Short stack
One of the most obvious things I inherited from my father, other than the shape and length of my body, my chin, my forehead, my ears, and that highly flammable sense of righteous indignation that usually erupts in the middle of 1) the local news, 2) traffic, and 3) phone calls with customer service personnel who do not speak English, is a love for greasy spoon diners. The dirtier the place the better, maybe because that is somehow proportional to the amount of butter they use in their pancakes. If my father were given the choice between an expensive dinner with the current Republican president or a lunch alone at a truck stop diner that is cooking its hamburgers in a vat of bacon grease collected over the period of fifteen years, he'd say, DO NOT FORCE ME TO MAKE THAT CHOICE, GEORGIE.
Our favorite local greasy spoon is a place called The Blue Plate, and we often go there for brunch on the weekends, mainly because it's one of the only non-chain sit-down restaurants that has something on the menu that Leta will eat. She always orders the home fries which are basically potatoes cut into squares and then fried. And then she eats half of a bottle of ketchup. Is it the healthiest meal? Of course not, but we've run it by her pediatrician who has eight kids, one who was exactly like Leta, and he said, look! She's getting potassium! And ketchup is sometimes made out of real tomatoes! So stop coming in here with these stupid concerns and call me when she's managed to lodge a quarter in her nostril.
A couple of weeks ago when we were on our way to brunch Jon quietly talked to me in the front seat about how he wanted to try to get Leta to try pancakes that morning. We both understand how important it is to provide a united front when it comes to disciplining your kids (when spanking, both parents should use the same wooden instrument) or trying to teach them anything, and we're usually very good about that, except when it comes to her eating habits. Because that is a battle I specifically chose to stop fighting. It was taking years off my life and making me so crazy that getting up from the dinner table and counting to a hundred was not calming me down one bit. In fact, it gave me more time to think about HOW INSANE my child was that she wouldn't eat a fucking peanut butter sandwich. WITH JELLY. WHICH IS SUGAR. SUGAR ON BREAD. A kid who won't eat a certain type of sugar. So trying to exert any influence on that was like going, you see that nuclear bomb over there? I think I could defeat it with this here spitball.
But I was in a good mood that morning, had slept in past eight o'clock and that had made my brain a little woozy and disoriented, and I was all what year is it? So I agreed to support him in his attempt. There we were whispering in the front seat of the car about how we were going to convince our daughter to eat a pancake. If that is not the dumbest first world conversation. Other ones we've had in the past few weeks:
This iPhone is too heavy.
Someone was using my favorite treadmill this morning, so I was forced to use the stationary bike.
This refrigerator isn't big enough. Let's buy another one and put it in the garage.
So we're sitting there waiting for the server to bring us our food, and when he sets down Jon's plate Jon immediately mentions that he can't wait to eat his yummy pancake. I don't say anything because I want to gauge Leta's reaction, and it is exactly what I had expected it to be: "Pancakes are yucky!"
Yes, pancakes are yucky, puppies suck, and rainbows are boring. And the old part of me that gave up this battle a few years ago is starting to rumble a bit, and I have to bite my lip. Because I want to stand up and yell SO HELP ME GOD, KID. IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE ASKING YOU TO SEVER YOUR OWN ARM WITH A BUTTER KNIFE. But I remain calm and say, "Actually, Leta, pancakes are pretty good. They taste like cake."
And in turn she replies, "But cake is yucky, too!"
Jon and I ignore this obviously misinformed statement and continue to mention the yummy pancake for the next half hour, and occasionally he offers her a bite. She continues to refuse. Want a bite of a yummy pancake? No. How about now? No. Now? No. Mmmmmm, this yummy pancake is really yummy, would you like a bite? No. How about I grab it off the plate and aim it at your head like a frisbee? No. Are you even paying attention to me? No.
And this is where the teamwork, the united front comes in, because it suddenly occurs to me to tell her that the syrup tastes like candy, and right when I say that Jon nods furiously and suggests that she dip her finger in the syrup and touch that finger to her tongue. The mere mention of candy causes her to sit up straight, and for a second we both get the sense that she is trying to figure out if it's worth it to give in and let us win, especially if we're telling the truth. What if it does taste like candy? Wouldn't it be stupid to sit there with all that candy a few inches away, just to prove a point? And the voice inside my head is going HAND HER THE BUTTER KNIFE AND DEMAND THAT SHE REMOVE HER ARM.
So she gives us both this look, like, you guys are so cute, look how hard you've been trying. Just this once I'm going to indulge you, but don't say I didn't warn you! And I'm waiting for the bleaaaah and yuuuuuccck and moaning and wailing, and I'm holding my breath as she dips her finger in the syrup. And as she brings that finger to her mouth the overwhelming aroma of AWESOMENESS hits her tongue, and without even tasting the syrup she yells, "I LOVE IT."
What?
"I LOVE IT!"
Excuse me?
"I LOVE IT AND I WANT MY OWN. MY OWN PANCAKE."
I've never seen Jon move so fast, he was out of his chair running to find the server. And in the five minutes it took for him to bring Leta Her Own Pancake we sat there holding our breath, not looking at anything other than the table, afraid that if we moved at all that particles in the atmosphere would shift and she'd change her mind. She'd say something and we'd barely nod or shake our heads. Briefly I looked up and caught Jon's gaze, and I knew we were both thinking the same thing: that pancake would taste no where near as good as victory.
She ate every bite of that pancake, and she has eaten pancakes every single morning since then. It's the first thing she asks for in the morning, Her Own Pancake, and I don't think Jon has ever experienced more joy standing over the stove. Partly because she loves them so much, but mostly because I think he knows that I am now more willing to follow his lead in certain matters when it comes to our very unique daughter. Thank you, Jon, for expanding our daughter's diet from four to five things.
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Heather talks about overcoming depression on today's Momversation.
- Me: "Hey Marlo, here's a vibrantly colored, squeaky toy made specifically for your age group!"
Marlo: "Got any knives?"
- @makeandtakes my pleasure! Had a great time with you guys!
- Woman v Tape: http://bit.ly/2a8ZU5 Final word: THIS MOUSE HAS CHANGED MY LIFE. Thank you, geeky husband. Also, thank you for not golfing.
1. Bertie said:
For the last 15 years, me and my father go to the hot dog/sausage cart near his work instead of fancy lunches for my birthday lunch. It is the highlight of my day, something we both love and soemthing I will always miss when he's gone. So glad you can enjoy those moments with Leta.
2. Sarah said:
This slice of life post is exactly the reason I come to your site. Thank you.
3. Soulmoxie said:
ahh...the power of the pancake.
4. Jen said:
Ah the sweet sweet victory of a child trying something new! I must remember the candy bit.
5. Melissa said:
My nephew will eat anything with Ranch Dressing on it. It's often referred to as "White Ketchup" in thier house. Maybe you should go for French Toast next!
6. Linda said:
Nice to know that our daughter is not the only kid in the world who won't eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I too am baffled. Also, she won't eat cookies, the only candy she will eat is Hershey's plain chocolate bar.
Our doctor gave us the same advice, but I'm still waiting for it to kick in. She'll be 10 in Feb.
7. Anonymous said:
I have a soon to be 13 year old son that has survived on nothing but PB&J and Mac 'n Cheese. I gave up the fight.
I make it on whole wheat bread, with organic peanut butter and no sugar added jelly.
It makes me feel better.
8. esmith said:
wait 'til she figures out you can put STUFF in those pancakes...like chocolate chips. then it's gonna be on.
9. Betsy said:
Mmmmm. Pancakes. Will French toast be next? Or would that cause the world to explode?
10. Sadie said:
Hey, that's how it starts...four things become five. And maybe by the time she is fourteen she will even eat something green. Like Skittles. Baby steps.
11. Lola said:
I could go on and on about how I know *EXACTLY* what you are talking about but I will leave it at that.
Isn't it an awesome feeling? I've mouthed "Don't move" to my husband as we sit in shock while my 5 year old daughter tries a new food unexpectedly.
I would HIGHLY recommend the book "How to get your kid to eat but not too much" by Ellyn Satter. It is a fantastic book recommended by almost every Children's Hospital out there. Our experience (which actually brought our daughter to being tube fed - that is how little she would eat) improved greatly after we read it and employed its philosophy.
12. Carroll said:
Sweet success :-)
And, on the Furminator picture today...Having gone out and bought one a few weeks ago based solely on your earlier enthusiastic mention, I totally second your ringing endorsement of that product. Costs an arm and a leg, and I about gagged as I signed the receipt, but man, does that thing ever work. I think they *should* pay you (you know your word could sell at least scores, if not hundreds of anything) Maybe since you already own the product, a year's supply of dog food? Or a trip to the Bahamas??
13. Spatula said:
Woohoo to the parental victory. Next stop... heroin?
14. Priya said:
Go JON! he should write a book on "How to get Kids to eat what you want them to eat"
15. Katie said:
I love the Blue Plate Diner. Have you tried Ruth's Diner up Emigration Canyon? I think it's my favorite place in Salt Lake.
Plus, they have yummy candy syrup and raspberry jam with breakfast. Not to mention their mile-high fluffy biscuit. Although those may be to good to share.
16. Kelly Mae said:
My twin boys just started kindergarten this week and I found myself struggling to pack a lunch for one of my sons that will only eat the following: french fries (bad, I know), cheese, plain bread, and peanut butter. But God forbid I actually put the peanut butter ON the bread. I resisted my temptation to put a little tupperware full of peanut butter in his lunch.
Congratulations on the pancake victory!
17. sara said:
Oh man, between the pancake and getting her to do the gymnastics in a bus thing, Jon's going to start getting a little cocky about this whole parenting business.
But at least you've been right about everything else. :)
sara
18. Amber said:
There's this restaurant, if you can call it that, located in the south side of our town. It's housed in this tiny, one-room schoolhouse type building and it's called the Dinky Diner.
My dad and I have gone there since I was 4 or 5. They serve the best coconut cream pie on the planet. I've ordered the same thing for almost 20 years and it never tastes bad and the tenderloins are the size of a dinner plate.
I think it's great that you got her to eat pancakes. My dad is still trying to get me to eat eggs even though I'm in my 20s.
19. Andrea said:
Sometimes, Leta and the Armstrongs remind me of Calvin (of Calvin and Hobbes fame) and his parents.
This is one such time.
Viva pancakes! Viva Leta!!
20. Kelly said:
The husband and I have had those exact moments. The moments where my head exploded because our oldest wouldn't try, oh, I don't know, a different kind of chocolate. Moments where we literally held our breath while he tasted something new.
Kids are a blast, aren't they?
21. Katie said:
I recently tried to give my son waffle sticks with syrup to dip them in. Also on his plate was green beans. He likes green beans. He claims he does not like waffles. He did, however, figure out to dip the green beans in the syrup and lick it off.
Sigh.
22. SAHM: Surviving Assorted Home Mayhem said:
So...what you're saying is Leta is picky? ;-) Yeah, our little guy (nearly two) has quite the limited menu as well and no, he won't eat a PB&J either. *sigh*
23. Anonymous said:
the mini pancakes they sell in the frozen section of the supermarket go over well in our household. Our 4 year old typically eats 8, and our 1 year old LOVES the smallness and can put down about 2. Just thought I'd throw that out there, for the mornings Jon isn't free to make them homemade.
24. jess said:
I might have to try this whole kid thing... :-)
25. Erica said:
Congratulations!
And your next post will be a collection of all the comments and e'mails from people telling you not to beat your child with wooden instruments, what are you, you child abusing monster person ... right? Because when I read that line my first thought was, "Dang! That's going to generate some serious e'mail from people who are STILL working on their senses of humor."
tee hee!
I wish Jon continued great success on the food introduction front.
26. SueR said:
Love the story! I have a niece who insists on being a vegetarian (she's 16) but since she doesn't like vegetables, her diet pretty much consists of grilled cheese. And candy.
Furminator--I have one for the dogs and one for the cats. Does great things on matted cats. I have turned more people on to the furminator than I can count!
27. Rachael said:
I love reading about Leta's eating habits; they remind me of my own as a kid as well as a child I have been babysitting since 2003, when she was 4 going on 5. Her diet then consisted of BUTTER. BACON. CHEESE. She even once told me, on one of those lazy dog days of August right before school started, "When I'm at school...I think about bacon."
