Animal, Vegetable, Miracle if she eats one

Vegetables.  I have one who hates them and one who has a friendly relationship with them.  Fiona will eat canned green beans.  That is her vegetable.  Not frozen.  Never fresh.  I have tried to coax, bribe, hide, and any other tactic involved in getting a kid to eat.  And I guess it really isn't vegetables.  It's food in general.  OK, I'll say it.  She is picky.  She gets nervous around foods that are not on her list.  The list is getting shorter every day.  Fiona will eat bean burritos, quesadillas (sharp cheddar only), dinosaur nuggets, grilled cheese, chicken noodle soup, saimin with egg, cheeseburgers, pasta, and very occasional pizza.  She likes rice krispies for breakfast or a waffle with Nutella.  Adores bacon.  She likes apple bananas if there are NO bruises anywhere on them.  Her new favorite food is peanut butter with coconut manna spread on top and jelly sandwiches.  If she can make it.  If I cut off the crusts.  If it is on softer white bread.  

So, why am I writing about Fiona's picky eating?  Well, Brian and I have decided to eliminate animal products from our diet.  We are slowly phasing in a plant based diet as we eat through the last of our meat items in the freezer.  Health reasons...and don't give me your opinion about protein.  We have decided not to include our children in the transition because frankly, Fiona would never eat again.  She has become very nervous about the changes around here.  She is scared to death that I am going to take away her organic milk and make her drink almond milk.  She is worried that she won't get to eat bacon ever again.  She thinks quinoa is freaky and brown rice is OK with lots of butter on it. The other day at Costco we were choosing some tortillas and she turned to me and asked, "Mom, why can't we just go back to the way you used to eat?"  She is stressed.  Even though none of the changes really affect her.  We reassure her that we have no plans to force our eating on her but do feel she needs to try new foods.

It has been interesting to watch and frustrating to cook for her.  Mackenzie is a tiny bit more go with the flow...but really eats close to nothing anyway so either way we are surprised she is gaining weight.  I think parents of picky kids just want their kids to eat.  I think I will continue to just choose items from her list for dinner and hope that as she grows she will become more brave about trying new foods.  We do what we can, right moms?