Calling all Moms of older kids – please tell me when and how your kids came out of the picky eating phase??? Or just tell me that they did?? I’m in desperate need of some perspective and hope here. I find this one of the more frustrating parts of this stage/age (3.5yo). Eleanor absolutely refuses to try anything new and has for well over a year and a half now. I know, I know – totally normal. I guess I’m not very laid back because it drives me bonkers sometimes. I hear all the time from other parents that their kids did the same and they survived and I do get that. I’m not so much obsessing about her nutrition or the variety of foods as I am just annoyed that I can’t offer her new things. She lives on chicken nuggets, noodles, PB&J and any snack that’s in a flashy package with a character slapped on it. (We ARE thrilled that she’ll eat the occasional banana and avocado though!) Her food allergies have not helped the situation at all. It has seriously limited our options. Luckily she has outgrown her egg allergy and we are optimistic she will pass her milk challenge in the next couple months. Then we’d just be dealing with tree nuts.
It’s more that I want her to once in a while entertain the idea of trying something new that we offer. I put a new food in front of her and she instantly closes her eyes, covers her mouth and whines – or if we’re real lucky, flails and cries.
One of the hard parts is that Ryan gets home at 7pm and we eat dinner after she goes to bed so she hardly sits down and has a meal with us as a family. I feel like that would be the perfect time to offer her small, new foods that we are eating without making her a whole meal that’s wasted.
I’m just curious from you other Moms and Dads when you felt like things shifted in the picky eating department. Or were there any tricks that you found helpful? Or just say HEY – I’m with you Linz 😉 Happy parenting!
mommytherapy 
My cousin lived off of peanut butter and fluff sandwiches for like 20 years. Not even kidding. EVERY family event my grandmother would be making his sandwich for him after she made the full spread for everyone else.
You’re doing great! One day she’ll try something she refused and be like “omg what have I been missing?!”.
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Haha, at least the PB&J or fluff sandwiches are super easy and quick to make!!
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I’ve found sometimes letting our little one help cook something new (but simple) instills some extra curiousity and a desire to try what she helped create. But yes, only some of the tricks work some of the time and you never know when it will be an all out battle. Happy parenting!
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“some of the tricks, some of the time” is a good thing to remember…with almost all things in the parenting world!
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My thirteen year old was the pickiest kid when he was younger but now he is a FOODIE! His switch happened when he was about six; we went to a buffet restaurant with my grandmother and he was interested in a few things on her plate so he tried them (no commitment and no pressure because it was his idea) and he was hooked on trying new foods from then on! He’s probably not your typical kid to go from picky to adventurous like that but it does happen! My daughter (now 17) was somewhat picky and she slowly tried new foods over the years where now she’s pretty open to most things. 🙂 We’re still working on our six year old as he is quite picky, but just knowing that his older siblings came through it alright gives me hope!
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