She said this with a sigh, as if she were talking about her dreams and aspirations to become a world dictator.
As a child I was put off by anything that was made with care and order. I dissected sandwiches, picked at every salad and snubbed almost every piece of meat. I was the kid with the Weirdest. Lunches. Ever.
28. Colleen said:
My older brother lived on PB&J. Our pediatrician told my mom to go with it - he'd eat when he was hungry.
He didn't expand his menu of acceptable foods until he dated a foodie in college.
Leta's not doing so bad.
29. Carrie said:
This kid is a genius. The rest of us are out there telling our kids, "Not so much syrup! Here, you can only have this shotglass full!" And meanwhile Leta is all, I SUPPOSE I could eat a teensy bit more sugar-covered bread.
And believe me, if my kids ate like Leta, I'm sure I would be proselytizing the candilike nature of syrup too.
Oh, and I agree with Leta on one thing: Cake IS kind of yucky.
30. minxlj said:
Pancakes are truly awesome. I need to go and make some NOW
31. She Likes Purple said:
I was going to say the same thing as someone else, try adding chocolate chips! That'll be like Christmas! (Or maybe it's only like Christmas for me.)
32. Rick S. said:
Laughing so hard! Our 6-yr-old, Declan, still won't eat anything of substance but cheese pizza and grilled cheese sandwiches. You'd think constipation would begin to turn a young mind toward new possibilities, but...
This story made me want to dash home and find the maple syrup and beg my wife to teach me to make pancakes. I am definitely going to try this tactic the next time we have breakfast out!
33. Carley said:
Very cute! I'm glad she eats five different things now!
34. Brad said:
Awwww. Nice work, you two!
We've totally done this too... played the "just one bite, and you'll fall in love" card, and it does work. Sometimes. And sometimes they are just little devils for sport.
35. Sarie said:
Today's was exactly the kind of post that got me reading your site in the first place.
36. dawn said:
Ah the diet of toddlers and pre-schoolers. I love the whole "syrup tastes like candy thing." If only my kid liked candy--I know a 2 1/2 year old who doesn't like candy so much. Fruit snacks--no thank you. Sometimes he will only eat chips for breakfast.
It certainly makes for easy clean up.
37. kirida said:
this gives me hope that my kid will eat something more substantial than croutons.
38. Mackenzie said:
We may be from the same gene pool -- I love greasy spoon diners, and indeed, the dirtier the better. If you're ever out in Virginia I've got a couple of fantastic recommendations. And because it's Virginia smoking is still allowed; there's something strangely intoxicating about the smell of old grease and stale cigarette smoke.
39. the dalai mama said:
Hope reigns supreme that my kid will one day eat something other than muffins, cheetos, cheese burgers and apple juice.
The iPhone is a little heavy and you absoultely must have 2 fridges...doesn't everyone?
40. Kristine said:
Ah, the good ol' power of "well such-and-such tastes just like ___, you're really missing out". How I laughed and loved this story with every word! LOVED it! Can't wait until she's older (of course 21) and you're trying to convince her to try bourbon. Ha!
PS - I have a Powderpuff Chinese Crested who has more hair than a wooly mammouth and sheds like no one's business and she's half of Chuck's size. I bought the LARGE Furminator comb months ago and it's my favorite thing in the whole wide world. Well, ok my second favorite thing next to bourbon. I can now sit on the sofa in a black dress and not curse myself to hell for having a dog that sheds.
41. Chris said:
You guys are so cute.
42. Ashlea said:
Have you heard of this book? "Deceptively Delicious" by Jessica Seinfeld? If not you should really check it out, I heard about it from a friend, immediately bought it, and it changed my life. I have a picky eater too (a 4 year old son) and now he is regularly eating cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, and squash WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IT. Seriously, I now recommend this book to every mom of a picky eater. Here is a link to it on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Deceptively-Delicious-Simple-Secrets-Eating/dp/006...
43. Sarah said:
When I was 2, my mother had to chase me around the kitchen and SIT ON ME to get me to try apple pie. And she makes the best apple pie in the world. From scratch.
44. Red said:
Oh, I love this post! YAY for the Armstrongs. You and Jon are prefect for each other and perfect for your little Frog. :)
45. gingela5 said:
She sounds like me now. Only I actually don't even like syrup so I guess I'm pickier than a four year old : )
46. csquaredplus3 said:
That was great! I loved the description of not moving while waiting for the pancake. I know that horrible feeling - avoiding an inhale and an exhale, willing everything to be okay.
Glad Leta's enjoying pancakes. You and Jon are doing a great job!
Illustrated perfectly!
47. pac said:
Oh....my.....God. You mean I'm not the only one suffering with a 7 year old who will only eat about five to seven things, mostly breakfast cereal; well, and pb&j too - sorry? The tears are running down my face (well, it is ragweed season here in the midwest), from pure, unadulterated joy in knowing that I am not the only one suffering in food hell. I keep wondering "how long will this last"? Well, anyone, how long??????????
48. Hannah said:
My husband does this sort of thing to ME. (I'm 31.) For years, I would blithely state "oh, I won't eat X". So he would then sneak X into whatever foods he could to prove me wrong.
He's only ever failed with coconut and cilantro.
As for beating Leta with wooden implements, I agree, you must come to a consenus with Jon on which one to use. Does you no good if you turn up with a chopstick and he's brandishing a wooden meat tenderizer. You lose the edge.
49. Elizabeth said:
Um . . . I LOVE IT. And I want my own Dooce! BPFTW!
50. Ashleigh said:
This is why I come to to your site, day after day. Hysterical, just so much fun to read.
51. Becky said:
I love how you guys take advantage of everyday things to find new ways to love each other. Thanks for sharing your lives:).
52. kate said:
"We sat there holding our breath, not looking at anything other than the table, afraid that if we moved at all that particles in the atmosphere would shift and she'd change her mind."
Every one who has managed to live through parenting a 2-4 year old can relate to that; thank you so much for saying it out loud. Perfection.
53. Ris said:
When I was little I survived on dry Cheerios alone for about six months, no joke. I read stuff like this and want to hug my parents and apologize over and over again. Now I'm 24 and eat many varied and exotic things. It gets better!
54. Lauren said:
Victory! Congrats all around.
55. The Husband said:
Our seven-year-old eats chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, pizza, pop tarts, and manicotti. Therefore, whenever we want him to try anything Italian, we tell him that it has manicotti sauce on it.
It doesn't work.
56. Angela said:
SCORE!!!!! Ahhhhh.... the victories and thrills of parenting.
57. Undomestic Diva said:
Apparently I have the boy version of Leta, and he's got a rebuttal for every argument we pose.
The other night he said he was moving to grandma's. We tried to guilt him out of it by saying, "Wow. I'm going to be very sad and miss you sooooo much." To which he promptly replied, "Yeah, it will be hard, but you'll be OK."
Jesus.
58. amyz5 said:
nice story. hysterical as always (amazing how many uses we can find for that butter knife, self surgery is a new one)
but give me a break Heather, a pancake?!! that is a piece of... sorry too cliché.
call me when you get her to eat broccoli!
btw, my daughter (at 19) still refuses jelly with her peanut butter. i think it may be some sort of conspiracy.
59. Kizz said:
Nice work. Now I want pancakes, with butter and syrup and bacon, lots of bacon.
I was going to suggest that you place a pancake near the poor girl and then have Coco LOOK AT IT.
60. Alice said:
Good work! I hate the constant food struggle. My son has to be reconvinced about things he loves like pancakes, and even ice-cream. Let me tell you there is no bigger idiot than a mother trying to force her child to eat an ice-cream.
61. Blair said:
I would literally eat anything as a kid, with the odd exception of raw tomatoes. What was wrong with me? Are all kids as generally finicky as Leta, or are they exceptions?
62. Jack&Jill said:
Too funny. Gotta love the pancakes! I know you lived in LA...did you ever go to "The Griddle" in Hollywood? Giant fluffy pancakes stacked high with tons of different flavors. We got banana (the bananas were in the batter mix and on top) I have no affiliation to this place, I just went there this weekend and our jaws were on the table when the pancakes were placed in front of us...it is brought to you by the owner because she loves to see the reactions. Yummy...okay, now I'm hungry.
Side note: Furminator Rocks! - It is not kidding around, I also got the shampoo...
63. shelli said:
What are the other 4?
Malka's in "her beige period," right now - and we have discovered that she'll even eat EGGS if she can "dip dip" them in syrup.
I'm currently on a quest to see how well syrup and broccoli go together.
64. Anne said:
I was gonna recommend that book by Jessica Seinfeld too. I've only heard about it, but I've witnessed very picky children eating squash and carrots mixed into mac and cheese. They had no idea they were eating healthy food. Such a great trick!
65. Kritter Krit said:
"How about I grab it off the plate and aim it at your head like a frisbee."
GOT to be one of the best lines ever.
And now is where I pause to say count your blessings. (But not in the tacky way it sounds.) But seriously, at least she'll eat five things. It could always be worse. (You never tire of hearing that, right? ...And then hearing the "my daughter" stories that follow.) My daughter, who didn't learn to swallow due to severe dysphagia and reflux until very recently (and she's almost four), survives on a diet of milk and condiments. Ranch. Ketchup. Mustard. Sour cream.
Oh, and a Scooby Doo multi-vitamin. =)
66. Traci said:
I love it! We have the same battles w/ our 4 year old on an almost nightly basis. She eats chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and um...yeah that's it. Every morning -- mini pancakes. But the MUST be mini, not "regular" size.
I try to get her to sample new things, and normally that turns into a screaming match and I lose my mind. The other night she cried and wailed about not wanting to try roast beef. And then she tried it. And was all, "oh wow, this doesn't taste like dog shit."
I think she comes by it naturally. When I was a kid my dad made me sit at the dinner table for THREE HOURS because I refused to try fried rice. I had to sit there with a plate of cold fried rice in front of me. I never did try it.
67. Betty said:
My 4 yr old is on the same pancake road, but she actually doesn't even like the syrup.
She likes maybe 6 things.
pancakes. m&c. cheese pizza. oatmeal. apples.
Usually.
Every single day of preschool she has chicken noodle soup. Which I still puree (not the noodles) so she doesn't know there are, gasp, "vegables" in it... heaven forbid she finds a miniscule chunk of carrot, celery or onion.
Boy do I feel your pain/frustration/"whatever!!!"
68. JK said:
omg, i laughed so hard when i read this that coffee came out of my nose. i swear.
i have a 7 year old, and she WON'T EAT MACARONI AND CHEESE!!! I KNOW!! it's crazy. i mean, who doesn't like pasta and cheese?!
every time i get her to taste something different, i too experience that surge of excitement.
I love these kinds of posts--keep it up!
69. Eater's Regret said:
Ah Dooce, you poor poor child! Your heart must be broken trying to get her to eat things, I have to admire her stubbornness though! Gotta love a child that stands by her principles.
70. Anonymous said:
I remember the tweet about this. How exciting. My kid won't eat anything "good" like ice cream or chocolate or cookies. He whines for pineapple or grapes or fucking bananas...what a wussy.
71. Michele said:
I have to give myself props, because just before I read it, I thought to myself - let her try the syrup first.
But then, I have been at this for close to nine years now.
I am jealous though...greasy spoon diners are not allowed in my part of Connecticut.
72. Jennine said:
For years I've said that the sweet taste of victory is just like maple syrup with a hint of deep frier fat and a delicate ketchup reduction served on a butter knife while sitting in a pleather booth at a local diner.
Everyone just laughed at me. But you know the truth.
73. Court said:
Sadly, I also think cake is yucky. And I'm 27 years old. People keep asking me to try different versions -- and I do -- but I still hate it.
74. Susannah said:
thank you for this post! my 5-year-old son does not eat much of anything, and not in any predicable pattern, but he LOVES candy! thanks for making me laugh out loud and know I am not alone.
