We are often asked if James is a good eater and I never know how to respond. If you give him one of the foods that he likes, then yes, James is a good eater. If you give him a food that every other toddler in America likes - a hot dog or macaroni & cheese - then absolutely not. He won't go near it.
And before you all go posting comments about, "if he's hungry enough, he'll eat" - let me assure you, we have tried that. What you get is a very hungry and very cranky James and there is no food in the world that I care enough about to endure that.
So, our new strategy is the "no thank you bite." I thought this was something that everyone did because that's what my mom did with us (thanks Mom!), but apparently not. The basic premise is that you have to at least take a "no thank you bite" and then you can decide if you like it - "more please" or you don't - "no thanks."
Let me remind you, at this point, that all we are trying to get the kid to eat is hamburgers, hot dogs, mac & cheese and spaghetti. It's not like we're trying to force succotash or liver & onions on the boy. Why? Because we travel A LOT and I can count on NO HANDS the number of drive through restaurants that serve hummus, cottage cheese, and pear sticks (James' main food groups of choice).
So, that brings us to last weekend where we really talked up "eating a hamburger." I told James how many of his friends like hamburgers, how yummy they are, and we even took him to the best burger joint in town - 5 Guys.
Here is how that went.
Skeptical:
Suspicious:
Finally, after a promise of ice cream and daddy actually holding the burger.....
one "no thank you bite."
The verdict? "No thanks" (at least he's polite).
One measly bite of burger for one very large ice cream cone.
4 comments:
I've heard of this 5 Guys before and for some reason I'm very jealous because I can't just run out and give it a try. You always want what you can't get...or you can't always get what you want. That sounds much better.
Funny how some kids just do not go for the 'standards' - Austin does not like chocolate or pizza and is not big on most fruits - He does however love sushi, edamame, LOVES salads and vegetables, asparagus, artichoke, lobster, mushrooms, clam chowder, calamari and anything else that usually comes with a high price tag. So not normal.
I am with James on hamburgers from any place except home. He might like turkey franks cut up in circles. I haven't had a hamburger from any place but home in over 30 years or more. He can do well without the mac & cheese also. James has educated taste buds like his Great Grandpa Kington.
Girl, I'm with you. We even use the NTB technique with Claire. AND, it is so difficult to make them eat, after they look at you and say, "Um, no thank you." As far as a hungry child will eat...she went 36 hours before she would take a NTB of spaghetti. SPAGHETTI!! Sheesh. Good luck! ;)
Post a Comment