I was a major picky eater when I was a kid, and it would drive my parents crazy. It wasn’t even that I only liked junk food or candy; I actually hated pizzas and hamburgers. I simply refused to try anything new or try food that rubbed me the wrong way. Eventually, I grew out of it, but it took many years until I started saying ‘yes’ to new foods, and my parents still don’t really have an explanation for why that was.

So when the future stepmom in the story below explained why she thought it was really important to put a stop to her fiancé’s daughter’s picky eating habits, I thought of my own parents and of how hard they fought to get me to eat. It takes a lot of work, and it isn’t guaranteed to succeed, but it is the parents’ duty to ensure their kids grow up to be as healthy as they should be.

The question is – can these parents succeed if one is unwilling to make the effort?