75. Shelah said:
Heather-
You lucky dog, you! I've been fighting the picky eating battle with #1 for more than eight years now and I have never, ever been able to convince him that anything he has already decided he doesn't want to eat is even remotely edible. Pineapple=poison, vanilla ice cream is vile (although strangely he will only eat chocolate shakes if they are made with vanilla ice cream-- he's infuriatingly idiosyncratic too). And when you said that you were going to try to get her to eat something new in a restaurant, I was waiting for a very public meltdown to ensue. We only do our halfhearted attempts at getting him to eat anything new at home, where no one has to watch him gag and no one can see the steam rising from my ears.
76. Stellare said:
Leta sounds like a 4 year old. Wait, she IS 4!!
77. Shalini said:
I love this story! I love that Leta is so unique.
78. Sensibly Sassy said:
Jon and Heather: 1
Leta: 5 Million
Nice of the little tyke to give you guys a victory.
79. Anonymous said:
Love your site... I don't have kids of my own (unless you count animals and you should) but I really enjoy reading about your trials with Leta. I still think she's a candidate for Asperger's Syndrome but even if she isn't, she's super fun.
Thanks for all the fun posts and keep up the great work!
80. Anna-Laura said:
i suggest getting her to try eggs by dousing scrambled eggs in syrup. my brother and i loved it as a kid, and i still have fond memories of drowning my scrambled eggs in syrup (we'd each eat about 4 eggs this way-- i think we were around 7-9).
i don't do it any more, of course, since i like the taste, but sometimes i'm tempted....
81. Katherine said:
Now that she'll eat them, I know you won't want to upset the very balance of the universe. HOWEVER, I can't let this post pass me by without mentioning that we only last month found the best pancake recipe in the entire world. It's been under our noses for 15 years, but we never tried it. The Buttermilk Pancakes in the Joy of Cooking -- the most basic cookbook -- are the best pancakes we have ever put in our mouths. They are SO SWEET and so much better than any other pancake I've ever had. I can't say enough about them. (Not the regular ones, the buttermilk ones.) Even if you can't get Leta to try them, by all means you and Jon should get right on it.
82. Shannon said:
I'm so glad Leta has learned to embrace the awesome divine power of the pancake. I mean, come on, they made a whole house of them that went international. It doesn't get much better than that.
In fact, my own two-year old daughter said her first prayer this week. What did she pray for? Pancakes.
83. Shaina said:
i'm 20 and still have major issues with food...i will eat a lot of things, now, but when i was little i once went a year eating mostly bologna and hot dogs (which now i can't stomach) and until i was a teenager i'd bring pb&j sandwiches with me when we went out to eat because there would be nothing on the menu i would eat. i dont eat vegetables. i don't eat red meat. i have issues trying ANYTHING new. i didnt eat plain pasta til i was 14, same with scrambled eggs.
good luck with Leta. my only word of advice (which i think you already probably know) is DONT MAKE A FUSS. to this day i have an easier time trying new things around people other than my family, because if i tried, oh, say, a pepper at home my parents would be all "LOOK! IT DIDNT KILL YOU!", etc. the more they bug me about it, the more my innate stubbornness makes me not want to try anything new ever again.
84. Melissa said:
As a parent isn't it amazing what we have to do to convince our kids to eat. I'm going to remember the "it tastes like candy" thing the next time we get to a sticking point.
85. Melissa said:
Have you read Cheese, Peas, and Chocolate Pudding? It's a kid's book that my mom used to love when she was little, and it's about a boy about as picky as Leta. They don't publish it any more that I know of, but it's online here: http://www.conigliofamily.com/Cheese.htm
You might get a kick out of it.
86. amy said:
This is hilarious because my 8 year old just jumped on the pancake bandwagon last week. Now she even eats them for dinner when last month, she wouldn't go near them. As for PB&J, she loves peanut butter sandwiches but wants no part of the jelly. How can you not want them together? What is she crazy? But I'm like you, I gave up this fight a long time ago. I can't figure out where she gets her sense of taste. She doesn't really like chicken fingers and fries but she will eat plate after plate of california rolls with steamed broccoli on the side. Now, I know I love sushi but she's been this way since she was 2. Oh well, its probably healthier for her.
87. Kperdue said:
First time I'm prompted to write . . . very funny post and any parent can relate! Thanks for the entertainment!
88. tea tree said:
Well, since we just graduated from weekly feeding therapy, I totally get this. It's a fucking pancake. CAKE, it's cake. And then when someone who has yet to breed SWEARS their future (perfect) child will eat whatever organic wholesomeness is put in front of them, I think see you on the frozen food aisle, buddy. See you there.
89. Jen said:
What a wonderful post. I was on the edge of my seat, Would Leta try the pancake, Would she actually like it? Thank you, Heather, for this bit of entertainment in my afternoon. You're hilarious.
90. Laura said:
HAHA @ #10! (I eat the green M&Ms first because I don't want them to feel left out or left behind).
Great story!
91. Twenty Four At Heart said:
Oh how you make me laugh! First of all, I WAS Leta once upon a time ... only to this DAY I won't eat pancakes, or any other breakfast foods. And I'm fine, really. I survived. I did have a daughter just like me ... and she is now 19, touring Europe and taking photos of men with the worst comb-overs in the world. She survived okay too. But I did almost pull my hair out at times raising her. Wonder where they get their strong will and independent nature from?! :)
I'm having a contest this week and there's a $50 prize. Come visit if you have a chance!
92. Angela said:
I absolutely love your Leta stories! I was picky like her when I was little, but I've grown out of a lot of that, now (I'm 25). I still don't like syrup, though. I eat my pancakes (and waffles) only with butter.
I don't have any kids yet, but my 6 year old nephew won't eat anything BROWN....and it's fun (for me since he's not my kid) to try to talk him into eating brown things. Haha!
93. Karin said:
I have an 80 yr old mother who reacts the same way. She is VERY hesistant about trying any new type of food, especially fast food that she has always been rather skeptical about in the first place versus home cooking. But when she takes the plunge and finally tries something new - well hey! it's her new found favorite. I now have her hooked on Auntie Anne's pretzel dogs and Pei Wei sweet and sour shrimp. Life is all about expanding those horizons!
94. Aimee said:
Wait...Syrup tastes like CANDY? BRB.
It's like you never know what's going to work. One day, reverse psychology seems like the way to go ("no, of course you don't want a pancake. No, in fact, I forbid you to eat one") and the next day, a direct approach does the trick. I guess part of their job is to keep you guessing.
95. Shannon said:
Heather, the whole way through reading that I felt like you were talking about my daughter. I know that its only after its over that it seems funny.
Julie is the same way, sooo difficult. She doesnt "wike" anything, so she says. If I can bribe her, or make it seem like I dont care if she eats or not then she does. She will eat it, and amazingly she doesnt despise it completely like she thinks that she does.
People always ask me if she a fussy or picky eater, and I say no, she is a reluctant eater. I never know when she will eat. She does eat well while in the tub, that's strange isnt it?
Its so nice to read about other peoples experiences and to know that I am not the only parent who struggles with this. Thank you.
96. rg said:
This whole raising children thing sounds complicated :)
97. secret.genius said:
good gracious. i was on the edge of my seat to find out whether Leta ate the pancake or not.
98. Christine said:
YAAAAAAAAAAAyyy! Pancakes! And the wooden spanking implement! And the armpit hair! This has been a red-letter week. What a good girl that Leta is.
99. shonda said:
As a weathered veteran in the Great Kiddie Wars, I applaud your victory. I am encouraged by the thought of it. Good for you!
101. Lovebuzz38 said:
I think she just felt sorry for you guys. You were trying so hard!
102. sarah said:
this IS progress! yippee!
Now, if you can make that pancake at home, with whole wheat flour, a couple of eggs and put fruit in it .. you have a super healthy breakfast. But .. go .. slooooooooowly!
103. hihorosie said:
Mmmm....I love pancakes too! Smart girl for saying "I love it and I WANT MY OWN!" Yes!
104. Anonymous said:
Woooo for pancakes - that was such a cute story.
I'm not lovin the daily Chuck picture tho. I know he is your baby and you would do anything and everything for him but it just reminds me of a horrible story that was in the news...
105. Jason said:
Blue Plate is LIFE! I actually saw you there once, but was too chicken to say anything.
106. Astrogirl426 said:
Yeh, what the hell is UP with kids today not eating yummy stuff like hot dogs and pancakes and watermelon? Hand to god, we have to BEG the Bunker Monkey to just PLEASE have ONE piece of watermelon, I swear it's good! In my day, we only turned down nasty food like brussels sprouts. Damn kids.
I have also given up on the mealtime fights. I try to make at least one thing I know he'll eat, and if he won't eat then he won't. It's not like the kid's gonna STARVE, anyway.
A couple things work for us, sometimes (and sometimes they don't): Racing daddy to see who eats all his food first (hey, I know the heimlich, I can handle choking, but to have to beg him ONE MORE TIME to eat a damn hot dog, is beyond my capacity); the "oh, this is GROW-UP food, not for LITTLE kids. I don't think you should eat it." ploy; and the "I'm going to eat your food! You better eat if before I do!" ploy. Hey, I never said I had any shame.
But then, he also likes to watch Blue Man Group, so I blame the husband for his faulty genes.
107. Anonymous said:
Hi...I don't think there is anything "wrong" with Leta. In fact, I have a son who is very much like her. I know you don't need parenting advice, but I found some solace in the Love and Logic series. After listening to the first CD, the hair that I had ripped out of my head in patches actually started growing back. Its not perfect, but at least I'm not trying to "fight" my kid anymore.
Thanks for the great stories!
108. andrea said:
Mmmmm...diners. I loved both Ruth's Diner and Blue Plate when we lived in SLC. My mouth is watering thinking about polenta benendict.
I can only imagine how excited you were to see that she added another food to her very short list of acceptable foods.
109. Abbe said:
As someone who would eat ONLY peanut butter sandwhiches, adding jelly only at the threat of punishment, for oh about the first 8 years of my eating life, I can only say, IS SHE NUTS?
But what I really want to say is that I love your writing, tone, sarcasm, humor and honesty. I really enjoy reading your blog.
110. The B said:
I'm emphathising with Leta here because I hate nothing but Marmite on toast (no butter), a few select raw vegetables, and plain potatoes, rice and pasta when I was her age. Oh and sweets, yes. I still have a hideous salt habit because nothing tasted of very much.
To reassure you, I now eat almost entirely normally and even sometimes find myself tutting when I see my friends pick their cucumber out of their sandwiches.
Along the way, though, I truly hated being made to eat things I didn't like, and could convince myself that they made me sick, and I think on some weird level most kids will know if they're not getting something they need in their diet. My mother had massive guilt attacks when my hair started periodically falling out and when I was as thin as a reed but apart from being fairly short I turned out fine, and I think she and you have the right approach: tempt, tease, persuade, but never force the kid to eat anything. If she won't, just figure it's her loss. I regret all those years I didn't eat all this delicious stuff I used to spurn, but I'd rather that than not have had the choice.
111. Jacmo said:
Yeah that. Substitute Peanut butter toast for pancake. Eating is one of the few things these little beings control. We all need to have choices.
112. Katie said:
Fantastic. Score one for the parents. Man, I haven't been to The Blue Plate in years...and I don't even know why, it's not like I live THAT far away.
113. Anonymous said:
Dang, now I want pancakes.
114. becky said:
am so jealous - The Blue Plate was featured on Food Network (Diners, Drive-ins and Dives)...you all are so lucky.
115. Megan Rae Whittaker said:
how the hell could anyone NOT like the pancakes there??
116. Amelia Sprout said:
Nice! I'm just going to sit here and take notes, because I fear we are raising one of those as well.
117. AG said:
MMmmmmmm, Pancake! Bring on the chocolate chips.
Heather, reading Dooce gave me soooo much courage to blog about my own depression caused by death in the family, my mother's nervous breakdown and my subsequent FAT ASS.
I'd love you to check it out.
www.100daysinbed.blogspot.com
118. Jessica M. said:
A Great Victory! As I was reading I was rooting for the two of you =).
Ps. Boyfriend is 26 - has never, and will never eat a PB&J. It's a sad thing.
