Picky Eaters

I remember being a picky eater as a kid. And to some degree I still am. I don't eat things that I can't pronounce, or smell or look gross. However, a lot of what I hated to eat as a kid, I enjoy eating now or I'm just to lazy to pick out the stuff I don't like i.e. tomatoes in a taco. The girls, though, are extremely picky eaters. The only fruit Tatyana will eat is a banana. Abigail won't eat a potato in any form- mashed, chip, french fry, etc. They all hate candy, chocolate or dessert that has something in it such as caramel, coconut or whatever. And not one of them will eat condiments -on anything. Well except Abigail will eat ranch but only with chicken nuggets.
I have tried every trick in the book. I even bought Deceptively Delicious and that didn't work. It was more work for me. I've begged, pleaded, awarded and made the girls go to bed hungry. I have lost every battle.
Olivia is more willing to try something new IF her sisters haven't tried it and stated that it was gross or that they didn't like it. Tess on the other hand is a major foodie and will eat and try anything. I pray every day that she won't be influenced by her big sisters. We are working hard to make sure that the girls keep their opinions to themselves and to not make facial expressions when eating so that Tess will continue to eat anything and everything.
A few weeks ago, we had the girls try a Toaster Strudel. Mind you, when we were growing up Toaster Strudels were a delicacy and we rarely ever had them. The girls were so disgusted by them. Two of the three were in tears because we made them try the "nastiest food ever." What's wrong with these children? Things that would be the "nastiest food ever" when I was a kid was kidney beans, peas, fish, you know typical things a kid hates. Not Toaster Strudels and definitely not any thing with sugar in it.
Today I bought giant creme puffs as a little victory dessert and other than licking off the chocolate topping, the girls wouldn't touch them. No matter how much I told them it was pretty much the same as a donut.
I do have to say though that the girls finally decided that cooked carrots aren't so bad and they rarely complain about eating them. The newest protested food is black beans. Which happens to be Tess' favorite. We will keep trying them and one day about 6 months from now the girls will probably willingly eat them but until then, its an ongoing battle.
We keep telling the girls that one day the food is going to run out and they will have to eat whatever we have or can find. But I don't think they can comprehend that.
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