I came across a TikTok the other day that immediately brought me back to the old school days of Mommy Shorts. Back in the days when we talked about simple little kid problems like your toddler carrying around a plastic shovel like it was his new best friend or your 4yo refusing to eat anything without ketchup. Do you remember the
Trees my kids would eat but say broccoli and they wouldn’t touch it. Cauliflower was trees with snow on. Potatoes were turnips (loved the enormous turnip story)
Not quite the same but when my daughter was younger she asked me if the bones get washed before being put in chicken wings or legs, because it wouldn’t be disgusting if no one cleaned them first. I replied with “yes of course they are cleaned first!” 🙈
We just got off a Disney cruise (which does a great job accommodating the picky eaters, I have to add!) My 7 yo boy would not touch the Mac n cheese my daughter ordered (he's a plain pasta only kid) on night one. But on night two, which was Marvel Night, the Mac n cheese was rebranded as Iron Man Mac n Cheese and he ate that right up! But the rest of the time when the (same) Mac n cheese was back to normal... nope, wouldn't order it.
When my son was a toddler, he wouldn’t eat grilled cheese if you called it that. You had to call it “boys cheese” because he thought we were saying “girls cheese”….🤦♀️
I don’t think we ever rebranded anything for our kids. But, my parents called broccoli - little trees and beats - cookies. I’m not sure either fully worked on my brother and I. We were on to them. But, we’re also of the authoritative parenting generation, so we hushed our mouths and ate them.
Pasta sauce with pounds of kale and spinach successfully rebranded as "monster pasta." My 4-year old and 2-year old who normally would never willingly consume anything green devoured it and asked for seconds and thirds. We're also fully in the broccoli are "yummy trees" and cauliflower are "snow trees" camp. Carrots are "bunny food."
Can't think of any re-branded foods but commiserate with picky eating. My kids will love something then hate it with a passion. I try to tell them, once some time has passed, that they should try it again. I mean they liked it at one point before. But alas they rarely change their mind.
Omg. I’ll never forget that we had to call burgers “flat meatloaf” for my oldest to try them. And that’s what we called them for years. Now, at age 13, she’s obsessed with burgers.
When she was little, our daughter would not eat pork chops, but she loved ”special Chicken,” She caught on in the 2nd ir 3rd grade. She’s 25 now and still won’t eat pork LOL
Hi! My picky eater is 5yo and I started following you in my pre-kid stage of life. Given I'm in the thick of picky eating, I would love love love to hear you talk about your reflections on that stage of life - what you wish you worried less about, how it all turned out.
Trees my kids would eat but say broccoli and they wouldn’t touch it. Cauliflower was trees with snow on. Potatoes were turnips (loved the enormous turnip story)
Not quite the same but when my daughter was younger she asked me if the bones get washed before being put in chicken wings or legs, because it wouldn’t be disgusting if no one cleaned them first. I replied with “yes of course they are cleaned first!” 🙈
My teenage sons don't love chili, but pour it over tortilla chips, top with cheese and call it cowboy nachos? No complaints
We just got off a Disney cruise (which does a great job accommodating the picky eaters, I have to add!) My 7 yo boy would not touch the Mac n cheese my daughter ordered (he's a plain pasta only kid) on night one. But on night two, which was Marvel Night, the Mac n cheese was rebranded as Iron Man Mac n Cheese and he ate that right up! But the rest of the time when the (same) Mac n cheese was back to normal... nope, wouldn't order it.
We used to call chicken "poultry fish" for my now 40 year old brother.
When my son was a toddler, he wouldn’t eat grilled cheese if you called it that. You had to call it “boys cheese” because he thought we were saying “girls cheese”….🤦♀️
My daughter was a member of the Picky Eaters Club!
One Thanksgiving we told her it was chicken not turkey because she refused to eat turkey but loved the "chicken"
I don’t think we ever rebranded anything for our kids. But, my parents called broccoli - little trees and beats - cookies. I’m not sure either fully worked on my brother and I. We were on to them. But, we’re also of the authoritative parenting generation, so we hushed our mouths and ate them.
Pasta sauce with pounds of kale and spinach successfully rebranded as "monster pasta." My 4-year old and 2-year old who normally would never willingly consume anything green devoured it and asked for seconds and thirds. We're also fully in the broccoli are "yummy trees" and cauliflower are "snow trees" camp. Carrots are "bunny food."
It's not a food rebrand, but my 7 year old used to call tongs "food tweezers" and I still love that term
Can't think of any re-branded foods but commiserate with picky eating. My kids will love something then hate it with a passion. I try to tell them, once some time has passed, that they should try it again. I mean they liked it at one point before. But alas they rarely change their mind.
Omg. I’ll never forget that we had to call burgers “flat meatloaf” for my oldest to try them. And that’s what we called them for years. Now, at age 13, she’s obsessed with burgers.
I made smoothies with spinach in them. Those were gross. But "turtle smoothies" were amazing.
And for awhile, any meat cut into pieces was ___ nuggets. Pork nuggets, sausage nuggets, of course chicken nuggets. Everything was cooler as a nugget.
My nephew once refused to eat a chickpea curry, saying ‘where’s the meat? I want meat’!
My mum quickly reminded him that it was made with ‘chickmeat’. Problem solved! And chickpeas have been referred to as chickmeat ever since! 😄
When my son was little, we rebranded pot roast as "brown chicken". Totally worked.
When she was little, our daughter would not eat pork chops, but she loved ”special Chicken,” She caught on in the 2nd ir 3rd grade. She’s 25 now and still won’t eat pork LOL
Hi! My picky eater is 5yo and I started following you in my pre-kid stage of life. Given I'm in the thick of picky eating, I would love love love to hear you talk about your reflections on that stage of life - what you wish you worried less about, how it all turned out.