My son is now 4 years old.
Since he started solids at 6 months old... he has always been a UBER picky eater and taste/texture sensitive.
Please also read this article on Food Neo-phobia in kids:
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Recipes/extremely-picky-e...
Anyway, as I said my son is UBER picky.
But now at his age, his palate has "NATURALLY" increased and he eats, tons more variety. On his own.
We do not have food battles.
We do not have eating battles.
We do not force feed.
We do not use food as a punishment or reward.
Our kids know, their body's cues, and the biological cues for hunger or fullness. I am proud of them.
My son does not eat for emotional reasons or boredom or as a manipulation....
Next, I do not understand, "WHY" a child, 'has to' eat new foods or different foods, on demand. They are not an instant streaming on demand video.
Even for an adult... I don't know why they 'have to' eat what someone else is making them eat.
What if your Husband made that kind rule with you at meal/eating times?
What if, you were in my State and I made you eat raw fish, raw eggs, raw sea cucumber, rice with no butter on it, BBQ Eel, Poi, etc. ?
I know some Adults, that will not even eat shrimp, nor eggs unless it is scrambled, nor any type of meat, unless it is beef.
Every person, throughout life... has a changing palate or not.
Some individuals like plain food, some like spicy.
Some like exotic foods, some like only potatoes and meat. Basic stuff.
But with any human, adult or child, they will HATE meal time and cry... if they are forced to eat and treated like meal time is 'punishment.'
And sure, if that were Me...I too would say that I wanted to take a nap, instead, too.
Your son... is smart.
I personally, do NOT like fish.
I am in my 40's. I have NEVER liked fish. Since a child. NOTHING my Mom could have done, even if she force me to eat it, could have changed... my taste buds. No money given to me, will make me eat fish... just to please someone else.
I do.not.like.fish.
Your kid, is a kid.
He is an individual.
He is human.
My son is 4.. and he now eats a lot of different things. ON His own.
I also understand him and his eating preferences and likes/dislikes and his emotions and reasoning for things.
I don't expect him, to eat JUST like me.
Nor like my Husband,
Nor like my daughter.
He is also a 'grazer'... just like his Dad/my Husband.
There is nothing wrong with that.
I just have never understood... why food and eating has to be a battle.
Battling it, is chosen.
I don't use it as a manipulation.
My son eats. No matter what I cook, there will be something there he will eat. He knows, that mealtime... is NICE and relaxing and fun and family time. NOT a stress time... to escape via a nap.
My son, eats, even if picky.
Some days he is not very hungry.
Some days he eats a TON.
And per growth-spurts.
But... my son KNOWS his body... and does not have food hang-ups or emotional problems because of eating.
He knows his body and hunger and fullness cues.
THAT is good.
We don't have junk in the house. So no matter what my kids eat, its okay.
I don't censor them or manipulate what they eat or how they eat.
They have healthy perceptions, about eating.
If Adults... were treated like that at mealtimes and for foods.. it would be considered very, not nice.
Forcing a kid about food and eating... is really a manipulation.
My son, has grown into, becoming a more adventurous eater. ON his own. Naturally.
all the best,
Susan