The Chef Game

My son became a picky eater overnight. I have no idea what triggered the sudden change, or filled him with such conviction. But he no longer wanted to try new foods. He would turn up his adorable little nose and pout his mischievous little lips. He would refuse. He didn't seem to mind long standoffs. We, the parents, would ultimately win--barely. A tiny bite and we'd call it a victory, although my son probably counted it as his own victory, too.
Somewhere among the battles, I invented The Chef Game. I have no idea if it will work with other kids--it doesn't even work with mine 100% of times. But, when I remember it in time to avoid an all-out feet-in-the-mud you-can't-make-me battle, it works a satisfying percentage of times.

Intimidating Pralines

Here's how we play:
The child must take at least one bite of the new food. (But you can also play this game with known foods.) It can be any size bite. If the bite is minuscule, remind the child they will need enough of a taste to properly evaluate the food.
Now, the child must tell the adult:
Three things they like about the food, and three things they would change.

• The child may take as many additional bites as needed while deciding on these six things.
• The lists can be based on any aspect of the food.
• The child can't just say what they dislike--instead they must think of a way to make it better.
• The things to change can be improvements or just fun ways to make it different.

The "format" and order of the answers don't matter. It also doesn't matter if the ideas don't really make sense, if the suggestions are impossible or already being done, or anything else. If the kid comes up with ideas, be positive about them. The point of this game is to get the kid to give new things a chance. It might also help them think about the world, be a bit creative, and even implement some problem-solving to improve or transform a food they don't like even after trying it. It can also help kids realize one taste isn't always enough, because as my son is trying to think of a way to make an unpleasant food better, sometimes he will continue eating it, and end up actually liking it!
My son has said he would like to be a chef someday, but I'm hoping this could help some of you with your own picky eaters, even if they have no culinary aspirations.

Suspicious Lunch Meat

A few of my son's chef game results:

Hard Salami
Likes:

• Looks like pepperoni
• Tastes like pepperoni
• The chewiness

Changes:

• Shrink it a little
• Make it not as shiny
• Make it part of a 200-decker sandwich

General Tso's Chicken
Likes:

• Color
• Size
• Chewiness

Changes:

• A little less spice
• Put it on a stick with a hamburger and mac & cheese
• Carve the Pirates "P" logo into them

Praline Pecans
Likes:

• "I liked that there was a surprise--I literally didn't know there was a nut"
• Cinnamon
• It looks like a rock in the darkness

Changes:

• Wouldn't put a nut inside, instead change the nut to chocolate
• Would put a chocolate covering on it
• Change the shape to a brown doggy

Broccoli in sauce
Likes:

• The color green
• The sauce
• The crunch

Changes:

• Add ten hundred pounds of cheese
• Change it from looking like a tree to make it look like a doggy
• Cool it down more by putting it in the freezer for ten days and not heat it up

Mini Gherkins
Likes:

• Shape
• Color
• Taste

Changes:

• No sticks [stems]
• A lot less salt
• Put them in a marshmallow in a s'more

A Letter To Restaurateurs

When dining out, my oldest son's appetite seems to be directly linked to how much his meal will cost. Free kid's meal? He'll clean his plate and ask for more. An $8 meal? Two bites at best. But that's not really what this blog is about.

Today I'm sending out a request to the people who are in charge of restaurant menus: Please don't underestimate your tiny diners' taste buds!

It's terrific to offer "kid-friendly" food on your Kids' Menus. Especially if it's food you don't have on your "grownup menu." You are acknowledging kids can be picky eaters, and have included classic kid-food choices to make parents happy and bring smiles to many little mouths.

However, some kids like a bit of spice. A touch of "Bam!" A little something different. My son loves hot sauce. He doesn't really like French fries, but he'll eat onion rings--after removing the batter. He and his brother love olives and mushrooms, avocados and hummus, broccoli and cauliflower. Some kids love cheese, some hate it. There are kids who only like fruit. Kids who despise salt and pepper. (And any one of those kids may have a completely different viewpoint on food at the next meal.) Some kids are picky eaters, some are adventurous. Some go with the flow, some have very specific ideas about their meals, and most will turn into tantrum-throwing monsters at some point. You're not going to please them all. But don't lump them all together. Kids are just like us, only younger...plus they tend to voice their opinions in louder, and more dramatic, ways than most adults.

At a burger place, it's perfectly acceptable to have burgers dominate the kids' menu. But when we visit an Mexican restaurant, I don't want my kids to choose between a cheeseburger and chicken nuggets. And why would an Indian restaurant only offer pizza and grilled cheese sandwiches to diners 10 and younger?

My family has visited some restaurants with very cool choices for kids, and many with nothing but boringness. If you run a restaurant, please don't shy away from offering versions of your specialties to the kiddos, too--Start building loyalty to your food early! Thank you for kids menus. Thank you for smaller portions and smaller prices. Keep up the good work. And don't forget to include a few choices for the kids who decide they want to step away from nuggets and pizza!