1. Sometimes, when you open a package of pork, it stinks like rotten eggs. You will think at first that it’s gone bad, but just let it sit for several minutes while the gas dissipates, and then smell it again. If it smells fine, then you’ve just witnessed “off-gassing,” which you get when pork is vacuum packed. You can also rinse the pork off, and that should get rid of the smell so you can go ahead and cook your dinner.
Lesson: Sometimes, all it takes for a crisis to become manageable is a little time …
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Ok, but can anyone tell me what to do with a 6-year-old who absolutely REFUSES to eat anything new. He has a set list of things he likes which is pitifully short and unhealthy and flies into sheer terror if my husband or I even mention the possibility of him trying something that is similar but not quite exactly one of the things he eats. And when I say terror I mean it. This kid is so scared of anything even slightly different. (For instance, the kid loves nutella on pretzels. But is terrified of trying it on bread. He won’t even eat bread at all!) We’ve tried every way of coaxing. We’ve tried putting stuff in front of him and hoping he becomes curious. New food just plain terrifies him. Is there any hope he will outgrow this?
Totally unprofessional opinion here: That sounds more like an anxiety problem than a food problem. If he shows intense anxiety or fear or agitation over other harmless things, it couldn’t hurt to ask the pediatrician for an evaluation (and in the mean time, let him eat what he likes, as long as he’s getting calories).
Be patient, loving, be casual about any food that’s being offered, and just try to remove the struggle about eating. I have two who were just like that. One ate peanut butter sandwiches, cocoa puffs, and apple juice almost exclusively for a few years. (he’s a much more adventurous eater now). Another is still reluctant to try new things. (Again, too the same basic meal for lunch to school for 5 years – didn’t eat pizza until recently and will only eat thin crust with cheese from one pizza place only. He wouldn’t eat birthday cakes at peoples’ parties…Lived on cereal and crackers and gogurts. ) I did start making scrambled eggs every morning for breakfast as he needed something with protein. He’s sort of anxious about lots of things but getting better. Try to remove the drama and production around food. Make meals neutral. Do not talk about the food – talk about school and work and movies. Be casual if he wants to try something different. Let him eat what he wants as long as he’s healthy.
Eating lots of different food is nice but not a requirement to get into heaven. Try to relax and give him time so that the food issue is not so sensitive.
What did help my older guy is going to other peoples’ homes for playdates. He’s polite so he would try something at their houses that he’d never touch in mine.
I used to eat dandelion salads and sandwiches a long time ago.