How to Train Your Child to Eat Any Food

"Kids are natural picky eaters..."

Or so they say. But I do believe that we can do something about it.

I recall a family tradition that we had when my sisters and I were growing up. Our greatest commandment, so to speak, on our dining table is "whatever food (particularly, any viand) is on the table, you have to eat it."

This has been a strict rule in our house and our grandmother and mother implemented this by cooking just one viand every meal. We only get to have a feast on special occasions and when we were invited to parties. This method has trained us to have a taste, if not eat entirely, any food and not be picky.

I have encountered many parents having difficulty feeding their children, to the point that some give up and feed the child with whatever the child likes. They give up because they fear that their child will lose weight and all, among other reasons. Please don't get me wrong, for I don't have any intentions to antagonize any parents, especially the many mothers who are hands-on in taking care of their children. My daughter likes chicken and rice, every time you ask her what she likes to eat, she will answer you with "chicken and rice." But we don't always feed her with chicken and rice.

Parents should know better, and children should not be the one dictating to their parents. Our method of discipline with our kids today have become child-centered. It's the parents who follow the whims of the children, and not the children following the wisdom and guidance of their parents.

Children are not natural picky eaters. But we allow them to be one.

- photo from In-Montgomery