Things You'll Only Know If You're The Parent Of A Fussy Eater | HuffPost Life

'Begging and bribing - there is no approach you won’t try.'

Samantha Wostear— HuffPost UK

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Fussy eaters exist. Fact. They are not the product of lazy parents nor do they suffer from any particular allergy. They are what they say on the label: fussy. But such a light, throwaway term really doesn’t quite do justice to the reality of trying to sustain a fussy eater. Begging and bribing - there is no approach you won’t try and no tactic to tempt your toddler or teen into even trying to eat a decent meal.

Do you have a fussy eater in your fold? Here’s how to tell if you have spawned a food fighter:

Breakfast gets off to a rocky start

It’s the highlight of your day as it is the one meal you cannot blame your child’s lack of appetite on or the ill advised snacks/drinks you gave them earlier. Of course they still don’t eat anything but at least it’s not your fault.

Favourite foods are a no-go

An evil trick your child plays on you to lull you into a false sense of security when preparing a food previously described as “their favourite”. As soon as it is served, the child recoils in horror. It may have been a favourite when they threw it in the trolley and made blood vows to eat it. But hey, that was hours ago.

[READ MORE: The Psychology Behind Your Child’s Fussy Eating]

Every plate has to be perfect

All the elements of a potential dinner win are there but because a corner of pasta has an unusual twist or carrot has fallen onto a pea, the dish is now irretrievably ruined. They didn’t want it “like that”. Sobs loudly (from parents in kitchen).

You get picnic fear

It should be the perfect setting: a wide range of foods they can pick at while they play – and surely everyone loves a sausage roll. But no. Apparently not. While you waft wasps from your carefully-planned menu, your child runs into negative calories quicker than you can say ham sandwich. Cue hangry child, hot and bothered meltdown and inevitable insect stings. Cue broken parent reaching for the chocolate mini rolls.

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Hours spent don’t pay off

You can actually gauge how repellent your child will find your meal based on how much effort you have put in. Spend hours sourcing their favourite food, cut it into shapes, serve on their super favourite character plate and you are doomed to fail. Throw a bag of McDonald’s on the dinner table (that you only bought because you were sure they wouldn’t eat it anyway) and bingo - clear plates and possibly even a whiff of gratitude.

Playdates can cause chaos

Playdates throw up a plethora of undiscovered food groups - squeezy yoghurts and bear-shaped fruit - that keep other children healthy, happy and stop their parents from tearing up the Annabel Karmel cookbook. It all seems to be going so well when the food is flowing from someone else’s fridge. Once you purchase the food that was so well received? It no longer holds any appeal whatsoever. At least they ate yesterday.

[READ MORE: Relax Parents, Your Fussy Eating Toddler Will Still Grow Up To Be Healthy]

Everyone makes better food than you

Bemoan how hard it is to persuade your offspring to eat anything to your parents, in-laws, friends or Greggs counter staff and you should prepare for the ultimate humiliation. They will politely offer advice, and you will not so politely snub it because you have tried everything. Then it happens: the fussy eater will devour an entire spread of unfamiliar, healthy, not sliced and not cubed food. Raised eyebrows for you and a pat on the head for them.

Fussy eaters 1, parents 0.

Before You Go

22 Foods You Don't Have To Keep In The Fridge

Butter(01 of22)

General guidance around butter is that you can store it in or outside of the fridge. If you store it at room temperature, you're advised to only store small amounts at a time (keeping the rest in the fridge) as it will go off quicker.

Salt in salted butter makes it less susceptible to bacterial growth, so it should be fine out on the kitchen counter.

Consider keeping butter in an airtight container like a crock, as it will increase the time it will last for. (credit:Riou via Getty Images)

Melon(02 of22)

Melons should be stored on the kitchen counter or in a cupboard. Once sliced, you should keep the remaining pieces in the fridge. (credit:Jingjing Song / EyeEm via Getty Images)

Hot Sauce(03 of22)

While hot sauce like Sriracha keeps for longer in the fridge, there's no reason why you can't keep it out on the kitchen side or in a cupboard. On the bottle itself, it says: 'Store in a cool dry place.' (credit:asiantiger247 via Getty Images)

Chocolate Spread(04 of22)

Chocolate spreads like Nutella should always be stored in the cupboard. In fact, on the packaging, it specifically says: 'Do not store in the fridge.' This is because the chocolate solidifies and becomes no longer spreadable. (credit:AlexPro9500 via Getty Images)

Apples(05 of22)

Storing apples in the fridge will help them keep for longer, however if you plan on eating them within a week then the kitchen counter is the perfect place for them.

It's worth keeping apples in a separate area to other fruits and vegetables, as they give off ethylene gas, which makes surrounding produce ripen more quickly. (credit:Calin Niculescu / EyeEm via Getty Images)

Cake(06 of22)

According to Buzz60, most cakes are best stored outside of the fridge, in an airtight container.

