When my daughter was born, I was determined to create every meal from scratch. I even splurged on a shiny new food processor specifically for her baby purees. Fresh shopping trips were a breeze in Brooklyn, allowing me to whip up delightful combinations like tiny peas mixed with roasted butternut squash and a dollop of ricotta or apples blended with strawberries and a hint of cinnamon.
I envisioned my child as a culinary adventurer, and for a time, she was just that. (During those blissful days, I imagined us enjoying leisurely brunches together, me sipping mimosas while she colored diligently on her placemat, choosing the catch of the day instead of drowning her plate in sauce or cheese, all while I smiled knowingly from beneath my oversized straw hat.) Ah, the fantasies of a new mother! I realized that the hat was pure wishful thinking—my short haircut didn’t lend itself to a stylish look—but I genuinely believed my daughter would develop a sophisticated palate.
However, that changed when I fell ill and resorted to a hidden stash of emergency chicken nuggets around her 16-month mark (the kind every parent secretly keeps in the freezer for just such occasions). She loved them, but that single nugget set off a downward spiral. A taste of cake on her birthday, a few bites of pizza here, and a quick serving of Kraft mac and cheese there transformed our mealtime dynamics.
Before I knew it, she was rejecting anything that wasn’t sugar-coated, dipped in ketchup, or concealed beneath a thick layer of cheese. Now, at age two, my daughter is the quintessential picky eater—especially when it comes to food. Her diet has become a carb fiesta, and while she does enjoy apples, her meals are dominated by waffles, Goldfish crackers, and PB&Js. I find myself making two different meals every time we sit down to eat, or else I face the consequences of lukewarm fries and leftover chicken scraps.
I can’t shake the feeling of failure. Not because I’m actually failing her—I understand that this is just a phase and with time, patience, and the relentless task of picking beans off the floor and peaches from her little hands, it will eventually pass. Instead, I feel like a failure because I once looked down on parents of picky eaters. I would watch shows like Maury, especially those featuring overweight kids, and smugly declare from my couch that it was the parents’ fault. Parents control what their children eat, right?
Well, it’s easy to sit in judgment from a distance when you’re blissfully unaware of the reality of parenting. Now, I find myself in the thick of it, and let me tell you, it’s a whole different ball game. Yes, parents do have a say in their kids’ diets (I certainly don’t feed my daughter McDonald’s or KFC Double Downs), but that control diminishes significantly when you’re on a road trip and the only options at each rest stop are the same two fast-food chains. Seriously, Connecticut, is it just Dunkin’ Donuts and Subway?
So, to all those parents I silently criticized for ordering “kids nuggets with fries,” I owe you an apology. I’m truly sorry. But let’s be honest, those nuggets are to blame for my daughter’s current food preferences.
This article was originally published on November 24, 2015. If you’re interested in more insightful content, check out one of our other blog posts at Home Insemination Kit. Plus, for authoritative information on fertility, visit Make a Mom and ASRM for excellent resources on pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary:
Navigating toddler eating habits is a challenging journey for parents, and what starts as a commitment to healthy, homemade meals can quickly shift to a preference for convenience foods like chicken nuggets. This humorous reflection highlights the unexpected twists of parenting and the inevitable phase of picky eating that many families experience.