I know that my children don’t have the healthiest diets. Unless a vegetable is so finely chopped that it (and its nutritional value) disappears into the sauce, my children won’t eat it. And while they do eat fruit everyday, Ironflower only deems one fruit acceptable.
But still, I didn’t think we were doing that badly. We don’t have any trans fats and most of their snack crackers don’t have high fructose corn syrup, at least. But then we had this conversation:
Ironflower: Mommy, I put peanut butter on whatever doesn’t get syrup, right?
Me: As far as breakfast goes, I guess.
Ironflower: And lunch.
Me: And lunch.
Ironflower: But Lovebug likes ketchup, even on breakfast food.
Me: Lovebug loves ketchup, but remember we weren’t going to talk about ketchup at breakfast anymore? Because mommy wants Lovebug to skip the ketchup at one meal?
Lovebug: Ketup! Ketup! Me! Ketup!
Me (muttering): I am such an idiot.
If it wasn’t for peanut butter and ketchup, I’m pretty sure my kids wouldn’t eat anything. We go through a big jar of peanut butter and a HUGE thing of ketchup every two weeks. If the kids were larger I’d be okay with that, but they are only two and three and neither one of them weighs over 30 pounds. And Hubby and I rarely touch the ketchup and never touch the peanut butter.
Is our family weird? Or do all small children have these strange condiment obsessions? And when will they grow out of them?
8 responses so far ↓
Amanda Regan // May 3, 2008 at 3:43 pm |
My four year old is the complete opposite although he’s never tried ketchup or even sauces on ice cream he is adamant he hates them & they will make him die. Even now he will only eat dry bread & toast, no margarines or jelly’s.
The only condiment he thinks he likes is salt. It gets put on without any actually going on but he wont eat without seeing mommy put some on. Not even cereal (sigh)
Travis Erwin // May 4, 2008 at 12:43 pm |
My little one loves ketchup but my seven year old is like his mom. You could feed them Sour cream covered turds and they’d eat the whole thing with a smile. Grease and brown gravy are my choice condiments.
HRH // May 4, 2008 at 1:59 pm |
We are raising the same children. The thing that makes me laugh is my 2 y/o truly believes (and acts regularly on this belief) that syrup and ketchup are interchangable.
jerseygirl89 // May 5, 2008 at 7:56 am |
Amanda – Well, not liking sauces will probably good for him when he’s older, at least.
Travis – Grease is the ultimate condiment!
HRH – Mine has been known to put ketchup on his french toast! Ewwww.
wordvixen // May 5, 2008 at 5:49 pm |
The peanut butter obsession isn’t a bad thing- protein! Particularly if you get the organic or natural kind. I’ll bet you could stir regular peanut butter in with almond butter (or similar) to broaden the nutrient range.
Ketchup is great for lycopene, but I can’t help you on the sugar aspect.
I can’t speak for everyone, but my ketchup obsession only lasted a year or so. Although, my niece and nephew kept at it for about 3, maybe 4 years. They still like it, but they’re not obsessive.
silken // May 7, 2008 at 3:00 pm |
most little kids I’ve met love condiments. mine were, and still are, the opposite. took a while before my son would even eat jelly! they do finally like ketchup, but not all the time. I say that peanut butter is good and agree w/ wordvixen, go for the natural kind. same for ketchup. if you want less sugar in it, and no HFC, go for the organic ketchup.
as for weird, my son would eat peanut butter, applesauce and fruit loops sandwiches!! he out grew that eventually!
LunaNik // May 10, 2008 at 1:08 pm |
You’re lucky you can get condiments into them. Seriously, my kids don’t even like ketchup! They will eat bananas, grapes, pears, and apples though so I guess that’s better than nothing.
canadianflake // May 15, 2008 at 9:13 am |
Hmmmmm I have never worried about ketchup or peanut butter…my gremlins lived on both when they were young and they are both remarkably healthy…there are foods #2 won’t eat unless it has ketchup on it. I do admit that I still put it on so he doesn’t use half the bottle..lmao.