Thanksgiving can be a real challenge for parents. Kids can complicate a complex social gathering when they turn their noses at Aunt Elva’s oyster dressing, among other delicacies. So I’ll help you by advising how to deal with picky eaters at Thanksgiving.
Of course, finicky pets may be one thing, but picky children can be quite another. An especially vocal child can announce their displeasure at the table offerings in a very embarrassing manner.
When I was growing up, my mother had two kids that would eat about anything and two who were picky eaters. I won’t tell you which one I was; however, the fact I was the first-born child may give you a hint. (we first-borns tend to be parent-pleasers!)
Keeperofthehome.org has a great article on this subject and combating an attitude with gratitude. They mention this can be a problem of an affluent society where food is thrown away without a thought. This blog had some great tips for dealing with picky eaters.
- Prepare real food as much as possible. The closest the finished form is from farm to table, the better.
- Have the children help you prepare the food. We naturally take pride in something we’ve made.
- Pray and thank God for your food. Just that simple act gives us a different outlook. It reminds us our food didn’t just come from a nameless farm factory.
- If a child says they aren’t hungry, save the meal for the next time. It shows we don’t waste good food and reminds them food is valuable.
The Thanksgiving Story
The Thanksgiving story is a great example to teach the kids why the Pilgrims were grateful for food. Forty-six of the original one hundred-two pilgrims died before the following fall. Here is a link to the first Thanksgiving for kids.
Find a way to encourage a child to try new things without shaming them. It can be tempting to use the old phrase, “People are starving in… “the goal is to teach your kids gratitude, not give them a guilt trip! And if a child gives food an honest try and doesn’t like it, relax! We don’t have to like everything to be grateful.
Editor’s Note: I originally published this blog on October 6, 2015. I revamped and updated it for timeliness and comprehensiveness.
