The great food debate starts at birth- to breast feed or not breast feed and will one send your child down the fast track to obesity? And then the debate heightens as I've even heard of mothers judging one another by the kind of snacks they give their kids i.e. healthy vs non healthy; organic vs not. For me, I am all about balance. We "try" to eat things that are good for us but certainly some not so good things find their way into the household. I am really trying to teach my children to make smart food decisions when I am not around and to self-regulate (can't say that this is always successful but at least we are able to have productive conversations. I do not think McDonalds is the enemy. Everyone deserves a treat now and then and food choices can get a whole lot worse than white milk, chicken mcnuggets, and apples (which is what i order for my kids) . I dream of a day when my children will make the right choices without my nagging but until then - "eat your spinach" is my mantra.

I have big time picky eaters but I was too and now I am better so I feel they will come around. They eat quite healthy but we leave room for treats and McDonalds once in a while. I think the forbidden can make kids want it more. Moderation and balance are my concerns. If kids never get that stuff it makes them want to sneak it or get if other places.

That's a great point, Pam. And Tammy I agree with your statements as well. I think it's more about teaching them to make the right decisions in their life than whether or not they finished every last bit of spinach off their plate.

I've made my rules, and made them reasonably so that my daughters can live with them. For example, when a child sits at my table the only rule is that they finish at least half of their meat and all of their veggies before they're allowed anything else. Dessert only comes if they've finished everything (when they plate it themselves) and is usually one serving size.

My daughters did, however, learn early on that they were going to eat whatever was there for that meal or that they wouldn't eat at all. We don't live in a restaurant. That being said, they always have some input on what we're having as well.

I do worry about them eating healthy, but there isn't one particular area that I'm more concerned about than another. Eating healthy is a combination of fats, calories, sugars, etc. If we tried to understand it to a T, I'm sure our heads would explode. So we try to make healthy choices and balance every meal out with at least one veggie or fruit. Sometimes dessert IS fruit.

I also limit their drinking habits. They're only allowed pop on birthdays and holidays and every other cup of whatever they're drinking is to be ice water. This helps as they'll reach for milk or water rather than pop, even with kids who'd rather have the other.

I am in the midst of daily food battles with my two oldest children. They are beyond picky! It is frustrating because my husband and I are not picky at all--we love all foods and love to try to make lots of ethnic foods and new things. Yet our kids will eat none of it. If I only serve them what we are eating, they will not eat it, and I am not a force-feeder--it makes life miserable for all! But then they go to bed hungry and grumpy. So, I usually let them find something else to eat. I don't like it, but for sanity, well, that's what we do. I will say that they love all fruits and many veggies, so I try to have them snack on these when they do get hungry. And they seem to do just fine in regulating themselves--they eat when they are hungry. So, for now, I just go with the flow. My one years olds, by the way, will any and everything! But, then again, so did my older boys at this age....
I am also a big believer in family meals, but we still eat in shifts because my one-year olds need to eat earlier than the rest of us.

A few things that DO work for us, food-wise:
1. we plan and grow a vegetable garden each summer, and the big boys really get involved in that. They don't eat everything we grow, but they are involved....
2. the big boys also help me make lots of our meals--I also try to involve them in the cooking and baking we do. I always think they will be MORE willing to eat things they helped to make, but, sadly, not usually :(
3. we have very little white starches in our house--anything that we CAN get whole grain, we do. my kids have never even had "white" bread.

With four kids, I have two picky eaters and two that will eat anything. I'm in the camp of "anything in moderation." I cook during the week and rarely on the weekends. We try very hard to sit down to dinner with the whole family but with our schedules, it is most likely at a restaurant after a game. We have kept up our family tradition of a big spaghetti dinner on Sundays with my extended family so I think my kids are still reaping the benefits of shared family meals even if it isn't every meal. I have seen first hand that when you forbid something, it makes it all the more desirable so I have very few things that are completely off limits. If I have fruits and veggies cut up and available, that is what they eat. If I made cookies or brownies, that is what they want. I think the best diets and the ones that lead to smart eating as adults, are the ones with a balance of "good for you foods" and "treats that might not be the best but sure taste good."

I wanted to add that I have two boys that have Cystic Fibrosis and weight gain is a huge issue. I'm lucky that my oldest son will eat anything but my younger one is picky. My kitchen can never be "closed" and if they don't like what I make, I have to make them something else (or they make themselves something else). It's important that they eat whenever they want because the amount of calories they need a day cannot be consumed with the "normal" balanced diet. Just wanted to add that for my picky eater, it is a matter of good health and bad health what and when he eats which can be very frustrating as his mom.

I think my biggest concern is that I will feel that I have failed as a parent if I cannot get them to at least TRY different foods. They may not like them now but they may later. Open your mind and open your mouth!