My six-year-old has a new aversion to food that’s “all mixed up,” meaning casseroles (including King Ranch Chicken, a Scroggins Family Favorite), soups (minus Cars Chicken Noodle), and salads (even the fun pink fruit salad that all the Grandmas know how to make).
At first, I was ok with my new picky eater. I remember not wanting my food to touch, so I could stretch that thought, and relate it to this “mixed-up food” ideaology. But, it’s getting a little ridiculous. This morning, we mixed eggs and sausage for breakfast tacos. That was a no-go. This evening, I mixed peas and corn. No bueno.
More than his actual dislike of mixed-up foods, is his over-the-top reaction to seeing the foods mixed-up. To put it mildly, total meltdown. Complete with yelling, and a chair slump-or for a more dramatic effect-a slump to the floor. Both equally rude in my book. So, I’ve explained that it’s OK to dislike certain foods; it’s ok to not eat those foods; it’s even ok to put those foods on a “never eat again list” if absolutely needed. What is NOT OK, is that reaction. At home, sure, tell me when you don’t like something. I promise I might not make it again. But, as a guest in someone’s house, eat it. Even if it’s dirt, eat it, and say it was yummy. That’s just good manners.
Every time I think I’ve made headway with this lesson, we backslide a little. Hopefully, it will sink in before he meets his future in-laws as they serve Spaghetti Chicken with a side of Cool Whip Fruit Salad.
I read this post yesterday and thought to myself – whew – glad I don’t have to worry about the ‘it’s all mixed up’ drama. Enter last night – the tide turned. Okay, so maybe it was ridiculdously late when they got home but I had ready bacon, pancakes and eggs. My 5-year-old scarfed up the bacon and only picked at his pancakes and eggs. The problem – the syrup touched the eggs. He at what he wanted and went to bed. Never have I seen him eat so much at breakfast – even grabbed a cheese stick on the way out the door. You know, pizza at school today is all kind of ‘mixed up’…
Hmm … sounds like someone I know – my husband. He has a strict “no casserole” policy. It’s not that he won’t eat them; he just prefers not to. He’s a self-proclaimed food snob, but I can’t argue much because he’s also the better cook. He has managed to self-regulate his reactions … no yelling or slumping.
Sure would like your recipe for the Cool Whip fruit salad. I had my grandmothers, along with several of her recipes and it accidentally was thrown away. I love your blog!!!!
The pic of the casserole looks yummy! I have picky eaters in general. There is no rhyme or reason to it. Having to cut out treats altogether at the moment so they will eat the “real” food. Baby steps!