Hunger Strike

When my son was born, I was going to keep him away from sweets. Then his first birthday hit, and he had to have cake. I was even kind of proud of the ginger way he nibbled at his first sweet, unsure whether he liked it. Then I decided if it was homemade, he could have some (especially if he helped me make it). Then we let him try salty licorice, and, incredibly, it was a hit. Then Altoids (I think we we so struck by the strong, bizarre flavors he was willing to eat that we couldn't deny it - it's hilarious to hear an almost-2 asking for salmiakki). Now it's the mints every time we get in the car, fruit snacks to get him to put his clothes on, jelly beans because Daddy's have a handful. It's a slippery slope, people. You've been warned.

And he's got a little bit of a cold now, so he's striking. He won't eat anything BUT the aforementioned junk. In fact, he turned his little nose up at my banana-chocolate snack cakes, too. And I've tried ALL his usual favorites.

Yesterday I made a quesadilla with diced ham, shredded Cheddar and broccoli florets. Nope. Onto the floor.

I poached a couple of eggs in a herbes de provence-seasoned mixture of sauteed onions and diced tomatoes (it was really good, especially with some bread to soak up the juices). He took some bites of the eggs, then the tomatoes, when I spoon-fed it to him. But before that he cried.

Today we ordered doughy, not-very-good (but he loves them) vegetable dumplings. He made me scrape the vegetables out and ate the doughy wrapper.

Turkey meatballs. "I don't like it." Almond butter sandwich. "What's that funny stuff?" (the crust). Asparagus spears do not pass his lips.

Argh. This was the kid who would eat anything I put in front of him 6 months ago. I'm thinking of banning the junk from our home (for all of us) until I can get him back on track. But am I putting the blame in the wrong place? Maybe he has no appetite. Maybe he's just reached the "terrible twos." It's frustrating, though, to cook for someone who not only doesn't appreciate it but who more than likely will smear it all over the table, sink it in his milk or push it onto the floor.