119. Theresa said:
Mmmmmmm, buttermilk pancakes with bananas, blueberries and pecans cooked into them. So yummy you'll never eat syrup again. Just slather 'em with butter...........(sorry, had to wipe the drool off my chin)..... and chow down. And if you're lucky enough to have them at Blue Heaven in Key West, you'll want to move there immediately. But making them at home is a good alternative.
120. Moose said:
I remember the days when I refused to eat lasagna and cheesecake. A memory which always prompts "DEAR MOTHER OF ALL THAT'S HOLY, WHAT WAS I THINKING?"
I hope you and Jon are reveling in your parental mastery.
121. gigi said:
Fight the Power , Leta ! =)
122. Astrogirl426 said:
Oh, and re: the spoiled little girl comment, if that's the case, then every single kid on the planet is a spoiled brat, because I have never known a kid who didn't have SOME weird eating preference (only white foods....ketchup on everything...a strict diet if noodles and butter every day for two years...etc.) or other odd quirk (collecting scraps of paper; only wearing the color blue). As Emerson said, "Children are all foreigners."
Kids are weird little creatures, and the person who claims he or she can understand how their minds work is a lying bastard. :) Proof positive: My own bunker monkey is currently trying to lick my feet. It is August. It is hot. I have been in sneakers all day. He doesn't care (freak). His favorite thing to do is also to stick his fingers up into your armpits. "No pits!" is a well-known refrain in this house.
Now back to the program at hand.
123. Julie said:
Aw that's cute. Leta has huge personality.
124. Jennifer said:
That was the funniest thing I've ever read.
My daughter was exactly the same way when she was little. She would eat chicken nuggets, pasta with butter and apple sauce. And like you, I didn't fight it because I knew some day she would broaden her horizons and try new stuff. She is now 12 years old and will try just about anything we put in front of her. Her current favorite is guacamole and pico de gallo. I'm not even kidding. She begs me for it. And I move like my ass is on fire to get it for her before she decides she doesn't want it anymore.
125. ana said:
my step daughter doesn't like to eat peanut butter because it gets stuck in her throat. she won't eat hamburger, but she'll eat steak. she'll eat many more things than any other 4 year-old i know: goat cheese, sushi (only tuna), asparagus, etc. but to get her to even try a bell pepper was a big argument. kids are funny about food.
my favorite story about my little sister and food: we're eating ham. she tries it. she says: this is the BEST thing i've EVER eaten, what is it made out of? mom replies: pork, it is made from a pig. sister says: i am NEVER eating that again! (didn't help that she just read charlotte's web.)
126. BiteMyPillow said:
If that were my sister she'd be eating the pancake with ketchup.
She's 23.
127. houndrat said:
I still think throwing the pancake at her head like a Frisbee would have been just as much fun.
My son LOVES pancakes as well, and usually uses about five pats of butter per cake. At least it's one meal that has absolutely no association with ketchup.
128. Christi said:
For some reason this almost made me cry. Could it be the kid sitting next to me that will not eat anything besides chicken nuggets, grapes and honey mustard? I'm not sure. Maybe it's the other kid sitting here that can't eat anything mushy, or if it has touched another food on his plate. We constantly wait for Mars and Venus to align and all to be right with our world. Ain't motherhood grand? If I didn't love them so much, I'd throw them both out the window. Peace out...
129. Graygirl said:
oh.....too funny! My youngest son was the same exact way. They used to give him awards in pre-school for trying a teeny tiny taste of something new. He was so picky and he wouldn't eat ANYTHING!!!! I worried at first but the kid was the healthiest one of my three!!!! He now (22 yrs old) is a strapping 6' and eats just about everything....mind you he still can be picky but nowhere near as bad as his youth. Good for you....you've got to pick your battles when raising kids or you will go crazy with guilt and worry over every little thing. Been there, done that! Let me know if you need help smacking all those that are going to tell you how wrong you are......
ps: Did I use enough exclamation points????
130. Marianne said:
As I kid, I lived mostly on pancakes, chicken fingers and fries, and plain spaghetti. The battle over vegetables or unusual foods only made me and my parents miserable. Now I'm in my 20s and happily eat pretty much anything! There is hope!
131. Lauren said:
OMG. I almost just spit my coffee all over my computer screen and keyboard I was laughing so hard. Congrats on your major victory!
132. Beth said:
I love how you brought it back around to the connection between a dad and his daughter (you and your dad, Leta and Jon). Very nicely done. It's so cool that you guys raise her truly together, and give the lie to that old tired stereotype of the uninvolved, incompetent dad.
Also, I show my 13-month-old son Chuck's and Coco's pictures every day; his first word was "dog," and he loves any dog he can see. He finds Chuck especially to be a fine example of the species.
133. Amy said:
Congratulations to you both, and congratulations to Leta, for outwitting the parents again! (I think she secretly KNOWS that pancakes are awesome, she just wants you to work for it) She should be on Survivor some day, or President...the President that eats pancakes with other heads of state! My daughter is a picky eater too, not in the "I hate that way", but in the "I will sit here for 3 hours and do everything but eat" way. We have got her to try new food over the years by telling her she can't eat it because she is just a girl...man, that gets her fired up and she will eat anything just to prove us wrong!
134. lisa said:
yeah! love the candy idea! pure genius!
i gave up on fighting about food, too. it was making me a very angry person. and for what reason? food? there are other things to worry about.
my daughter will be 13 next month and just the other day out of the blue she asked me if she could try my salmon! i about fell off my seat. she loved it!
have fun with leta. the journey makes it all worth while.
135. Anna said:
As a small child, I was a picky eater, too. My mother and I would have Aquarian standoffs across the kitchen table as she insisted that I try things, and I refused. I could usually wait her out -- as soon as she left the room, I ran to the bathroom and flushed down anything that would fit.
I only wanted to eat cheese omelettes or toast or anything from McDonalds.
So, my mother decided to stop trying to force me to eat other things. Instead, she would only make me toast and/or cheese omelettes. PERFECT. Occasionally, I could even get her to buy me McDonalds food. One day, she bought me a book, Bread and Jam for Frances. And then she read it to me, religiously.
It was the story of a cute little furry animal that only wanted to eat bread and jam -- and her mother was quietly using psychology on Frances to get her to try new food. In the book, it eventually works. In my real life, I thought it was very cute of my mother to think it would work.
As an adult, I am the one who will eat anything once and she is the one that turns her nose up (and makes faces and nearly yells out ala Leta) when it is suggested that she try something new, say sushi or fish.
136. Emily said:
You are so hilarious. And sometimes you actually make me want to have kids, which is quite a feat. But you manage to make somewhat normal kid stories engaging and interesting and you don't seem like robotic shells of parent-people like most parents. So, yeah - stop making me want kids. They are drooly and poop and change your life so that you have to be responsible. :)
137. Teri said:
As a child, I was a lot like Leta about eating. My mother gave up and made something separate for me most nights. This too shall pass. I really found things to be difficult to eat then though--I think some kids have stronger taste buds. That, and a devilish independent streak.
138. mss @ Zanthan Gardens said:
Three cheers for you!!! I'm so happy for your success. You are making slow but steady progress.
BTW I'm still laughing about the "I love the tumble bus." In our household that has become the code phrase for my reluctant willingness to try something new. I'll give my husband a dubious look and then if it doesn't turn out as bad as I expected, I'll turn to him and say, "I LOOOVE the tumble bus."
And I'm a LOT older than Leta.
139. Beth said:
My children are 9 and 6.5 and they won't eat MASHED POTATOES. What kid doesn't like MASHED POTATOES? I mean, really! i also dissemble tacos into a mess that I proudly call "Princess Nachos,' and my 6.5-year-old eats them up and wants more! I love it when I totally outsmart a 6-year-old!!
140. Lynnie said:
Many years have passed since my son was little, and while not too finicky, he knew which vegetables weren't his favorites, like spinach, squash and mushrooms. "Cream of Yummy" soup soon became a favorite at our house, and he was never the wiser!
141. Jenn said:
It took us two years to get our youngest (4) to try a waffle. We asked her when she was 3 when she would try it - she said "When I'm older." So my husband got the bright idea of asking her the day after her birthday: "So, you're older, is it time to try a waffle?"
She's had an eggo about every other day since then. (Don't even get me started on why she won't try peanut butter, cake or cookies. But candy - hells yeah.)
142. misguided mommy said:
and here i am begging my kid to just please this one meal eat something that isnt a pancake. every fucking meal all i hear is I WANT PANCAKE PANCAKE PANCAKE. Sometimes the little shit changes it up and requests a pancake with syrup and cream (whipped cream) But DO NOT mix his whipped cream or the whole world will fucking explode.
Fucking pancakes.
143. Jenn Astle said:
For about four years of my life I would only eat chocolate and things made from chocolate. Have you ever tried good old fashioned reverse psychology?
Your blog is fantastic.
Jenn
144. SarahHub @ Oakbriar Farm said:
Yahoo! Victory tastes great!
Seriously, thanks for this post. I need a reminder sometimes that I am not in control of my daughter's food choices. I can put the food on a plate, but I can't force her to eat it.
My child is eighteen months old and doesn't quite weigh 20 pounds. She did once, barely, but then she had a cold, and she hasn't made it back yet. Her tiny size has made me to total maniac. "Evie, would you like more butter?"
145. Lauren S. said:
I'm assuming since you have a gazillion readers that someone has already recommended Jessica Seinfeld's book "Deceptively Delicious". I highly recommend this book!
From the website (www.deceptivelydelicious.com) Jessica Seinfeld, like many busy parents, struggled to get her three kids to eat healthily. After much trial-and-error — and many mealtime battles — she discovered a foolproof system: delicious and easy-to-make stealth recipes that sneak in puréed veggies so kids will never suspect the foods they love are actually good for them!
So feed her all the chicken nuggets and ketchup she wants but hide the "good for you stuff" inside! Brilliant!
146. Ariel said:
This is hands down the funniest thing I have ever read on this website. And YOU lady, are funny.
147. Sarah Lyons said:
My EIGHT YEAR OLD daughter will still only eat 6 things. Eggo chocolate chip waffles, chicken nuggets, bacon, Easy Mac, meatballs, and stuffed manacotti. Oh, and the chicken nuggets dipped in BLUE CHEESE DRESSING. Will she eat spaghetti with her meatballs? No. Spaghetti and sauce are the exactly same tastes as manacotti (and much plainer), but will she eat them? Absolutly NOT. Will she eat any other type of macaroni and cheese? Nope, only Easy Mac. I gave up trying long ago. She will come to new things on her own. Like just the other day, out of the blue when she looked at the steak on my plate and said she wanted some. Now she wants steak for every meal. Darn expensive, but hey, we're up to 7 things she'll eat.
148. Cee said:
I was Leta at that age (for several years all I ate were apples, peanut butter and fries). My parents tried and tried, resulting in many arguments and tears, but when they finally stopped pushing me, I began trying new things on my own. I'm grateful for their approach, because at that age I was too young to explain my sensory issues - some foods just "felt" wrong in my mouth, and I would literally gag. If they had pushed any harder, I'm sure I would have ended up with severe eating issues. But I managed to survive to my twenties, and now I eat almost everything.
Almost. :)
149. Ron said:
Heh. My 5 year old son wouldn't touch peanut butter and jelly. I tried to explain to him that this was un-American, un-natural, and downright insane - but all to no avail. Until a couple of months ago that is. One day I came downstairs to find him sitting in front of the tv, watching the battle scene from the Narnia movie (over, and over, and over) with a whole loaf of bread, an open jar of peanut butter, and the now empty jar of jelly! I wasn't even upset that about half of the jelly was on the living room rug (until I realized I'd have to tell my wife about the rug).
150. samantha said:
so i don't know if i'm just emotional or what, but i totally teared up reading that. yay for leta, pancakes ARE yummy! hooray!
151. Jennie said:
Mom and Dad 1pt.
Kiddos 503,564 pts.
Our daughter is 5 and still believes we are trying to poison her with Maple Syrup. Maybe Leta could help with that now? Getting to read your blog makes being a stay-at-home mom worthwhile. (oh and also the love of my children and such)
152. Cee said:
I also wanted to add, I think it's important for parents to realize that kids can have genuine dislikes, too. I never ate beef as a kid, I still won't. It just tastes bad to me. And that's not me being bratty on purpose, I just don't like it! Kids should have the same freedom to develop their own likes and dislikes.
