Of Picky Eaters And Pancakes

True story:
When I was two years old, I would come downstairs in the morning and announce to my mother that I was not eating dinner that night. And I wouldn’t.

I may well have been the world’s most stubborn eater. That, my friends, is different than picky, and opens a mother up to a whole new world of grief. ‘Picky’ is only agreeing to eat chicken fingers and plain toast for weeks on end. ‘Stubborn’ is deciding that you’re only going to eat one bite of a honey sandwich, and you’re going to eat it only after your mother has pleaded and begged, threatened and negotiated, cried and developed an ulcer.

(I’m sorry to say that is all still part of the true story.)

Fast forward 30 years and, a mother now, I have somehow been spared karmic retribution for my past food transgressions. Dove is still on boob juice and mush, so it’s too early to tell, but my three-year-old is, miraculously, a phenomenal eater. She will eat pretty much anything I feed her, be it broccoli, tofu or fish. I am lucky, I know, and will not tempt fate by saying much more about it.

What I will say is that sometimes, despite a parent’s best efforts, a kid is a lousy eater, and it can really suck.

I have a good friend who has a great kid, but her great kid is a terrible eater. That may be overstating actually, because to be a terrible eater implies that the child does, in fact, eat. My friend’s daughter must fill up on rainbows and unicorns because rarely does she eat more than a few mouthfuls at a time. I mean it – 6 green beans constitute a pretty decent meal for this little supermodel-in-training, and although my friend has become accustomed to the small victories, I know she worries.

We have talked a good bit about this, and how not to make it an issue (no mother wants to sew the seeds of food issues that may take root later in their daughter’s life), and have come to the conclusion that unlike our own mothers, we do not want force our children to eat, or develop ulcers when they don’t. The trick, for now, is to make the most of the few mouthfuls they will accept.

Listen, the bottom line is that no kid is going to starve themselves, and even the most stubborn of little eaters can eventually smarten up, start eating healthy and then become such superstars that they write a food blog. Ahem.

And trust me, our kids will have plenty of opportunities to give us ulcers later.

 

My Little Bugger Won’t Eat So Make Every Bite Count
Super Healthy Yummy Flapjacks

Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: About 10 min
Yield: About 8 big or 16 silver dollar ‘cakes per batch

1 1/2 c. whole-wheat flour
1 1/2 c. rice or soy flour, or cornmeal
1/2 flax meal (or finely ground flax seeds)
1/2 c. wheat germ
1/2 c. milk powder (soy is fine)
2 tbsp brown or raw sugar
5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Mix all of these ingredients together and store in an airtight jar in the fridge until you want to use it. Keeps for a while as long as it stays cold.

When you’re ready for griddlin’:

Put 1 1/4 c. of mix into a bowl.
Make a hole in the centre of the mix and add 2 very well beaten eggs and 3/4 c. of water.
Fold all ingredients together, adding more water if desired.
Drop onto a buttered, hot pan.
Flip when they are good and bubbling, about 3 minutes.
Jump for joy when your kid eats one, even if it is smothered in maple syrup.

SoundBITE
You need to be creative when it comes to satisfying picky eaters. He wants cold tomato soup for breakfast? Why not? She doesn’t like raw veggies? How about offering blueberries, dried apples or homemade beet ‘chips’ as a side dish? And you can turn pretty much anything into a muffin – zucchini, carrots, sweet potato – go ahead – outsmart ‘em!

Comments

[Gabriella]

Daily struggle that goes on in our house. Giving her a complex/phobia about eating is something I don't want to do but sometimes I fear the damage has been done already. But I take heart seeing as how you turned out pretty good I know that Samantha will do the same. Now if only I could just stop worrying.

[nomotherearth]

Trying not to create food issues at our house, but it's so hard. The Boy is partial to grains, but is observant enough to know when we're offering him "funny" (re: healthy) pasta, and won't eat pasta with sauce at all. He did once, and spat out all the veggies that I "hid" in the sauce into his plate. Sigh.

[crazymumma]

gee. you stubborn? Naaahhhhhh.

[Beck]

My oldest is an airitarian. The little creep WILL NOT EAT. We get to bring her in for her annual Not Eating appointment soon. Sigh.

['good friend']

Thanks... we will have this on hand at all times!

[mamatulip]

I love the title of this recipe.

[samsmummy]

I was another stubborn eater when I was a kid. And the more my mum tried to force the less I ate. I once ended up in hospital with severe stomach cramps from not eating.

Now, 25, mum to one, he takes four hours to eat a meal but will not move a muscle til his plate is empty! Kids grow up, try not to sweat it too much mummy's, they'll grw out of it sooner or later (me, I was about 17 but I did it eventually) They'll get there in the end :)