Food… oh, glorious food…
Eggnog
Hot cocoa (wouldn’t be complete without those tiny floating marshmallows)
Peppermint candy
Pumpkin bread
Pumpkin spice latte
Pumpkin crunch
Pumpkin roll
Pumpkin pie
Did I mention I LOVE pumpkin 😉
The holidays are stock full of some of our favorite comfort foods.
They bring back memories of family and laughter and fun.
But when you’ve got a picky eater in your home, your experience is probably super different.
Instead of visions of sugar plums, you’re probably turning into the Grinch right about now.
Put a piece of pumpkin pie on his plate… tosses it across the room.
Give a little dollop of whipped cream… cries for half an hour.
Fill his spoon with mashed potatoes… ends up in your hair.
Not gonna lie… it ain’t easy managing some of those behaviors.
And they can become downright frustrating.
In fact, you may begin to dread the holidays, ESPECIALLY if you’re heading to grandma’s or hosting people at your place.
But fear not… it can get BETTER!
If you and your picky eater are working with a feeding therapist, definitely seek her advice.
Otherwise, there are some great resources on the interwebs….
One of my favorite websites Your Kids Table has some awesome tips on how to have successful holiday meals. Here are a few of my favs, but definitely head on over to read more about it for yourself:
Communication is key.
If you’re tired of Aunt Sally asking why Bobby isn’t eating any vegetables and you’re not forcing him to eat everything on his plate, call ahead and give her the low down. Let her know you’re totally in the know about his limited food choices and it’s something you’re working on, but the holidays are for enjoying time with family and friends, so you won’t be shoving anything down his throat during this time (and you’d prefer others don’t either… both literally and figuratively ?
2. Share the love.
Instead of always fighting your way upstream, why not go with the flow… Although you may get some odd looks (but really, who cares), serve up some of your child’s favorite foods. A whole platter of PB&J sandwiches… why not?? A fancy glass bowl filled with Goldfish crackers… dive in! Endless amounts of dinner rolls… totally appropriate! Not only is it something your little guy can enjoy, but it also sends him the message that he’s not an outcast at the family dinner.
3. Enjoy yourself!
Yes, this is a tip that MUST be stated. So often as a parent of a child with special needs, your main focus is your child… keeping him safe, being sure she’s not hurting others, talking for him. And that’s what makes you a GREAT MOM. But the holidays are also a time for YOU to enjoy your life. So if lil’ miss only eats bread during Christmas dinner, or if lil’ man chooses to eat nothing at all…. It’s not the end of the world. Take it easy, set the bar low, and CHERISH the amazing life that you have!
In case those weren’t enough tips, check out this article from Parents magazine for some additional goodies.
Happy Holidays!