Thank you all for the warm welcome! It is great to be back among an online family that is going through the same thing I am. I learn so much from all of you. I am so inspired by all of you, and appreciate you all. You are amazing!
I can't say the "take it or leave it" approach hasn't been without issues, but they are trying. I read that it takes over 20 times for a child to develop a taste for new things, so he has to try everything on his plate. I also use a die for things he doesn't like. We roll the die and whatever number pops up, that's how many bites he has to take. He has rolled a 1, which he is happy about, but when he rolls a 6 he has to eat it all. I only apply this to the vegetables. I don't want to be that mom that teaches her child to "clean his plate" because I do want him to depend on his appetite instead of eating everything. But everything else he has to try. Same with the husband, who decided when he was 12 what he likes to eat and hasn't changed his mind yet..lol.
I do let them have a junk day once a week, and a big breakfast on the weekend complete with lots of bacon and that eases the transition a bit
Plus it teaches my son that things like that are treats and should be had in moderation.