Nutella

I must buy this shirt for Ashe. Have you ever seen those shirts that say "I put ketchup on my ketchup"? That's Ashe when it comes to Nutella. If he had his way, he would live on nothing but Nutella sandwiches for the rest of his life.

Ever notice how kids get stuck on one food for a long time? They refuse anything else and pitch a battle at every meal time if their ultimate food is not placed before them? Each child I have had has gone through this, but Ashe takes it to an extreme. I've had to compromise with him in order to make sure he got enough calories and vitamins to grow up. Dinner is MY turf. he has to eat or at least have a few bites of whatever I place in front of him. I don't care if he sits there until bedtime, if he doesn't eat it, he's not moving. But in return, I'll make him his favorite lunch: Nutella sandwiches with chocolate Soy Milk.

Even I, a lover of all things chocolate, watch him day after day and think I couldn't deal with that much chocolate on a daily basis. But I know with certainty, if I place a chocolate sandwich before him, on wheat bread, he will scarf it down.

I'm ok with this. I tossed out that idea of perfectly nutritious and balanced meals long ago when Xavier did the same thing and I realized we could either have a stand off each day and watch my boy wither into a skeleton and he made his independence known, or I could pick a different battle and concede defeat at lunch time.

I read once that there was a boy who lived on NOTHING but PB&J sandwiches for over 14 years and he was perfectly healthy. I have sympathy for that mom, and nod my head to her in understanding. I feel good knowing at least I can get Ashe to eat other food sources at dinner time.

And I watch Soren, the next in line for food battles. Fortunately he is our best eater. his favorite food? Broccoli. I kid you not, he's been known to want it for breakfast. And if he hits this food stage where all he wants to eat is broccoli, I'll be smiling every lunch time. You can't make that stuff up.

Do your kids have food wars? how do you handle it?