If you have kids....this is way off topic but thought I woul

My kids are 3 and 5, and if it's something new that they have never had before, I make them eat one bite. If they truly don't like it I will get them something else. Most of the time they like it though. And if it's something they like and decided they don't want to eat it, they go hungry. At 13, they better damn well eat what I put in front of them or they will go hungry.

i wouldn't be driving him to subway to get something to eat - my boys are encouraged to try what's on their plate,as long as they have had at least one bite they have the choice of a simple sandwich (peanut butter etc), but luckily they are pretty good and will give just about everything a try.

Our boys will try anything and I mean anything, snails, octopus, goat etc. We have raised them to be open-minded and they are now copying my choices because they have not been forced into them. Our 11 year old boy now has cauliflower rice with his chilli and they both love rice-cakes and banana for a snack instead of crisps.

I am now a sahm but when they were small I worked nights and didn't have time to panda to fussy tastes. My sons friend is very fussy (at his own home) when my son went for a meal there this boy freaked out because his mum put a drop of gravy on his mash and refused to eat the meal. When he comes here for a meal he eats what he is given...because he knows I won't offer an alternative..hunger is a great motivator to a teenage belly.

So I agree with you and I would not give in to a child like that and had it been my son I would have been embarrassed and he would have gone hungry.

martyxxx

Our boys are 16 months, 28 months and 4.5 yrs old. Our 2 little ones are in the picky phase, but I do put on their plates what rest are eating. Our 4.5 yr old must try what I make. I try not to make a big deal of it. I don't want them to have a bad relatiohship with food.

I would NOT be taking a 13 yr old to subway because he didn't eat at our friends house. He can wait till we get home.

I got five and they are all fussy to different foods but since I have changed my food and lifestyle in general they now eat what they are given or wait till their next meal. I have switched from Low-fat milk to soya milk and from full fat butter to Pure Soya butter. I do not buy much frozen foods like Pizzas, nuggets and fish fingers. I make my own pizzas for them and well as make my own cakes . They have some choices but only healthy ones . It has worked on four of my children and they too correct me when I do have some sugary treat. Only one is fighting me by not eating. She will not have milk or butter but will have yogurts and other milk dairy products . It was because I eat fast food when my mother worked all day that I became fat and even fatter when I had the freedom to eat what I like when I left home. I am trying to teach them healthier choices as well as eating regularly and not late at night. Its done in school so why can we not do it at home. It is not a crime to be firm. They will come when they are truly hungry. We must all learn real hunger or we will just EAT ALL DAY cause we can unlike third world nations.

I think it's sad. My cousin has a 3 year old and she had never had fresh fruit or veggies until they stayed with grandma while my cousin's husband was overseas. And the whole time, my cousin would say things like, "oh she won't eat that" and she only meant that SHE doesn't like it so her daughter has never had the chance to try it. But after seeing her mom not try things and SAY she won't like it, the little girl refuses to try anything!

On the other hand, my sister is very picky about what she eats but she and her husband give the kids all kind of different things to try and they love healthy stuff. My nephew is 2.5 years old and he gets to choose what he wants if we go out to eat and it's usually something good

That's tricky. I have 2 girls, 11 & 9. My 11 year old is willing to try anything and likes most everything she tries. My 9 year old will not. They were created by and raised by the same two parents will very different results.

However, in a situation like yours, I would have prepared & brought something I knew my 9 year old would eat. Perhaps I would have offered to bring beans to add to the meal. I also would have told you ahead of time (so you wouldn't be surprised NOT so you would change your menu).

Having a fussy-eater myself, I can see why the dad took the boy to get something to eat. After about the age of 3 you cannot force anything into a child's mouth. You can encourage, threaten, bribe, whatever, but it can snowball into a power struggle that the child will win or a child protective services case. And hungry children are more likely to act out and further ruin the evening.

As a parent I continue to cook new foods and offer them to her and every now & then she does try something new & likes it. I'm hopeful that as she realizes new things can be good, there will be more & more of those moments.

I hope I could shed a little light from the picky-eater's parents' side. They did not mean to offend you & were very likely embarrassed.

I must be the meanest mom around, I cook all my food fresh and the Twins of 4 and my 12 year old must eat what I have cooked or they go hungry. My home is not a hotel nor am I a short order cook. They may choose their breakfast and their lunch, but that is as nice as I get.

Our little one(22) has a bit more choice, but always on my terms.

my eldest and my youngest are good eaters and will try most things, but my middle son is very fussy and a lot of things he point blank refuses to even try.

If he doesnt eat what i make the others, he can have bread and butter. I wouldnt make or buy something different, although i will usually try and plan meals that they all like

My rule and the rule my children have adopted with my grandchildren is that you have to at least try the food. If you try it and do not like it that is different than just saying I do not like. We have all learn to try and most of the time like new foods. There are still somethings like green olives that I have tried several times over the years and do not like. Secondly, I would never be that rude at someone's home. The kid was old enough to leave home if that was the case. Shame on those parents for being so rude.