Daily School Lunch Fight

Not yet, but this will probably be my youngest when he starts kindergarten next year!  He's super picky and often changes his mind...so I can only imagine how much it might change between morning when I make his lunch and when he sits down to eat at noon!  Such a difference from oldest who will try and then eat almost every thing we put in front of him!

We don't allow picky eating. We pack healthy well balanced meals and they eat them, if they don't like them, too bad, they aren't getting something else. At dinner they sit at the table and are not excused until they at least try a few bites. Of course for lunch we keep their likes in mind and usually pack something they at least semi like, but nutrition is put before their favorites. Kids wont starve themselves, they will eat when they are hungry enough. My advise is to stop trying to cater to his pickyness and pack healthy meals, a variety each day so hes not just eating the same thing. In time, he will adjust and stop being so picky.

Wish I had advice. my son is like yours, won't try anything. He isn't in school yet but this coming fall I will have the same problem. I have no clue what I will pack and I am positive he won't eat most of it anyways. I honestly believe he will go without lunch most days.

my son started being picky the very first time he had solid food (actually, he wouldn't drink formula really either, so he's basically been picky his whole life) I don't "allow" him to be picky. My dad kind of thought the same as you until the first time he watched him for me and tried to get him to eat. He has never said another word about it since.

Quoting LucyHarper:

We don't allow picky eating. We pack healthy well balanced meals and they eat them, if they don't like them, too bad, they aren't getting something else. At dinner they sit at the table and are not excused until they at least try a few bites. Of course for lunch we keep their likes in mind and usually pack something they at least semi like, but nutrition is put before their favorites. Kids wont starve themselves, they will eat when they are hungry enough. My advise is to stop trying to cater to his pickyness and pack healthy meals, a variety each day so hes not just eating the same thing. In time, he will adjust and stop being so picky.

switch it up--take him to the grocery store with you and naturally take him to the areas of food that YOU want him to eat, however, let HIM choose the food. I have a picky daughter too. It is awful. I am an adventerous eater and love veggies and all things healthy. She on the other hand would eat a hersheys bar fifty six times a day if she could. I work for Trader Joes and I take my daughter shopping with me and let her pick things out. I use our brand name beacause i know it has nothing artificial, no GMOs, etc. so pretty much anything she grabs is not all that bad for her and almost always has a great healthy side to it. Of course there are the not so great snacks like chips and stuff but she will pick out freeze dried strawberries, the 'orange' crushers...which are carrot and applesauce but she has no idea there are carrots in them, she wanted to try pickles and loved them. I take her to the veggie section and sometimes have success by telling her she can pick out ANYTHING in the section! She chose broccoli and i got some ranch dip and throw that in from time to time. Sometimes she eats it, other times she doesnt. She absolutely LOVES Garlic Tandoori Naan...she just thinks its regular bread. I take her to the dairy box and let her pick out a juice, take her to the deli box and let her pick out a cheese (shredded cheddar always seems to be a hit), take her to the crackers and let her grab what she wants to try (as I secretly gear her in the direction of what i want her to pick) Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. It's all a process I suppose. A lot of times when they are at this age, it is a control issue. What they put in their mouth at school they know they have complete control over regardless of what you packed for them. They excude that control by not eating certain things. This is just an idea. I am by no means an expert...just someone who can truly relate! Hope this helps! 

Also, i recently started sort of like a parenting blog similar to this but on a MUCH smaller scare, i only have one post so far! Its just a silly and fun thing i am trying. If you have a second, maybe take a look at my only post and maybe you have an idea for me :) thanks!

www.wholesometots.com