Economics & Eating

I am a picky eater.

Hayes is a picky eater.

Generational Justice is what my mom calls it.

It has been interesting trying to strike the balance between forcing him to try foods and knowing exactly where he is coming from.  Bracken and I have tried a lot of different strategy's to get him to eat try his dinner.  It got to a point where it was a fight to get him to sit at the table because he knew what was coming.  Then it was tears and threats of throwing up when we finally got him to put something in his mouth. He was miserable, we were miserable.

Then our economic majors got put to use and we came up with a plan that works well. (at least for the last three months, knock on wood)

At dinner, Hayes' plate is given to him already dished up with what we are having for dinner.  I try to at least one thing he likes at every dinner. Sometimes it is the main dish, sometimes it ends up being something small like a muffin. There is at least three different servings on his plate. He has to eat ALL of ONE thing and ONE bite of EVERYTHING before he is allowed to leave the table.  If he leaves the table without doing that, then he owes us a dollar.  If he does the requirement he can be done with dinner.  If he eats everything off his plate then he gets a quarter.

We've had a lot fewer fights since the rules are laid out and he knows we won't budge.  Hayes already is interested in money and doesn't want to lose the money he earns. The dollar is incentive to take those one or two bites of things he doesn't like.  So far he hasn't earned a quarter....he came close once but just couldn't finish those last few bites of rice. (yeah...he doesn't like rice!?!) He has learned that he likes Edamame; he still won't admit it but he'll eat it.  Other then that, I'm glad it's just getting him to try things.

Tonight we had Penne Pasta with Parmesan & Peas. (how's that for an alliteration!) I even kept it all separated for him. He didn't want any of it. So for the 2nd time so far he had to pay us a dollar.

Luckily, Kamri isn't too picky of an eater since this strategy would not work for her. Tonight, she happily paid us a quarter for no reason. She must have felt like she was missing out on the fun?