What If Picky Eating Is Actually Confidence?

I need to be honest with you about something I got completely wrong.

For the longest time, I thought picky eating was my kids pushing back.

You know… Testing boundaries, making mealtimes harder than they needed to be! I'd feel that familiar frustration rise when they'd refuse foods I knew they used to like, or when they'd push their plate away after barely taking a bite.

But something shifted when I stopped seeing their choices as resistance and started seeing them as something else entirely: confidence taking shape.

Learning to Trust Their Own Voice

Our kids are constantly bombarded with messages about what they should like, what they should eat, what they should be. And somewhere in all that noise, they're trying to figure out who they actually are!

When my son says "I don't like that," he's not being difficult. He's practicing something incredibly important - listening to his body and trusting what it's telling him. He is learning that his preferences matter, that his voice deserves to be heard… even when it's the smallest voice at the dinner table.

The more I've leaned into really listening to my kids' choices around food, the more I've watched them grow into themselves. They're learning they can say no. They can have opinions. They can trust their own instincts.

And honestly? That's the kind of growth I never want to rush.🩷

Authentic Selves, Strong Foundations

We spend so much time worrying about whether they're eating enough vegetables or trying new things. But what if we're missing the bigger picture? What if those firm "no thank yous" are actually building blocks of self-advocacy? What if letting them honour their preferences now teaches them to honour their boundaries later?

I'm not saying we throw nutrition out the window or never encourage them to try new foods. But I am saying there's power in respecting their autonomy, even when it comes to something as simple as dinner.

A Story That Gets It

This is exactly why I wrote "Don't All Cats Eat Chicken?" I wanted to create a cozy, empowering story that shows kids (and reminds us parents) that being your authentic self isn't stubbornness - it's confidence. When Cooper and Chloe navigate their own preferences and choices, they're demonstrating something beautiful: that knowing yourself and staying true to who you are is one of the bravest things you can do.

If you have a selective eater at home, this might be the perfect story to snuggle up with together. It's available on Amazon, and it's become a bedtime favourite in our house—a gentle reminder that different isn't difficult, it's just... extraordinary!

The Chronicle of Cooper & Chloe

Don’t All Cats Eat Chicken?

Ready to Celebrate Your Child's Authentic Voice?

If this perspective resonates with you, I'd love for you to share "Don't All Cats Eat Chicken?" with your little one. It's more than just a bedtime story—it's a celebration of confidence, self-trust, and being beautifully, unapologetically themselves.

Grab your copy on Amazon today, or click the link below to bring Cooper and Chloe's empowering adventure into your home.

And if you've already read it? I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a review and let other parents know how it resonated with your family. Your words help other moms and dads discover this message when they need it most.

What about you? Have you noticed your child's confidence growing in unexpected ways? I'd love to hear your stories in the comments below.