153. Adriana in AZ said:
I wish I could just shut up, let go and let my wise hubby lead every so often.
You are awesome Heather. Thanks for sharing this and congratulations!
154. bibliogrrl said:
@Beth - who doesn't like mashed potatoes? MY MOM. She will not eat them. Or beans. Or peas.
My dad doesn't like angel hair pasta.
I think that their food quirks made them tolerant of mine. When I was 4 or 5, something occurred between me and a hamburger, no one can remember what, and I haven't eaten one since.
I'm 35 now.
Steak? FINE. But I don't eat any ground meat, sausage, I'm even kind of suspicious of couscous. It's all about the texture. I've accidentally eaten things with ground meat in it since then, and IMMEDIATELY known, and been completely grossed out.
I also don't like things with small bones, or baby corn.
But I've rarely met a vegetable I didn't like (see above for notable exception) and could not live without bacon. :D
You're doing FINE.
(and anon #100 is a douchewaffle. Leta is so not spoiled. Leta is AWESOME.)
155. Skylar said:
I totally second comment mentioning "Deceptively Delicious" by Jessica Seinfeld. It is a fantastic book and you could be hiding all sort of things in her pancakes. My husband puts strawberries in our pancakes, they pretty much melt away but the pancakes are a lovely pink shade. PINK, she would love pink pancakes!!! Good Luck
156. Kristan said:
Hey, one new food per year on average! That's not so bad. By the time she has a kid of her own, she'll probably know about thirty good things to feed it! And don't you just hope she will only be able to average one new food every TWO years with hers? :P
I might suggest prioritizing though. Next up should be SCALLOPS, because SCALLOPS are GREAT. (Hence all the capitals.)
157. Smilf said:
HA! The trials and tribulations of trying to get children to eat. Ugh. I am sure I lived on spaghettios with hot dogs in them and pizza for 3 years straight as a child. I turned out okay. (That is up for debate still of course).
158. Barb said:
Only a mom who has just yelled, "No, you have to eat all your hotdog before you get a poptart," would even have the understanding that it takes for these kinds of kids.
159. Jamie AZ said:
Yeah for pancakes! Kids and their eating habits can have no real rhyme or reason sometimes, but it's such a thrill to have these victories.
160. Beth said:
Could Jon please come to my house and convince my daughter that PB&J sandwiches are not the work of the devil? Or that applesauce actually does taste like apples (which she will eat) or that Oatmeal is not just for babies, or other meat besides Turkey lunch meat can also be appetizing? Maybe please?
161. Sara said:
Oh dear Lord I cannot stop laughing. I cannot begin to tell you how much I understand your frustration. I was The Pickiest Eater On The Face Of The Planet as a child. My dietary horizons have broadened by about a million percent since then. But so help me God, my 2 y/o daughter must have inherited the gene. Her father would rather eat a platter of celery, broccoli, and carrots PLAIN, without ranch! just the vegetables themselves! instead of a brownie, or candy, or sugar on a spoon. Why couldn't she have inherited THAT gene?! WHY GOD WHY?!
There was one time, a few months ago, when she voluntarily consumed green beans. Dipped in ketchup. Until she figured out she was eating green beans.
The child lives off of fruit and CHEEEEEETH! "IwanCHEEEEEETH!", every five freaking seconds of every day.
I do have an amazing pancake recipe that involves applesauce, yogurt, dry oatmeal, and whole wheat flour. She loves it. It took her a while to even try them though. B/c it wasn't fruit or CHEETH! But I dread the day she is old enough to watch me make the batter. It's not exactly a pretty thing pre-cooked. That day will be the day Mom's Picky Gene fully kicks in and she will declare that simply b/c of the way it looks, she hates it.
Oh, and she sometimes, depending on the weather and her hormone levels that day, will eat crumbled chicken breast drowned in Kraft BBQ sauce.
So I applaud you, fellow mother of a Picky Eater. May Leta ask for a pancake and syrup every day for the rest of her life, as testament to the one battle you and Jon won. :)
162. kri said:
This is by far one of the funniest things I have ever read. Congratulations to you, Jon, and your wild pancake success.
163. Jen said:
My son is the exact same way. He's almost seven and has never touched a hamburger, a piece of pizza or a chicken nugget that wasn't shaped a specific way. He eats two pb&j sandwiches every. single. day. and he's healthy. If you sneak some wheat germ into the pancake mix (we call it 'flavoring') Leta will get some extra Vitamin E she didn't even notice!
164. Jules said:
Sometimes when you're in these bizarre situations with your kid(s) do you ever have an out-of-body experience and ask yourself "What the hell am I doing?"
Maybe it's just me.
165. Eater's Regret said:
Ok she doesn't have Aspergers ffs! She is just a normal child with some quirky eating habits, why must people feel the need to diagnose her! My cousin only ate mini sausages and potato chips till he was 15, does he have Aspergers too? My boyfriend hates cucumber, snap! He must have it too!
This need to diagnose and analyse people is such a ridiculous trait, and forgive me for saying so, a very American trait. Kids need the freedom to express themselves however they wish, without some amateur psychiatrists giving their 2 cents. Leta seems to have a real sparky personality, with lots of intelligence and humour and a dash of stubbornness too. What exactly is wrong with that? Rock on baby, you're only a kid once!
166. Kristin said:
Don't worry. I was a picky eater as a kid too. My mom tells me many many times how she and my dad got thisclose to getting divorced because of my eating habits.
now, as an adult, i am an adventurous eater. ill try anything at least once. i didn't get like that though until i hit my late teens. hopefully leta won't wait that long to try sushi.
167. Bess said:
Hooray for small victories!!
When I was a kid, instead of putting maple syrup on my pancakes, I preferred sugar and cream. Butter the pancake, sprinkle on a generous teaspoon of sugar, and pour a little cream or milk over the top. The rest of my family were normal maple syrup people, and I must agree that maple syrup is pure distilled awesomeness, but for some mysterious reason I never liked it on my pancakes. (Today I usually eat my pancakes with a little butter, maybe with a wee bit of syrup on the side.)
168. emily eakes said:
i had a kid who didn't like hot dogs!
although as he gets older he gets (slightly) more adventurous - i was eating sushi one time and asked if he would like to try a "california roll" and he was all - YEAH!!! and he put it in his mouth and barely made it to the sink before his gag reflex took control!
in hind sight i know he was thinking, "i love california and i love bread - i bet i'll love a california roll!" :)
169. Lori said:
People that made me laugh today:
#79: Doesn’t have kids, has never spent any time with Leta, yet capable of diagnosing autism over the Internet. Thinks Leta is “super fun” EVEN IF SHE DOESN’T HAVE ASPBERGER’S!
#100: Did you have to read all 99 comments before yours to come to the conclusion that Leta is not at all unique in this situation? She is a typical, 4-year-old picky eater and that’s what’s funny about the story, the ridiculousness and relatability of it. And who “worked” whom…she ultimately ate the damn pancake, didn’t she? If she knew how to “work” her parents, she would’ve left the diner fifty bucks richer.
170. jenni.mystery said:
I have to warn you about refrigerator in the garage. If the garage is colder than the freezer, it will stop working and you'll lose everything. At least with an older refrigerator. But it is so fun to have the extra storage.
171. Kristine said:
Ohhh, I loved that bit about when you were waiting for the pancake to come. I've sat there just as tense, not even glimpsing at my toddler at times when I know my indirect eye contact (there could be a mirror!) could upset world order.
172. John 3 said:
Until this day I can not stand to eat a peanut butter sandwhich especially with jelly on it. So long live this kid and the crazy eating habits we grow to love!!!!
173. Jill Shalvis said:
My child is the Queen Of Picky. She eats TWO things. Salami and cheese. God forbid we put it on bread.
Good to know I'm not alone.
174. jana said:
Oh, this entry was painful for me to read, because my two-year-old is showing definite signs of turning out to be this child. I could see her saying "cake is yucky" without even imagining too hard. I'll start practicing my deep breathing tactics now.
175. Barb said:
It's good at least that she thinks it's ok to change her mind like that and isn't stuck on that, "I was right" thing. Go Leta!
176. Ellen said:
Has she tried chocolate chip pancakes yet?
177. Janet said:
Ooooh. Just wait til you figure out just what you can "hide" in homemade pancakes. -- Make sure whatever it is is finely finely chopped.
178. the mighty jimbo said:
let me know when you need help with tofu, raw fish, and soy milk.
i've had to convince half the people in my own family to sign on to these over the years, and, for the most part, i've been reasonably successful.
179. That Sneaker Wearing Entrepreneurial Cartoonist Internet Guy said:
Okay, I'm the dad in this situation and our daughter will not, in no uncertain terms, come near, breath or even taste ketchup. She'll darn sure put salsa on her spaghetti but refuses to eat a fry that has touched catsup.
Why do I even care? I really don't. I gave up trying to get her to even taste it. But there are those days I just want to scream at the top of my lungs, "EVERY KID IN THE WORLD LIKES KETCHUP! EAT IT YOU LITTLE %$#&"!
180. Jeff said:
I have tears in my eyes reading this, just because it hits WAY too close to home.
...But you're going to get 327,000 emails about beating your child with wooden objects. Wait, ok, just one wooden object. Because THAT was the point.
181. Karen said:
I was on the edge of my seat ... would the particles of the universe shift? Will. She. Eat. The. Pancake. ?. ?. O.M.G. where's the freakin' Bisquick?! We're havin' pancakes for dinner!! My already "enviable" waistline hates you ... who cares! It's pancakes. With butter. Real syrup. Cups of syrup that taste like candy. My life is not like yours ... I needed to be on the edge of my seat over a flippin' pancake. Thank. You.
182. kat said:
That "I LOVE IT" killed me. This is probably my very favorite thing you've written.
183. Ellen said:
Growing up, my mother regaled me with stories of my middle sister's eating habits. She used to say that she would've given her a whole Hershey's bar just to get her to eat something. I'm not sure it was picky so much as uninterested. See, my sister put mash potatoes on her bald head and decorated her forearm with blueberry juice. For years.
She's also the one who ventured forth to the neighbor's house naked to ask my mother what she should wear.
184. Sage said:
My five year old son won't eat pancakes....waffles with syrup yes but no pancakes. He also won't eat peanut butter OR jelly...you're not alone.
sigh
185. Nancy said:
The furminator is one of the greatest inventions of all time. With a Bernese Mountain Dog and two cats it gets regular use around our house. For those of you that can't quite stomach the cost, check out Amazon.com. I wish I had seen their prices before buying mine at the local big-box Mart of Pets.
186. yogagrrl said:
My brother-in-law refuses (and has since he was about Leta's age) to eat anything green. No green vegetables, no green candy, no green cake. In fact, I think the only vegetables he eats are potatoes and corn. He might eat onions if you mince them so finely as to render them 'onion powder' and cook them in something.
I can't really figure out how he managed to get any nutrition to become the strapping 6' tall guy he is, when the only thing RESEMBLING green he would consume was Mountain Dew. And yet he's out walking around, perfectly healthy (though potentially a little constipated).
187. Zak said:
Just wanted to confirm that I would definitely sleep with Jon and John Larroquette.
But I bet that John Larroquette doesn't make his daughter pancakes.
188. Julie A. said:
I totally needed that laugh. I swear my husband and I are going through the exact same thing with our 2 1/2 year old. I hate the food battle - congratulations on winning that one!
189. The Independent Mom! said:
My gawd, take my daughter. You and Jon could use your "united front powers" and maybe Olivia will eat 5 things too!
My problem is that I have 2 boys, ages 2 and 1 and they follow in Livi's footsteps. I have to convince THREE kids to eat. Yea, dinner time gives me gray hair...
190. dragonhart said:
My 4 year old has always eaten pancakes, but won't even think about trying the syrup....even though we have told him a million times that it tastes like candy and is pure sugar..... some other *fun* eating games.....
Won't even try jelly....took him 2.5 years to try peanut butter, which he now loves, but still won't try the jelly.
Got him to try french toast....because I sprinkled powdered sugar on it....LOVES it....