Stella Parks, pastry chef at US-based restaurant Table 310, told The Kitchn that cakes which are both frosted and unfrosted, cut and un-cut, are perfectly fine at room temperature for several days. She added that refrigeration is only necessary if your home gets very hot during the day or if you're making a cake that won't be served for more than three days. (credit:zia_shusha via Getty Images)

Basil(07 of22)

Basil is sensitive to the cold and produces ethylene gas, which is what ripens fruit but deteriorates leafy greens. So putting it in the fridge probably isn't the best idea.

To keep it fresh for more than a few meals, Bon Appetit recommends trimming the stems to remove any dried-up ends and then popping the basil in a tall glass of water. Loosely cover the basil with a plastic bag and keep it on the counter. (credit:HandmadePictures via Getty Images)

Honey(08 of22)

Honey will never spoil, which means you can keep it in the kitchen cupboard until it's all used up.

Plus, sticking it in the fridge will make it harder. (credit:Materio via Getty Images)

Soy Sauce(09 of22)

Soy sauce should be stored in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight. This is to preserve the flavour. (credit:Tuntep via Getty Images)

Avocado(10 of22)

Avocado should actually be stored in an open brown bag, outside of the fridge for best results. (credit:Floortje via Getty Images)

Onions(11 of22)

When an onion is chilled in the fridge, the cold, humid temperatures convert the starch to sugars, which means they often become soft or soggy a lot faster. They are also prone to making everything else in your fridge smell like onion.

To tackle the issue, keep onions in the mesh bag they came in (or in a bowl) in a cool, dry, ventilated place. (credit:Creative-Family via Getty Images)

Bread(12 of22)

Bread actually goes stale faster if stored in the fridge, so you should keep it wrapped in its original packaging, in a bread bin or cupboard. (credit:JamieB via Getty Images)

Coffee(13 of22)

If you store coffee in the fridge, it will absorb the smells of the foods around it. Alternatively store in a cool, dry place. (credit:EzumeImages via Getty Images)

Peanut Butter(14 of22)

While peanut butter keeps fresher for longer in the fridge, it can also be stored in a cupboard.

According to PureWow, you should store it upside down to keep it fresh, as otherwise the oil tends to gather at the top of the jar. (credit:Glow Cuisine via Getty Images)

Tomatoes(15 of22)

The colder tomatoes are, the more taste they lose.

According to Food52, they need to stay at room temperature, ideally in a single layer out of direct sunlight. To keep them fresher longer, store them stem side down while they finish ripening. (credit:zeleno via Getty Images)

Garlic(16 of22)

Garlic doesn't need to be stored in the fridge and can quite happily live out its days in a cool dry place.

Avoid storing fresh garlic bulbs in plastic bags or sealed containers, as this can cause mold and sprouting. (credit:fatihhoca via Getty Images)

Potatoes(17 of22)

The best place to store potatoes is in a cool, well ventilated place. If you store them in the fridge, the cold temperatures begin to convert the potato starch into sugar, resulting in a sweet taste and discolouration when cooked. (credit:Gen Sadakane / EyeEm via Getty Images)

Bananas(18 of22)

Bananas grow in hot climates, so they are not used to cold temperatures, such as the fridge. General advice around storing bananas is to keep them in a fruit bowl, out of direct sunlight. If you want to ripen them quicker, store next to other fruit such as tomatoes. (credit:bhofack2 via Getty Images)

Chocolate(19 of22)

While some people keep chocolate in the fridge, it's actually best to store it at room temperature, as that is when the flavour tastes best according to Mondelez chocolate tasters. (credit:digihelion via Getty Images)

Jam / Marmalade(20 of22)

Surprisingly, jam and marmalade is best stored in the kitchen cupboard, not in the fridge. This is because, thanks to its fruit content, it is naturally acidic and therefore less likely to grow any unwanted bacteria.

Dr Peter Barratt, a microbiologist for Initial Hygiene, previously told The Daily Mail: "Normally jam does not need chilling if it is consumed within three to six months. However, always use clean utensils to remove jam from the pot. Dirty knives or spoons can spark mould growth - which, even if removed, can diffuse into the jam beneath, leading to stomach upsets or, in some cases, an allergic reaction." (credit:alvarez via Getty Images)

Oranges(21 of22)

While refrigerating oranges can extend their shelf life, they're better off being stored at room temperature, out of direct sunlight - preferably in a fruit bowl or net bag, so air can circulate freely around them. (credit:Rene Schulz / EyeEm via Getty Images)

Marmite(22 of22)

The divisive spread is best stored in the cupboard, as otherwise it goes quite hard. It contains salt, which helps to preserve it. (credit:stevekeall via Getty Images)

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