Finicky Files

The Finicky Files - Diabetes…

Diabetes down the road? This morning I held Danny steady and sang “You Are My Sunshine” to him while the nurse drew three vials of blood. We’ve been doing this quarterly since he was…

The Finicky Files - Snacktime Smackdown

I’m writing this when the last thing in the world I feel like doing is cooking for my children. It’s been a long week of rejected meal after rejected meal, coupled with a husband working late hours…

The Finicky Files - If she makes it, will she eat?

I thought I was so clever. Clare is such a bookworm, and this time of year we really enjoy reading Pumpkin Soup, a charming story about three animal friends who make pumpkin soup every day. “A-ha!” thought I. While previous efforts to involve Clare in the cooking process have not produced positive results on the [...]

The Finicky Files - Date with a Dietitian

I’m fortunate in so many of my friendships for their support, fun … and opportunities to exploit their varying skills and professions. Of late, this is especially true of my dietitian friend, Allyson. Sure, there was that time we hit a late-night diner…

The Finicky Files - How evil is it to let your kid go to bed hungry?

Chicken. It’s not just what’s for dinner. It’s also what I am when it comes to serving said item to Clare. As far as she’s concerned, it’s a four-letter word. That is unless it’s in nugget form. It doesn’t take a nutrition degree to recognize that nuggets should not be the sole source of meat [...]

The Finicky Files Flip Open

I used to be a city mom. I used to live in the heart of Chicago, in a tiny condo surrounded by McMansions and nanny-ed young ones. At the time I had just one child, who grew into a solids-eating toddler while we lived a life of walking to the park or the lake or hopping on the L to see sights. During these halcyon days, my daughter ate a broad variety of things, regularly feasting on such international delicacies as pot stickers and falafel.