Okay, I know I shouldn't care, he does not need these things. I think the most frustrating part, besides that he just WON'T try it, is that he doesn't trust me. I have never tried to give him anything he wouldn't like.
More strangeness....LOVES cottage cheese - HATES applesauce!
Huh, applesauce??? What kid does not love applesauce?!
Also loves chicken nuggets, but constantly says he doesn't like chicken......hmmmmmmmmmmmmm..............
191. emsxiety said:
My daughter to this day refuses to eat peanut butter and jelly. She will eat peanut butter and fluff or just peanut butter but jelly must never touch the bread.
My son would only eat pb&jelly if they were evenly spread and cut across in perfect sections.
My friends son will only eat chicken. She just recently got him to try pot roast, he loved it. He's 10.
Sometimes we win one, most of the time we lose. But man those victories are amazing.
192. Jodie said:
I wouldn't eat peanut butter & jelly sandwiches as a child. I hated the consistency of jelly, and grape jelly most of all. It took me to adulthood to like peanut butter. And now I'm happy to have a peanut butter and banana on toast for breakfast. BUT, I did eat tons of other stuff... including pancakes. Congrats Jon for getting Leta to eat a new food.
193. Ellen said:
I'm with several of these posts - Leta is healthy and normal. I may not have been a picky eater (well, not comparatively) but I was pure stubborness. There are no pictures between 1.5 and 4 OR if there were, I was practically growling, had my head down (at my own birthday party!), or threw the finger. Frequently just I screamed bloody murder. Like at Sears. On the stand. With the photographer trying to get a decent shot. Until my mother gave up, took me home, brought my sisters back and received wonderful pictures of them. My mother also said that my tantrums often took the form of holding my breath. She'd just gently help me to the ground in case I fainted before my body forced me to breathe.
I was her third. I got NOTHING over on her. NOTHING. Oh, and for the record - God himself would not have managed to get me on that tumble bus so I think it's awesome that Jon managed with Leta. Hell, my mother put me in nursery school to socialize me because I was her fifth appendage.
Yeah - you're doing great Heather. Both of you. And Leta is beautiful and life will always be more interesting with her in it. And ours with your blog.
PS - every post is why I read your site.
PPS - if ever in Boston, try the Breakfast Club near Brighton. Single train car and great food.
194. Addie said:
Yay for Leta! Is it weird to be proud of a child not my own? Yay for Jon too, and for Heather for not cutting off any arms with butter knives!
195. Becky..Absent Minded Housewife said:
I tell my kids that this thing on their plates, this thing they WILL EAT, is not eyeballs and it's not gopher guts. So quit your gagging and stick a fork in it.
I do not care if they choose not to eat and they starve. Really. I won't make them eat something they truly dislike (like real eyeballs and real gopher guts) but I'm not listening to their whims. I cook it, they eat it. Kids in China and kids in Ethiopia you know.
I have the bestest pancake recipe BTW...straight out of a 1950's Utah County ward cookbook. Fuck Bisquick.
196. Rose said:
This is an awesome post .. just awesome in its awesome dooceness. It reminded me of a Dr. Seuss story.
Hmmm .. Seuss rhymes with Dooce. Coincidence? I think not! I hope you start writing children's stories.
197. Jennifer said:
I will eat it with a rake
I will eat it with a snake
I will eat it in a lake
I will eat a pancake!
198. thleen said:
This is the sweetest mom, dad and kid pancake story in the history of the world.
you continue to rock.
199. Sara said:
1. I love the Blue Plate
2. I love Pancakes
3. I love that your kid is not perfect (like everyone else in Utah's)
4. I love you (don't worry-not in a wierd way)
5. I am making pancakes for dinner tonight...because you made me hungry.
200. Tay said:
I love the Blue Plate, I end up there every weekend as well. I'm surprised I haven't seen you guys there yet.
You should try Vertical Diner, it's around 23rd south and 3rd west. It's a 100% vegan restaurant, but completely greasy amazing diner food. They have better pancakes than Blue Plate, too.
201. Joy said:
This is so funny to me because I have given up trying to introduce new foods to my kids - especially fish. They will eat calmari - YES, CALAMARI - but not perch or tilapia. Until one day my brilliant husband just told them to try it. And whaddaya know? One of 'em actually liked it. I am still amazed. And now hubby thinks he's all that and a bag of fish.
202. merlotmom said:
That's two for Jon.
Are you forgetting the tumblebus?
203. Lauren said:
Our now 6 year old son was the same way. He ate like 5 foods and declared several kid staples disgusting. Seriously, what kid doesn't love Mac & Cheese. I resigned myself to cooking us dinner and him kid food, but hubby persisted. Eventually I forced myself to play along too and now the kid will try just about anything. He still won't eat Mac & Cheese, but he LOVES lentil soup. Kids are fun...
204. Sarah Cool said:
Hahahahahahaha... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. This was hysterical. I'm still laughing!
205. kalisa said:
don't give Jon ALL the credit...you're the one who realized that syrup tastes like candy.
Good job, you guys. Parents should take any win that they can get.
206. Keri said:
Pancakes are always better in those restuarants that smell like old people. And now after reading about them, I must have some!
This post made me laugh out loud. Leta is such a character, every story about her cracks me up. She is going to make some lucky guy work very hard at life someday!
207. Fe said:
Thanks for this wonderful snippet. As a parent of an 11 year old son who LOVES vegetables and my cooking and a 10 year old son who will not eat anything other than Nutella sandwiches and white rice with soy sauce, I can relate to your joy at this "diet expanding" moment.
208. amandaw said:
I have been "blessed" with two picky eaters. Oh the joy! They both are picky about different things-dinner is an adventure. I alternately think about sending them to Ethiopia to experience real hunger pains and shoving handfuls of lima beans down their throat out of spite.
I'm sure this curse is a result of my exclaiming during my pre-children era after judgmentally observing a friend's child: "I'll never have a picky eater."
Thanks for the post.
209. Kirsten said:
My 4 year old LOVES pancakes and requests them for breakfast almost every day. I used to make them with bisquick and then I slowly started making them with whole grain organic pancake mix and she still gobbles them up. Now I even add pureed sweet potatoe and she still loves them. It's because of the syrup, it really is like liquid candy.
210. April said:
I just realized that your posts about how "challenging" Leta can be are usually my favorite. Does that make me a horrible, sadistic person?
211. juneyor said:
There is nothing wrong with surviving on potatoes. I've made it this far with no adverse effects. but if you don't believe me.
Nutritional Value /100 grams raw potato
Vitamin C 11.0 milligrams
Vitamin B6 0.44 milligrams
Carbohydrate 17.2 grams
Thiamin 0.21 milligrams
Folate 35.0 micrograms
Energy K Cals 75.0 k/cal
Fibre 1.3 grams
just saying...
212. Amanda said:
You guys are adorable!!!!
213. Brea said:
Our preschool teacher used to say that kids will pick one of three issues to fight you on: food, sleeping or toileting. She also went on to say that if a child was strong enough to push themselves away from the table, they were getting enough to eat (variety and/or amount).
I agree with Cee, #148. My 7-year old son has a strong gag reflex and most foods are unpalatable to him. Dry-heaving at the table just doesn't make for a happy family dining experience.
I also like the suggestion of moving from pancakes to heroin. It's the obvious next step.
214. J. Bo said:
Between you and Shreve over at Daily Coyote, the Furminator should be climbing the blue-chip-stock charts in no time.
Re: picky eaters-- I was once "aunt" to a VERY fussy child, who would not be convinced to eat some basil pasta I'd foolishly bought at Trader Joe's. I said, "Oh, well, that's a shame, hon', 'cause this is special pasta for kids. Says so right here on the label" (he wasn't quite reading yet). "I'll make you something else." "NO! I want the special kids' pasta!" "Oh, okay. I'll make that, then..."
His mother was thrilled when I told her, but I warned her that she could con him ONLY until his reading skills kicked in, and then he'd start punishing her for the lies...
215. JoyZ said:
Congratulations to the three of you!
It should get better - I used to be one of those kids who wouldn't eat new things. It would freak me out and I would yell my head off because for some reason it was scary to think of putting some potentially nasty foreign thing in my mouth and then ingest. The taste would linger and then the thing would be in me and there would be no undoing it. No undo!!
However, as the years went by, I kind of learned on my own to eat different things - even vegetables. And some candies. Granted it took until I was about 14 ...
The best thing my parents did for me was to keep sticking things in front of me (my mom), and letting it go if I wasn't ready (my dad). Also, to let peer pressure take over.
You're doing great!
216. Stacey said:
I just love your stories about Leta. It makes me feel like I can't wait to be a mom, quirks and all. Thanks for the story.
217. Amy S said:
I adore Leta and I love reading about your life. Love it. A little slice of "normalcy" in a world gone mad. Thank you for the laugh and for sharing part of your life with all of us. Most of us appreciate it more than you will ever know.
218. mariah said:
as a mother of an extremely picky eater, i share your triumph as if it was my own. great work. first pancakes, then pb&j, then the world!
219. christa said:
Man, do I ever know this feeling. Our son is 3, but he and Leta are *likethis* on the eating and in just... being unique. Every time you write about something Leta tries that she's never done before -- like running on the sand in her bare feet -- I think of my kid. We've held our breaths before and tried not to make eye contact at the wrong time and garner just the right level of nonchalance combined with just a titch of interest. It's kind of stressful, but incredibly exciting when it happens.
PANCAKES. That? Is huge.
220. Nat said:
Did you know there is a National Pancake Day/Week?
check it out...
http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Batter-Up-Its-Pancake-Week/Detail.aspx
A food that everyone in the world eats and that has it's own holiday? Leta better love pancakes!
221. Kathy said:
Agh..my boys would not eat squat and then I started begging them not to eat. "Please DO NOT Eat that! It will make you grow and I will not have that...here have a piece of candy...that won't make you grow at all...DO NOT put that piece of chicken in your mouth...it has protein which will make your muscles big ---NOOOO!!" They are now 9 and 5 and still beg me to do it! And they put the broccoli and carrots down, man! I have also converted my best friend's twins by acting like a complete moron when visiting her and watching her want to remove them from the high chair and beat the holy hell out of them. They ate all of that meal and now are great eaters, too! What will it hurt to try it?
222. Jody said:
I have been through this situation so many times! Ok, my 5 year old refuses to try bubble gum. What kid doesn't want bubble gum?
223. Audrey said:
We used to tell my little sister (who ate nothing but Cheerios and milk until she turned 16) that things had sugar in them. Sometimes they did, and sometimes it was a flat out lie. "But this chicken has sugar in it, sure you don't want some?" "Eat this banana. Those dark spots? Made purely of brown sugar."
224. Michelle said:
My daughter is a picky eater too, so I slip a teaspoon of soy granules into everything I can... it just makes me feel better.
225. Suzette said:
I'm reminded of my own kid when she was little. It could be worse. Try a two-item diet. She went for something like six months refusing to eat anything other than carrots and weiners. She would demand them! "Cawwot! Weenie!" And the weiners had to be cut into little disks, to match the carrots. Oh, and they had to be stone cold. UGH! Her pediatrician just laughed and told me to roll with it. I did. She lived. But, she is kinda weird now, 24 years later.
226. Kimmers said:
Oh man - I don't think I have the strength for a picky eater. I'm the most patient person on earth with a lot of things, but my boyfriend is a picky eater already, and if I hear him try to tell me ONE MORE TIME that mashed potatoes count as a vegetable... I'm gonna totally lose my shit.
Points to Leta for suddenly being interested at the word "candy" though! A girl after my own heart. :)
227. STUFT said:
Yes, but has she tried pancakes with banana and vegemite? Don't gag till you've tried it. Oh the vitamin B and potassium rush!
228. Jen said:
Every time I read about Leta's eating habits I am comforted... all my 3 year old son will injest is milk, marshmallows and dum-dum suckers.
Pancakes FTW!
229. murphy912 said:
Our son is the same way. We find ourselves begging to get him to eat foods bereft of any nutrition just to get him to EAT SOMETHING and he refuses, on principle, I guess. Some mornings we have begged him to eat a donut, or a cookie, just so he'd have something in his stomach before he went to "school" (daycare).
