We’ve recently introduced some baby food into Pooky’s diet, with mixed results. At first, she would make a horrible face any time the mashed sweet potatoes or carrots touched her tongue. And, since she insisted on holding the spoon, 99% of the food ended up on her face and her clothes, rather than in her mouth. She’s starting to improve, though. She doesn’t seem so disgusted by the new flavors anymore, and she’s gotten better at wielding the spoon so that only about 97% of the food misses her mouth. We want to make sure that Pooky grows up with good eating habits. May is worried she’ll end up being a picky eater, like I am. But how to avoid it? An article in the Charlotte observer has some tips:

Most parents offer new foods to their picky eaters only three to five times before they give up hope of the kids trying them, according to the American Dietetic Association. But numerous studies show that unfamiliar foods have to be presented to kids up to 15 times before they may take so much as a bite.

Sounds like hard work, but in the end, it’s probably worth it. I recommend reading the article especially for the top ten list of things not to do with a picky eater.

Here’s the article in the Charlotte Observer.