Picking up the Pieces

I warned you this would be the subject of a future post. well, the future is here. Toddlers can be tricky! (understatment of the year??) Just when i think i've found a food that my picky eater loves, she changes her mind, and that change always comes after i've bought at least a weeks supply. i hate to type it or say it outloud (for fear of a jinx) but applesauce and chicken nuggets are about the only two foods that have stood the test of time. oddly enough, she likes to dip the chicken in the applesauce?! now, i really shouldn't be surprised, nor should i complain about her being a picky eater...Lord knows i have NO room to talk...but when i'm the one responsible for trying to feed her food that she likes, and that is good for her, it's tough. I feel like the girl barely eats, but Dr. Kagan (our ped) keeps telling me that as long as she's not losing weight and is growing like she should, that she is fine. What is not fine, is the fact that the girl LOVES throwing her food off the side of her high-chair. Not only is it a mess and a complete waste of food, but I know that SHE knows she's NOT supposed to be doing it. She even sometimes gives me this face like "do you see me doing this mommy??" i know this is pretty typical beacause i've read all about the right way to get her to stop doing it. my favorite suggestion was to have her pick up all of the food that she threw on the floor and put in the trash. i actually did this for a while, before i realized this was something she really enjoyed, maybe even looked forward to! i try now to stop her in the act, and to tell  her if she doesn't want to eat it, just leave it on her plate. i'm pretty sure she understands me and knows that it's a "no no" but it still seems that at the end of every meal i'm somehow left picking up the pieces...