Trials of a picky eater!!

don't these look yuummmy? from here

As one of 11 siblings I NEVER thought being picky even existed! We all sat down to dinner and just ate! We never questioned and my mother NEVER made separate meals for each child-could you imagine! Now I do remember my sister not wanting her food to touch each other ... but she dealt with it or just didn't eat!
   When E was a baby he would eat ANYthing! I often roast fresh veggies and mashed into my own baby food, he loved avocados and asparagus and humus! Now urggghh...how did this happen? Did I allow it? Does he really just not like it? Is he eating too many snacks and just not hungry?! I don't know... it's frustrating and actually to be quite petty it hurts my feelings! I work hard to feed my family healthy, yummy food. I put a lot of effort into each most dinners I make! I know it's not personal and I try not to take it so...but it's hard! Just another issue to add to the list, "never thought it would be this hard"
  SOOooo as a team the hubs and I are determined to work this out while maintaining our sanity! Here are some ground rule we, as a family, agree on
1. there will be one meal at dinner PERIOD2.
2. you have to take one bite of everything on your plate
3. there will be no snacks after dinner, unless you want apple slices or more of dinner
4. no snacks in afternoon after 330.  E is usually hungry after school so I will give him a cup of water with grapes and a few pretzels, popcorn or goldfish
5. I WILL STAY CALM AT DINNER!!!
6. There is a time limit
7. You will not get dessert if you don't eat a designated amount of veggies or protein

Today I read a great article from 100 days of real food blog regarding picky eaters! I loved it, it is sometimes reassuring to know that not every child out there will eat mushroom risotto with side of eggplant parm! Although my little miss m would! ANyway.. I love how she suggested letting the child pick out fruits and veggies at the farmers market for that week! Little man E and I usually have out weekly date at our local farmers market,

 so this would be a great tip to try! I also am going to try and offer more exciting foods to him, such as her whole wheat pasta

and homemade chicken nuggets!

the kids love to make their own mini pizzas with my homemade english muffin recipe 

We don't eat gourmet nightly but maybe if I have some foods that "look" like the foods he seems to love so much MAYBE he will cross over! :) We also have eliminated almost all processed food and don't have mac n cheese or chicken nuggets in our house...

I also think that I would like to offer Chris and I a night of yummy grown up food, I will do a leftover night for the kiddos and make something like this for The hubs and I once the kids are asleep!

Thanks for allowing me to vent!! :) Enjoy the weekend! Here is a yummy fall inspired meal to leave you on!!