... my son was a picky eater. He is not now, much. But again, I don't expect him to eat like me nor like the same things nor have the same dislikes.
Anyway, Grandma used to make comments like my son is SO skinny, that she can see his ribs, that he "never" eats etc. But that is not true. That is just her, perception.
When in fact, my son is a TALL boy for his age, and is very lanky and never was a chubby baby like how all those Hallmark cards make you think your baby has to be and look like.
So, one day I take Grandma to my son's well-check.
I TOLD the Pediatrician that Grandma thinks he's too skinny, never eats etc. and that a boy should be husky etc.
WELL, per ALL of my son's percentages/growth/BMI etc., the Doctor said my son is PERFECT and NOTHING is wrong with his growth or build or anything. He ALSO said, that my son... eats PERFECTLY. Why? Because, I have taught my kids, to eat according to their body and to KNOW their body's cues. ie: to know when they are "hungry" and to know when they are "full" and they thus... do not eat according to emotional eating or boredom nor to please other people. They eat, according to their body's cues. Which our Pediatrician said is the MOST healthy way to eat. And that, eating dysfunctions occur due to emotional eating and being forced etc. and when it is treated as a behavioral "problem."
So now, Grandma.... does NOT ever, complain about my son's physique nor his eating. Because, he is healthy. And he grows by leaps and bounds. And he is just a tall lanky kid, who grows in height more than in girth.
I cook and feed my kids the way I cook and know what they like. My kids eat. My son eats. But he eats the amount, that is appropriate for HIS age. Per serving sizes etc. And, JUST like an adult... some days your appetite can be low or high. Same for a kid. And JUST like an adult... even we get tired of certain foods at times, or crave something else. Fine. No biggie.
And JUST like an adult, kids too, have their own palates.
Though my son was picky when younger, I never used rewards or punishments for eating. And naturally, he just began to eat more things. Some things which I, don't even like. No biggie.
My daughter is not picky at all. She will eat anything or try anything no matter how exotic or unusual.