I do think involving kids in food shopping and preparation is a worthy activity!
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Amazing how people differ on this practice. Lately, in my large extended family, I find it challenging to cook for them due to so many various “food sensitivities.” Often I’ll be reckoning with one person vegetarian, another averse to dairy and almonds, and another who can’t take gluten.
I’ve found that Thai food can thread the needle most easily.
BTW: where are you from?
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That’s interesting. Do you not like the textural quality of the tips? I think a lot of picky eating comes down to textures. Not sure, though.
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I think you’re onto something. My boy, who will eat anything, had all kinds of food from various cuisines from his early years. New and different was his “normal.”
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Ketchup on mac & cheese?
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My picky eaters spent summers when they were young with their first cousins, aunts, and uncles in France and that solved the problem.
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That’s from an old thread from me–maybe dating even to Chowhound days.
I’ve had some of this as well. I get a large familial crowd for Thanksgiving. I let them all know the stuff I’m going to make and what’s in there. I then ask for requests. If you don’t request it or make it ahead of time to bring, then forever hold your peace.
I like that you mention food shopping and prep with kids. I HATED going grocery shopping with my mom as a kid. Now, it is my happy place. I LOVED making bread with my mom. Still do, even when she is a long way away. My daughter was, obviously, my food kid. She loved learning to cut using the claw technique, how and where to find the best food deals, and what deals are BS. This is how parenthood pays. Spend more time with them and less $ on them. They sure don’t need any more screen time. They need “let’s get out there” experiences. No more money, spend the time.
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When I grew up (old woman yells at cloud), there was no such thing as a “kids menu.” I ate whatever my mom put on the table, including kidneys, liver, and brains.
I realize kids go through phases, neurodivergence can be a thing, etc. etc.
But the idea that kids can only eat buttered noodz and grilled cheese sammiches is a very American one — North American? Do correct me if I’m wrong. Kids the world over eat the same stuff their parents or other adults eat 
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I’ve noticed that trend, also. In the US we’re great at marketing to the customer. Many years ago, bog food noticed that kids are important customers who sway the financial string that support them. As a result, we have kids that’ll take a rice crispy treat over a perfectly ripened pear, plum, whatever. If you watch Foods That Built America, it becomes obvious how big food courted kids with their products. Skippy used to be the #1 PB in the US…until JOF added more sugar to theirs. Now, choosy moms choose JIF. If I made Polish chop suey…that’s what we’re having. Not we eat it, while you cram a pop tart down your yap; cuz, if you get hungry enough, foods you once hated become edible. Oh no! Their little tummy empty over night. Trust, if they didn’t eat what I made, the tummy isn’t all empty. It’s like we’re afraid these obese kids are going to starve or something. Nothing sometimes IS better than something shitty.
I was talking more about restaurants having a “kids menu.” Apparently, it’s a solely US invention.
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There were menus l’enfant in France before 2008, and very few restaurants didnt offer buttered spaghetti or bolognese even if wasnt on rhe printed menu (the server would offer it without being asked…mine is perfectly happy with duck or lamb or hachis.
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To me, the tips taste a little different than the stalks.
It’s a thing in Canada. I don’t like ketchup on anything these days.
Kids’ menus are also common in Canada and I think I’ve seen them in the UK.
I didn’t know they go back to Prohibition
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I couldn’t agree more - I don’t understand when we talk with other parents in the US and they tell us they make extra dishes for their kids or order just burger, buttered pasta or cheese pizza in restaurants. And then they are surprised that they have picky eaters. The approach in Europe (pretty much in most countries) is so different and everybody eats the same dishes for dinner at home or in restaurants.
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I know a couple of families in DE (Munich, both) who say they struggle with the same issues.
Meanwhile here in the U.S., I guess that I lucked out as all 4 kids pretty much ate everything. That isn’t to say they didn’t develop their own preferences as time went on - they did.
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I will trade you my muffin tops for your asparagus tips.
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First kids menus appeared in 1921 in the US. It is solely a US invention. The fact that this has spread across the globe — like so many other fabulous US inventions — doesn’t change that.
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This thread might be more useful.
Food habits often change as a result of a health crisis, and reading 3rd party research is frequently more useful than feeling like one is being lectured by one’s near and dear ones, no matter how well-intentioned.
I’ve sent the glucose goddess IG link to a few people struggling with giving up foods.
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