He drinks milk, eats toast (can't have any seeds or anything visible in it) with Olivio (as long as it's not melted), vegetarian bacon with ketchup, fries and crispy chicken strips w/ copious amounts of ranch dressing, Pringles, Oreos, cheese pizza, vegetarian chick'n nuggets, and that's about it. Once in a blue moon he'll eat a banana, vanilla yogurt, or a cheese stick.
He is off the charts for height and weight (weight is proportionate to height), and at 5 years of age, was the size of a 6-7 year old. I think he's growing on air.
230. Mae said:
I LOVE The Blue Plate! They were featured on the Food Network not too long ago. After I get my cheese fry and dipping sauce fix at the Training Table when I visit Zion next month, it's straight over to The Blue Plate. Okay, maybe after a juicy garlic burger from the Cotton Bottom.
231. juliekaye said:
As the mother of two picky girls aged 10 and 11, I can totally sympathize. I have the kids who won't eat a brownie or cookies or ice cream or even candy bar unless it's a specific type. My kids have never eaten 1) soup 2) a sandwich 3) mac and cheese 4) any type of casserole 5) any kind of potato except french fries. I finally stopped the battle - they eat mostly healthy foods and logic tells me they'll add foods when they feel like it. In the meantime, it's not so bad that they turn their noses up at all the pseudo food, junk food, sodas, sugar-loaded drinks, etc. Keep up the effort and take the small wins where you can - you worked for it, and you certainly deserve a standing ovation.
232. Creature of Habit said:
*laughing my head off*
This is so funny - not only because she tortures you with her pickiness, but also because I was that child so I know exactly what she's thinking...and it's complicated! Also - she will mostly likely not grow out of this. I mean, she'll expand her horizons, sure. But let's just say the Food Network is going to be completely over her head.
Your conversation with her sounds like the conversations my husband has - with me. Now. Still.....yeaaaahhhhhh.......
233. amyinbc said:
I would have burst out crying with joy. Really.
Amy,
Mother of the pickiest eater EVER.
234. Jen said:
Leta, I understand. I grew up on plain white bread and a single slice of yellow American cheese or peanut butter on plain white bread, no jelly.
23 years later I finally said "hey, maybe I should try something new." I do occasionally try new things but I don't go crazy. I've come a long way in the past 10 years.
235. Anonymous said:
My son is 18 and I have spent those years trying to make a variety of things that he would actually eat that didn't involve any vegetables of any kind...or fruit. He'll eat ground beef in a taco or on a pizza but never an actual hamburger. He will eat the same tomato sauce I put on pasta as long as it was put on a pizza...the list goes on. My long winded point is that it is both pathetically exciting and frustrating to have him come in the door and asking me accusingly why I NEVER made him lasagna cause he just had it at his girlfriends house and he likes it. I want to run in the kitchen and FINALLY make a meal I like but haven't eaten in 18 years because of his dislikes, but I also want to strangle him.
236. Anna said:
Do you KNOW how happy I am that there is ONE MORE CHILD in America who has access to jelly but refuses to eat it?! I thought no other such child existed besides my five-year-old! This is so exciting. Hot damn.
Congrats on expanding Leta's teensy menu. We, too, know how victory tastes. (Like chicken.)
237. Amby said:
My favorite, in college, used to be chocolate chip pancakes and a plate of fries.
238. chelsey said:
This sounds so familiar to some of our battles with Riah, she does eat very well it's just other things like, "Wow Riah look Mommy's wearing pretty sandals, why don't you be like mommy and take off your snow boots, its 98 degrees!"
239. Anonymous said:
I didn't like PB&J as a child either. Still won't eat it.
240. Chelsey said:
Okay some will hate me for this but I make it pretty clear that my house isn't a restraunt, I don't make separate meals for everyone else.. I take suggestions, but everyone eats the same or they can go hungry.
I know my children have their likes and dislikes, as do I however, some children I have nannied for or cared for have gotten a little ridiculous. My theory is to make what you and your husband want for dinner, add something toddler like sliced apples or cut grapes but don't make anything else. They'll probably scream and carry on the first few times, because most parents give in. Guess what they won't starve, they'll eat when their hungry...they'll eat what you've made :) And yes sometimes it takes tactics like the one you and John used.
241. Spandrel Studios said:
Who knew that pancakes - or maple syrup - could spread so much joy? Maybe you could convince her to try a Monte Cristo (you know, those egg-dipped fried ham/cheese sandwiches) if you slather it with syrup?
242. Wendy said:
Why do they do that? Tessa hated the fireworks, the rainbow we saw earlier, the beach, and the aquarium. This has all been in the last month. And she hates peanut butter and Noah hates jelly. It makes no sense to me! I thought my kids were the only ones like that! I'm so glad to see that they're just normal!
That's really cool that y'all were able to get her to eat them. Good for you!
243. Tess said:
You are my writer hero! My oldest was like that when she was little. She hated cake and sweets and only ate vegetables. Wait, was that a bad thing? Now that she's 18, she won't even look at a vegetable! Kids-can't figure them out and can't beat them with a wooden spoon- at least not out in public with surveillance cameras around.
244. Mandy said:
This is along the Jessica Sienfeild line of thinking (and maybe it's already been mentioned in amongst the 230 comments!)
How about putting fruit and vegies in the pancake batter?
We have pancakes every weekend and sometimes for dinner and I always put fruit in the batter - mushed banana (the favourite), grated apple, blueberries or whatever we've got hangin' around. We also have 'blinis' which are russian style pancakes with grated zucchini and carrot in the batter and a crust of melted cheese on one side. Actually he's not eating them at the moment but he did LOVE them for a while.
I don't know whether this was a trick that worked or whether Pascal is just a 'good' eater but we kind of just let him sit with us and serve him up what we're eating and just say if you don't like it, leave it on your plate but you're missing out if you don't try it. You've probably heard this a MILLION times but persistence is key..
Another thing that's working at the moment which I saw on a british show called 'little angels' was asking Pascal 'how many bits of avocado (or whatever) do you think you need to eat before you have your desert?' It's funny because he never says 'one', it's always three or four. (just like the little girl did on the show we watched) Everytime we've used that tactic he's cleared his plate!
I'm sure you've had heaps of this kind of advice as I've been reading your blog for a while and I'm no stranger to Leta's eating habits!
Enjoy the pancake run while it lasts. As you know already, Leta will be fine!
245. niki said:
You guys are awesome. I'm sure Leta will grow up to love pancakes and other more exciting dishes. But I can't blame her with the ketchup. I eat loads of that stuff when I was younger; I think even now I still do. There's this place in Kuala Lumpur called Paddington House of Pancakes (http://www.paddingtonpancakes.com) and they serve about 138 different kinds of, well, pancakes. I had a field day when my friend took me to this haven. I ordered 3 servings; I never felt so happy.
246. Jenny said:
I loved this. It really made me laugh after a night of Irish family drama.
247. Aimee said:
Just an hour ago, at a friend's birthday dinner, I swear the earth stopped for one small moment. My four year old daughter ate a bite of steak. Steak--as in, meat product. And it wasn't coated in sugar. My husband and I didn't speak, we just shot each other a glance, knowing that if we dared to say a word, we could guarantee another four years without meat.
248. The Fashionable Housewife said:
Aw Heather, this is why I love you! Post like this! You're like super mom or something.
249. val cox said:
what a beautiful story, told so well.
250. TX2Steph said:
OK, I confess I have not read through all of the comments. We too have an internationally-ranked Ultimate Picky Eater. He even hates chocolate! But he loves maple syrup and from there it was a small step to sweet and sour sauce. Once he fell in love with the magic Red Sauce, it was chicken nuggets every day! More "candy" to try!
251. Kellyr2 said:
My mom used that exact same trick to try to get me to eat carrots. Let me tell you, saying that syrup tastes like candy is MUCH nicer than telling your kid that carrots taste just like candy. Manipulating is fine, lying is not. I was always scared when she offered me candy after that.
252. Jenny said:
Don't let my daughter read this post. She's thrilled we let her have butter on her pancakes. She never questions what that liquid gold is that we drench ours in.
And remember, syrup also goes great on sausage and fried chicken!
253. smaihlee said:
My 9-year old was just like Leta at that age. Unfortunately, he only stopped being like that a few months ago. But man, what a joy it was to hear him ask for a bite of my Thai Egg Roll yesterday! Unprovoked!
Word of advice: Don't give in to the parenting-win-adrenaline-induced urge to go out and buy a year's supply of pancakes. Because as soon as you do, she'll declare that nothing but Beefaroni will do for breakfast.
254. Katie said:
Oh, PLEASE send Jon over to my house to work his food magic on MY five year old who subscribes to the "beige diet." pasta - no sauce, bread with pb - no jelly, pizza - no sauce. He might be able to work a pancake in there pretty easily...it's beige anyway. Thank you for your hugely entertaining blog -- and especially the reassurance that our unique children are not complete freaks (though I would love him even if he were.)
255. Melanie said:
Forget Jessica Seinfeld, and go to the book that she plagerized: The Sneaky Chef. Made the chocolate chip cookies with beans and oatmeal (???) last night and they were delish. I haven't tried anything with the "purple sauce" (blueberries and spinach) but I have high hopes...
http://www.amazon.com/Sneaky-Chef-Strategies-Healthy-Favorite/dp/0762430...
256. Lori said:
My Mom used to tell my younger sister that broccoli tasted like chocolate. Hell, if it helps, you can use that one.
257. Bonnie said:
Yeah, I'm going to have to start dunking any dinner I fix into a vat of chocolate, since my son's first words when I set it down in front of him is "I don't like that. It's yucky." Really little man? What about if I rolled it in Godiva??????????
258. Taylee said:
That is just funny. You guys are funny. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall during those moments of candy syrup and pancakes.
259. Candy Apple said:
My mom got my daughter to eat chicken nuggets by calling them "chicken cookies." It worked. I'm not sure why. They are soo NOT cookies, but we still call them that. She loves her some chicken cookies. Why we wanted her to eat them in the first place escapes me. I think they might have been her first "meat."
260. Shellie said:
My favorite food is yellow summer squash. I refused to eat tham as a child. Then, my grandmother started to make "squash fritters," which she simply called "pancakes." Obviously, I didn't have the same aversion to pancakes because I ate squash in that deceptively familiar form and grew to love them. Oh, how we deceive children in the name of nutrition... (Isn't Jerry Seinfeld's wife making a mint on that?)
261. Daily Drip said:
Did you tell her about the power of bacon dipped in maple syrup... ahhh... I think I need to have breakfast for dinner.
262. Kristen from Ma said:
mmmm, pancakes. otherwise known as syrup delivery devices :)
263. Tammy said:
I grew up on catsup toast (toast dipped in catsup). It was what I ate when I didn't like whatever was "on the menu" for dinner, which was pretty often. My parents gave up trying to force me to eat what the rest of the family was eating. Somehow I survived and eat real food now. LOL.
264. Britty said:
Cracks me up....how rediculous we parents act sometimes, just to get our kids to cooperate. Then they throw it back when we least expect it...my son reminded me the other day that "not everything is a competition" and to not forget to "use my manners". Lovely.
265. Meredith said:
For a while I had to tell my three-year-old that everything was pie. Even if it was made out of veggies and chicken. If I could convince her it was pie, she'd eat it. Whatever works!
266. Betsy Barron said:
You ROCK Team Blurbodoocery! Score one for the parents of the fussy eaters!!
267. Mr. Noodle said:
I know that greasy spoon! Well, maybe not that one but ones just like it. Let me see... the cook has on all white with one of those paper hats. He's kinda stooped over and looks like he has been at that grill since 1953. But he can make eating two over easy with bacon an almost sexual experience. Yeah... I know that greasy spoon...
Mr. Noodle
268. Beth said:
Well thanks, everyone, for the tips -- seriously. My daughter's heading down that slippery slope and I have NO patience for it as I grew up so hungry I snuck dog bones between meals. So when I see her turn up her nose at egg salad (she likes eggs, she likes mayo, go figure), it's all I can do not to rip the plate away and refuse to feed her for a week.
269. lori said:
my kids liked mickey mouse pancakes. there's gotta be a princess pancake template.
