Ignoring Picky Eaters | yucktoyum.com

Not Taking Any Notice As a working mum, I always leave work later than anticipated and then sit in peak hour traffic looking at my watch wondering if I’m going make it to after school care on time. I have two pick ups so this makes it even more maddening.

When I picked up Brie Boy the other night at 5.59pm (just made it!) he was chomping on an apple and Baby Bell wanted one to. When we arrived home Baby Bell went straight to the fruit bowl and bit into an apple. After two days at child care she is always tired and this makes dinner harder, but as she has a hot meal at child care so I try not to get too work up over what she eats for dinner these two nights.

I was making an avocado dipping sauce for chicken and fritters however the avocado had not ripen in time so I pulled a tomato salsa from the freezer as my alternative and only served a little on the side as I didn’t think either kid would be interested in eating it. I hardly paid any attention to them during dinner as I wasn’t expecting them to be hungry after eating the apples, I was starving having only eaten a banana and yoghurt all day, the latest issue of a cooking magazine had arrived and I was feeling very tired and not up to the battle.

Well image my surprise when I looked up and they had nearly finished their dinner and they were licking the salsa with their fingers. They ended up eating all the salsa and leaving none for the Big Cheese.

It reminded me of another dinner a while ago where I also got distracted by reading at the dinner table and the kids ate their dinner without coaxing or game playing.

Whilst I know reading at the table is not recommended it did make me realise that if the kids have your attention they will play up to it and they work out pretty quick that the dinner table is one place where they have your full attention.

So every now and again (especially if it’s been a tiring day) take no notice of the kids, have an adult conversation with your partner (or read if you are on your own) and don’t stress about what or how much they are eating (they won’t starve) and they may just surprise you.