast and lunch, she will create a huge fuss at dinner time, when energy levels are low and tempers are short for the parental units. First, she wants to sit on Daddy's lap during the entire meal. Then she wants to be spoon-fed and with accompanying sounds (i.e. choo-choo train). Sometimes Wayne will make interesting shapes out of her food to entice her to eat. If the food is not her favourite pasta, or she's just not wanting to eat, then it's another battle. At first, she was putting the food in her mouth, and under the guise of having to pee, she would go and spit out the offending mouthful in the toilet. We would have been none the wiser until Devlin caught her in the act. Now, she will simply keep the mouthful of food in her mouth for 20 minutes or so, looking like the chipmunk. Without chewing. If you tell her she has to take another bite, she says she has to chew, and make a production of chewing, without swallowing.
We've decided to try a new tactic - deny her any desserts and no milk until bedtime if she doesn't finish at least 5 bites of her supper. Waiting for her to finish 5 bites could take 3 hours. So, the other night, we simply took away her plate when everyone else was finished. We went for a family bike ride. Devlin got ice cream afterwards. Ceilidh wanted some too. We offered her the dinner plate. She took it, and fed herself another small spoonful of rice that sat inside her cheek for another 20 minutes. Then it was bathtime. It took another 45 minutes, but she eventually finished her required 5 spoonfuls. By then, ice cream was long forgotten but milk wasn't.
Some experts say food is the one area where young children can exert some control. So, the refusal to eat is their way of exerting independence. Whatever. They say the same thing about toilet training. (Another post for another day.)