270. laura said:
My daughter just turned 7 and still won't try any new foods. My husband and I are at our wits' end. Chicken nuggets, popcorn chicken, chicken strips (basically anything breaded, from Tyson, no other brands), Easy Mac, Cheese Puffs, yogurt. We've stopped buying the chicken in hopes that she will be forced to try new things. She has, not instead of chicken it's deli ham (thinly sliced, not prepackaged). People have told me that clearly my child is in control of us and not the other way around. But after reading these comments I am overjoyed to see that we aren't suffering alone. And the next time someone tells me to "cut the food into fun shapes" I'm going to scream. Don't they think we've tried that already? She's SEVEN!! Sigh. Thank you for the book suggestions, they are in my amazon checkout cart right now.
271. Beth said:
My younger daughter (now 13) loves ethnic foods, salmon fillet, steamed broccoli, raw carrots, and brie, but won't touch jelly, mayonnaise, tomatoes, or raw fruit other than apples. She has definitely broadened her food horizons over the last few years, though. My 16-year-old daughter (who now loves sushi) was a bit picky when she was Leta's age. Don't give up hope!
272. Elizabeth said:
Boy #1 -- munster cheese, toast (only the inside), fresh bread from the store (only the outside), grape juice (the only fruit), fizzy water, frappes (only vanilla and preferably all the time with every meal, rather than our maximum of one every other day), bunny pasta (without the cheese sauce), mac-n-cheese FROM BURGER KING (but not when I buy Kraft Mac-N-Cheese (which is what BK uses!) and make it at home), a few bites of pancake (if drenched adequately in syrup), popsicles (if just the right color and shape), vanilla ice cream (without sprinkles and only in lieu of frappe), goldfish (rainbow colored or whole grain), chocolate (dark, with nothing in it), peas (swallowed whole such that we see them again), corn kernels (see peas), pizza and spaghetti (as long as *I* don't make it), bacon, pretzels, the crackers from cheese-n-cracker snack packs (but NOT the cheese), french fries with ketchup (*I* don't like ketchup), waffles (a new thing - afraid it might just be the make-your-own at the hotel in North Conway), Sun Chips, potato chips (preferably with ridges), shredded cheese (by itself in a bowl), coffee nips... I think that's all of it -- we struggle with food CONSTANTLY. Dad offers new food ALL THE TIME. I roll my eyes every time (in my head, invisibly) -- it's always a waste of breath. At OT, it's taken a year to get him to SWALLOW four tiny bites of apple. We did food therapy for nearly a year. One day, the therapist touched his cheek while he LOOKED AT applesauce. He vomited all over her office. She said, "NOW I see why you're here!" And shortly thereafter she gave up.
For the last few months, we have been seeing basically a toilet training coach at Children's Hospital. With enough Ex-Lax and Miralax EVERYDAY, we have actually made some progress. We hope that the better food processing has increased appetite. These days, eating toast is often not JUST four bites (one out of each section), but sometimes more. The mac-n-cheese from Burger King is new (all his idea, I was SURE it wouldn't fly) and he actually FINISHES a serving and moves on to a second one, PLUS french fries AND a frappe. ALL junk, but it's the VOLUME of food that's astounding. We SO know that hold-your-breath feeling, when he said he'd like a second waffle at the hotel that weekend, and then ate so much of it.
After listing ALL of the above foods, none of which you can ever just offer and expect him to eat -- definitely the moon and venus have to be in the right alignment -- I begin to feel a bit better... A LOT more than 5!!
273. Carrie Johnston said:
What I miss most about the South: WAFFLE HOUSE! It'll be the first place I eat when I go home to Louisiana at Christmas. I need their waffles NOW!
274. Miz Blo said:
*call me when she's managed to lodge a quarter in her nostril.*
You made me laugh so hard that I almost spit out my dinner! Whoo she ate it. Good luck with other the foods.
275. Kari said:
Too funny!
Reminds me of the time we had friends staying with us and they cooked dinner one night: curried chicken over rice and steamed veggies on the side. My then 5 y.o. loved chicken, but turned his nose up because the sauce looked unfamiliar.
These friends' kids were older than mine, so they were experts at this stuff. So when Z demanded to know what kind of sauce it was, the dad replied with a question of his own...
"What is your favorite kind of sauce, Z?"
"Honey mustard."
"Well, that's what it is."
Z ate every bite and asked for seconds. HA!
276. Missives From Suburbia said:
Oh, my God. We don't even use our son's NAME at the table when we think he's considering trying something new or actually touching a foreign food. We say things like, "IT is picking up the macaroni" and "Did I just see IT touch a bean?" Dehumanizing? Sure, but my husband and I both know that the moment the child senses any amount of pleasure emanating from our beings, he will drop everything and revert to eating string cheese for a week.
I think the most irksome thing about eating in a restaurant is when our kid DOES try something new and loves it, then asks for more and the server takes an HOUR to bring another serving. Momentum is key. I don't need the raspberries to arrive in a martini glass with mint and a sprinkling of powdered sugar. I need them to arrive NOW.
I'll stop now. I could write paragraphs on this topic. I probably should have done that on my own blog by now, eh?
277. Rachie said:
my favorite part of the day is coming here and reading posts like this one. a little slice of your world, and i love it!
278. amanda said:
OMG! And I thought just my kids were picky eaters! I just stumbled across your blog and love it! I have a friend who has given up trying to experiment with her kids eating habits and will only feed them tequitos and chicken nuggets. I haven't given in yet... but I am learning how to feed my children... I bought the puree everything and mix it into your food book... but I've only had the energy to do that a few times! It's a lot of work... and do I really care that much? Not right now! I'm tired enough as it is... I don't need to spend my weekend pureeing food! Bah.
279. Nick said:
Wow. Brings back memories. You know of when my lovely wife, my daughter and her younger brother went to a little greek diner for a special meal. The boy would not eat anything except the buttered toast. Until the end of the meal. With a sadistic glint in her eye, my wife asked my son to eat a stuffed grape leaf. Naturally, he refused. Then, Arching an eyebrow, she offered, "You don't have to, but if you eat a grapeleaf, I'll give you $5."
He was in agony for over fifteen minutes, repeatedly cursing us (thumbnail on tooth, not obscenities,) "Why are you doing this to me?" then, tearfully, he choked down the grapeleaf. $5 in hand, he glowered at us while we polished off dessert. As we buckled up in the car he stated ever-so-quietly, "That was pretty good, I guess."
280. Anonymous said:
Oh wow; I have a 2-year-old and can SO relate to every last detail of this story!
Also, I [heart] your pediatrician.
281. Lori said:
That story made me laugh out loud! I have a picky 4-year old too, but our trials are not anywhere near what you have with Leta. Congratulations on broadening her dietary horizons!!
282. ...loveMaegan said:
What is it with kids and candy? Are there subliminal messages in toy commercials luring children to not only desire the particular toy but to have a love affair with candy too? They don't even know why but they WANT it. Even if they don't know what it is. ...maybe it has something to do with pinatas.
283. Kile said:
She sounds like my 2 year old. He has like 3 things he eats on a regular basis and we're suprised when he eats ANYTHING especially something like a pancake. My 8 year old could live on only smiley face pancakes.
284. Lana said:
Oooh...the possibilities are endless...next is jelly, then marshmallow, then straight to peach schnapps.
285. plue said:
This reminds me of my sister Judy at that age. She would only eat bowls of cereal for dinner -- and after many many struggles with her (tears, tantrums, head-banging on the floor) we decided that it wasn't worth it to battle her every evening.
Of course, it was strange to take her to other people's houses. Our lovely hostesses would tentatively prepare her a bowl of whatever cereal she had in the house and ask us if Judy really wouldn't prefer the delicious dinner she had just spent hours preparing.
Then one day, when I was in junior high, my mother taught me how to cook spaghetti -- I made a big vat of it and while everyone in the household was trying it, Judy said, "I want some!"
My mom was shocked and said, "YOU DO?"
Everyone at the table watched as she ate some spaghetti, looked up at us and said, "I like it!"
After that, my mother would trick her into eating by saying, "Your sister made it." Which worked. And now she eats pretty normally.
286. plue said:
This reminds me of my sister Judy at that age. She would only eat bowls of cereal for dinner -- and after many many struggles with her (tears, tantrums, head-banging on the floor) we decided that it wasn't worth it to battle her every evening.
Of course, it was strange to take her to other people's houses. Our lovely hostesses would tentatively prepare her a bowl of whatever cereal she had in the house and ask us if Judy really wouldn't prefer the delicious dinner she had just spent hours preparing.
Then one day, when I was in junior high, my mother taught me how to cook spaghetti -- I made a big vat of it and while everyone in the household was trying it, Judy said, "I want some!"
My mom was shocked and said, "YOU DO?"
Everyone at the table watched as she ate some spaghetti, looked up at us and said, "I like it!"
After that, my mother would trick her into eating by saying, "Your sister made it." Which worked. And now she eats pretty normally.
287. Nhiro said:
I've been to IHOP way too many times in the last two weeks and reading this post has once again caused my pancake cravings to flare up.
288. Kim said:
oh the little victories of parenting! Savor them while yu can. So now if you can just convince her that broccoli tastes like candy - or you could just let her dip it in syrup... :)
289. Claudious said:
I ate pancakes so much growing up that looking at them now makes me gag a little, I know with my children, they're picky, and it's nice to find something they'll eat. Yay for pancakes!
290. Connie said:
Leta would totally love living at my grandfather's house as he makes pancakes EVERY SINGLE MORNING. I cannot emphasize that statement enough! He seriously lives off of that stuff.
291. kali said:
yaaayyyy! for pancakes!
292. Liz said:
I was the exactly opposite as a kid. Once, when I was barely on solid food, Mom left me in my high chair right near a big bowl of cole slaw, thinking to herself, "surely this little baby child won't try to eat COLESLAW."
Oh how wrong she was. I had fistfulls. And I bet they were delicious.
293. miltoncat said:
Oh, get this...
My husband has an 18-year-old half-sister. She has survived on nothing but chicken nuggets.
She does not eat beef, seafood, or bread. Dairy repulses her.
My husband and I ate sushi in front of her and I thought her eyes were gonna ooze out of her head in disgust. The word "try" makes her insane. She will not try it unless it is a breaded, fried, grown poultry nugget.
Sick, man. Sick.
294. andrea said:
Oh man. Pancakes ARE yucky.
On a much more important note, Bob Costas makes me want to run out into traffic all while puncturing my juggular with a rusty butter knife. He has a turtle head.
295. Asianmommy said:
Hee! We fight about food here all the time. It's amazing how good it feels to get them to try just one bite of vegetables!
296. Christina said:
There are so many things that you post about Leta that remind me of my oldest son. I think she's very lucky to have you and Jon for parents, you are much more patient with her than I was with him at that age. Luckily I figured it out before I ruined him for life and we finally have peace and a kid who is very secure and happy.
Oh and the pancake thing makes me laugh. He's still quite picky and pancakes are one thing he will eat that I really wish he wouldn't!
297. Deanna said:
My roommate in college had what I called the "white and orange diet." Dinner was mini-pitas stuffed with shredded mozzarella from the salad bar, baked chicken, fries, and carrots. Whenever we'd go out to eat, she was the most adventurous person in the restaurant--she taught me to appreciate things like sea urchin, steak tartare, and the stank-nastiest of stinky cheeses--but when it came to the dining hall, white and orange. Period.
For the record, I ate plain peanut butter sandwiches when I was a kid and eat them now as an adult. The consistency of grape jelly is icky to me. I did learn to love strawberry jam, though!
298. Jamie said:
First the exercise bus at school and now pancakes! What will be next, Jon? World domination?! Congrats!
299. Andi said:
Congratulations on the major dietary coup! My six-year-old is a Selective Eater, too.
Now that Leta loves pancakes, maybe you should try this recipe that I just posted on my blog. They're a bit more healthy than plain pancakes, and my picky daughter LOVES them! Here's the link:
http://andij1967.wordpress.com/2008/08/12/oatmeal-banana-bread-pancakes/
Good luck!
300. Emma said:
That's great! So pleased Leta eats pancakes now!
I got your book shipped to Australia and have started reading it - it's so good!
301. Joe said:
From 4 to 5 things, that's great.