Pickiness Isn't Wired In
Historian Helen Zoe Veit's new book found that well into the 20th century, American kids ate everything from bitter greens to spicy relishes with gusto, per Michigan State University. The rise of separate "kid food" and children's menus -- not narrow little taste buds -- is what taught kids to expect bland and separate. Picky eating turns out to be something we built, not something they're born with.
Try this
Skip the Separate Menu
Try offering a small taste of whatever's on your plate before reaching for the same three "safe" foods. Some families find one shared pot -- even with mismatched portions -- reopens the door a picky eater has quietly closed.
Let Them Watch You Enjoy It
Kids notice what grown-ups reach for seconds of. So the real question isn't whether they'll eat the broccoli tonight -- it's what happens when dinner stops being a negotiation.
When dinner stops being a negotiation, what does that look like at your table?
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