{"id":34701,"date":"2017-05-09T06:54:24","date_gmt":"2017-05-09T10:54:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ahealthysliceoflife.com\/?p=34701"},"modified":"2023-12-30T18:34:07","modified_gmt":"2023-12-30T23:34:07","slug":"two-kids-two-different-eating-styles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ahealthysliceoflife.com\/two-kids-two-different-eating-styles\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Kids: Two Different Eating Styles"},"content":{"rendered":"

I miss the days of blogging about baby-led weaning meals for 8 month olds<\/a> and favorite freezer foods for babies<\/a>. Watching Kaitlyn keep up with the big kids on the tennis court yesterday was yet another reminder that the baby days are behind me. Luckily we’ve entered into a new phase that is never dull, full of funny thoughts and crazy antics, that keeps my hands full and my heart happy. Now I have two energetic preschoolers that are growing and thriving, despite their very different eating styles.<\/p>\n

\"button_baby-led-weaning-e-book-on-sale-now\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I wanted to share a few meals we’ve had lately and discuss how my kids differ in their eating preferences. I think many\u00a0people assume I have had two adventurous eaters from the start. While that may ring true with Hailey, Kaitlyn has required more\u00a0consistency and patience. Let’s take a look!<\/p>\n

\"pizza<\/p>\n

Hailey (age 5 1\/2)<\/h2>\n

Favorite Food:<\/strong> She’ll now answer with mac ‘n cheese even though I don’t really think that’s true. She will much more enthusiastically eat popcorn, shrimp, roasted sweet potato, and egg and avocado on toast but I think her friends say mac ‘n cheese so she does too.<\/p>\n

Challenges:\u00a0<\/strong>I’ll be honest, there aren’t many. She eats anything I put in front of her, usually without question. Even the kale microgreens in the above picture.<\/p>\n

Successes:\u00a0<\/strong>The magic phrase with Hailey has always been “if you don’t like it, you don’t have to eat it.” I have a firm policy on not saying “ew” or “gross” about food<\/a>, so if it is something she isn’t thrilled about, she knows she can just leave it alone.<\/p>\n

Also, introducing a wide variety of foods and combinations from the start has worked well for her. She gets excited about trying new foods and her story about eating octopus<\/a> is still one of her favorite tales to tell.<\/p>\n

\"button_baby-led-weaning-e-book-on-sale-now\"<\/a>\"roasted<\/p>\n

Kaitlyn (age 2 1\/2 — almost 3)<\/h2>\n

Favorite Food:<\/strong>\u00a0Yogurt. Almost hands down on this one, but she really loves roasted sweet potatoes too.<\/p>\n

Challenges:\u00a0<\/strong>Hm, where to start? Ha. I feel the biggest challenge with Kaitlyn and eating is keeping her focused. She honestly just does not care that much about food in general. She is almost 3 and I still have to help focus her attention at meal time by sitting with her and sometimes helping her take bites. She often wants to get up mid-meal to dance or sing songs.<\/p>\n

She also is prone to liking one thing on her plate over everything else. Hailey saves what she likes best for last (on her own). Kaitlyn gobbles down the cut fruit or green beans and asks for more of that one food without touching anything else, knowing that I rarely waver on my policy of at least trying (and sometimes eating all of) what is on her plate before receiving more of a certain food (we start with small amount of all portions).<\/p>\n

She’s not a big meat eater. I don’t know if it’s texture or what, but it’s always the last thing she reaches for. I’m not against pulling out ketchup to help in this arena.<\/p>\n

\"toddler<\/p>\n

\"button_baby-led-weaning-e-book-on-sale-now\"<\/a>Successes:\u00a0<\/strong>Consistency. Man, this hasn’t always been easy but it’s certainly why she’s even a little bit of a good eater. I’ve found having 2 kids, the second definitely benefits from relaxed rules, but I’ve stuck to my guns about limited snacking (if she has a snack in the afternoon, she’ll eat 2 bites of dinner) and not being a short order cook. The whole family eats the same thing and usually at the same time<\/a> (not always, but usually).<\/p>\n

\"kid<\/p>\n

A Mom’s Practical Guide to Baby-Led Weaning E-Book<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n