Hil, that sounds like Ellyn Satter's food philosophy. [link] People with children with food issues find her very useful.

Casper once ate eggshells, and is overall pretty adventurous, although she does not like dried or cooked fruit (she will not eat fruit pies.) Dillo is fairly picky, but not to a level that is concerning like some kids. He dislikes foods mixed, so soups and stews are tricky, and, for example, he carefully picked all the diced tomato out of his pasta the other night. We didn't do anything different with the kids; some of it is just personality/sensitivity.

(she will not eat fruit pies.)

What?! Her father is one of the great fruit pie makers in the Americas!

My daughter had texture issues. Partly I think because when she lived with her aunt and uncle, all her aunt cooked was canned veggies. By the time I was in the position to have her live with me full-time, she'd been completely indoctrinated. The only way I could get green beans in her were if they were canned, and a majority of vegetables. Although, carrots were off her menu unless they were raw. Also, fruit. She didn't particularly like fruit unless it came out of a can. It wasn't impossible to get her to eat a relatively balanced diet, but this was before they started offering most canned veggies with a no salt option, so I wasn't super happy with it.

I am informed that the chicken gizzards were not delicious. (I think it was at a Japanese place, the kind that specializes in Japanese bar snacks.)

Kat, I am thrilled to hear that Grace is eating some food by mouth. I'd been out of the Grace-loop, but I remember how hard you worked to get her even accepting a tiny amount.

So, basically, at meal time, food is put on the table, the kid is brought to the table, and it's entirely up to the kid which of the food to eat, and how much of it to eat. No pressure from the parent about eating. But, if the kid doesn't eat what's on the table then, than that's it -- the parent isn't going to make a peanut butter sandwich or whatever.

That didn't work for us, or rather at day 3 or 4 of Frances eating nothing but milk for 2 out of 3 meals, I relented and decided that a balanced diet was more important than denying my daughter can be a picky eater sometimes. Other times she'll eat all the things. Unpredictable.

My parents were generally of the "eat what's set before you" school, although we could opt out of foods that obviously made us gag. I suspect that was because my mother feels that way about some foods like lima beans and bananas. In my case, it was English peas and mashed potatoes (texture issues) and eggs, because, eggs.

Ahaha, I complain and my boss calls.

Her father is one of the great fruit pie makers in the Americas!

Happily he has chosen not to be offended, but rather to think, "More pie for me!"

checking in. This was supposed to be my "do stuff" day. I couldn't drag myself out of bed until 11:30, so I'm not sure how much I will get done. Movie might be out.

But, I must get the car washed and put my yearly tag on it before it becomes a ticketable offence.

I went to rehearsal and a party yesterday for my first outing since Wednesday afternoon (aside from a quick Target trip), and I think it was too much, because today it's all I can do to use a cheese plane and pour water. It's so good today's a work holiday for me.

I keep eyeing the clean laundry that needs to be put away, and the dirty laundry that needs to be washed, and then doing a different thing instead. I have the deep bone tiredness that comes with autoimmune/thyroid fatigue. Thank goodness I'm headed to the doctor in a week for a conversation about upping my meds, because this level of fatigue is unsustainable if I'm going to do anything other than go to work.

Also, I'm studying for the GRE in hopes that it will work the same way carrying an umbrella when you shouldn't need it does.