Great takes! I’m a girl dad and scared of teenage years with this. They already have very different eating habits. One is a bottomless pit, one sits down and immediately starts negotiating “how many bites do I have to eat?”
It’s great you give them such autonomy for their diet choices. They’ll be way ahead of the curve. Question if they “meh” what you made do you give other options or this is what we’re eating, take it or leave it?
Firstly, it is great you're thinking about this. It's never too late to give them autonomy. Do it now.
When it comes to foods they don't "like":
If it's something I KNOW they don't like, I either won't cook it often (or at all) OR I will make a little something different for them (like a hotdog). I always make sure to have a variety of food on the table that consists of things they WILL eat with dinner. A side they like for example. If they complain I just say, " you don't have to eat it, that's your choice." And if they just want to eat one thing that's on the table, fine. Learning experiences and control over their bodies.
Also, never comment on how much or how little they eat.
Unfortunately it's rare that children are given choices like this. "Eat your food, there are starving children in Africa!" was a classic guilt trip I heard growing up.
It's useful to let them over- and under-eat so they get the sensation and experience of what that does to your body. Frustrating to see them make the dumb mistake, but thankfully they learn from the experience while the stakes are small.
Great takes! I’m a girl dad and scared of teenage years with this. They already have very different eating habits. One is a bottomless pit, one sits down and immediately starts negotiating “how many bites do I have to eat?”
It’s great you give them such autonomy for their diet choices. They’ll be way ahead of the curve. Question if they “meh” what you made do you give other options or this is what we’re eating, take it or leave it?
Firstly, it is great you're thinking about this. It's never too late to give them autonomy. Do it now.
When it comes to foods they don't "like":
If it's something I KNOW they don't like, I either won't cook it often (or at all) OR I will make a little something different for them (like a hotdog). I always make sure to have a variety of food on the table that consists of things they WILL eat with dinner. A side they like for example. If they complain I just say, " you don't have to eat it, that's your choice." And if they just want to eat one thing that's on the table, fine. Learning experiences and control over their bodies.
Also, never comment on how much or how little they eat.
Unfortunately it's rare that children are given choices like this. "Eat your food, there are starving children in Africa!" was a classic guilt trip I heard growing up.
It's useful to let them over- and under-eat so they get the sensation and experience of what that does to your body. Frustrating to see them make the dumb mistake, but thankfully they learn from the experience while the stakes are small.