Victory!

Today is an amazing day, not only because the date is eight.nine.ten, but because after an entire year, plus, my son Gabe ate his entire helping of quinoa with little prompting!

I know I'm a nerd about food, but I was so excited by my little dude's nonchalant eating of his quinoa tonight that I was nudging my husband under the table and couldn't help but bust out a blog entry about it after taking a month break due to the busyness of moving and transitioning from Minneapolis to Chicago.

I literally have put this delicious grain on Gabe's plate at least every week for a year and have gotten push back nearly every time. The reactions have ranged from tantrums because it was on his plate even after I told him that he didn't have to eat it (but that it needed to stay on his plate) to him taking a bite, saying it was good and then refusing to eat a second bite. Only on a couple of occasions has he taken a second, very teeny tiny bite.

And so today was special, affirming and inspiring as I continually seek to expand the palette of my two boys. And to think I almost made noodles because I didn't want to risk a smooth dinner experience. And to think that I almost didn't put the quinoa on his plate even after making it because I didn't want to deal with the whining. Perseverance has paid off! And now if the resistance reoccurs, I'll always be able to gently remind my dear Gabe of how much he enjoyed his helping of quinoa "that one night."

Please note that I'm not sharing this story to brag in any way, but hope that one mom's struggle and perseverance can serve as an inspiration for those trying to help their children eat foods that their little one continues to refuse. Hang in there caregivers and keep putting it on their plate!