Raising Bakersfield

Last night there was nothing new at our house. Everything went as it always does, including the nightly fight to get my almost 6-year-old son to eat dinner that isn't pizza.

I am SO tired of this fight.

He likes steak, he likes tomatoes, he likes onions, and he likes rice. But cook the steak tomatoes and onion together and put it in a bowl on the rice, and he won't touch it.

He likes chicken. But grill it, cut it and put in in a tortilla (with NOTHING else), and he whines that he's full after one little nibble of the tortilla.

Macaroni and cheese is good, but don't you dare make it with shell pasta instead of elbow pasta.

He pretty much likes all vegetables, but chop them up and put them in a salad? Heaven forbid.

He won't eat cheeseburgers, rice pilaf, or sandwiches made with anything but PB&J. No tacos, stuffing, or pasta with white sauce.

Homemade lasagna? He picks at it like we just cooked and served him his beloved Sock Monkey.

As Denny and I carve out time each week to plan meals, we find ourselves constantly asking ourselves what he'll eat. I'm not going to base my meals on his picky palette anymore, I just want him to try new things. One bite is all I ask. There is always something that he likes on his plate and I'm not going to force him to clean his plate. I just want him to try it. Taste it, for crying out loud.

Of course, this makes dinner a miserable and stressful experience for everyone.

Last night, after he whined and cried about the steak and rice bowls, I'd had it. He nibbled at the rice and refused to eat the meat, only saying that he didn't like it. He sat at the table for almost an hour, long after we finished eating. I finally sent him to bed.

And then I felt like the worst mom in the world.

I'm truly at the end of my rope.

I've even included him in the weekly meal planning, letting him suggest one or two dinners.

I've had him help me prepare dinner, but he still won't eat anything new.

I've tried bargaining, yelling, and begging. And now I'm blogging.

Last night I posted about this on Facebook and got instant comments of support from other parents who go through the same thing every night. It seems no one is immune to Picky Child Syndrome.

I did get one new piece of advice from my friend Dana:

Here's some tips that have been passed down to us, Jamie. Put dinner in serving bowls on the table and have the family serve themselves. There's something about giving the control over to kid to decide what to put on his plate and how much. (Be prepared he may only eat one or two things and be okay with that for now. Even if it's just starch.) If he doesn't like anything, he sits with an empty plate. Or if he doesn't finish his plate, it's his decision and he goes to bed hungry. I'm guessing he won't do this many times.  Of course, the rule is that you have to make different, colorful and new foods for the kids to want to try...

I'll try anything at this point.

Anyone else have any advice? Or any good recipes to try?

I'm already dreading dinner ...