So, I have to admit that I’ve been so distracted starting Baby Girl on solids that I’ve forgotten, er, ignored the fact that Toddler Boy isn’t such a great eater. He’s so darn picky.
My biggest challenge is getting him to just try something new. It’s so frustrating when I offer him something I know he will like but he just won’t even take one single little bite. For a while we enforced the “one bite” rule and I told him he couldn’t get down from the table until he tried at least one bite of everything on his plate. Turns out he’s stubborn. He would literally sit at the table for 30 minutes after my my husband and I had left the table before finally trying a tiny bite.
Sadly, he has developed a sweet tooth. Not surprising given that I am his mother and have the biggest sweet tooth on the face of the planet. But, I don’t want to bribe him to eat his meal by dangling a cookie in front of him. He shouldn’t get a reward for doing something he should do anyway (eat dinner), you know what I mean?
I hate to make mealtime a fight. I just don’t want to make it a battle – it should be a pleasant, nice time for my family. And, frankly, I love eating and want my kids to love it, too. Seriously, it’s food, kid! EAT!
What are your toddler mealtime battles? How do you overcome them? Any advice for this mama?
Jennifer
June 15, 2009Sadly we share paralled lives in this department. Tonight My 1 year old ate anything and everything I threw at her, and my 3 year old wouln't eat anything but grapes!
Hana
June 15, 2009My 3yr old daughter lives on grapes, string cheese, marshmallows, and butter noodles. Sometimes I just get tired of the battle. My 14mos old daughter on the other hand eats everything she sees.
Cat@3KidsandUs
June 15, 2009Our toddler is actually the best eater in the world, too good, she'll eat anything and everything in sight from a big fat cheeseburger to sour kraut. It's our son that we've been battling since he was a baby. He's 7, almost 8 now and still eats the same few things he ate as a toddler. We've tried everything you can imagine but eventually kept giving in bc we were tired of the fight. Eventually our pediatrician just said stop fighting, stop catering to him, stop bribing him, he eats what's on the table or he goes to bed hungry. And that's exactly what we started doing and he's actually started eating a few different foods.
Four peas in a pod
June 15, 2009Well, my advice will probably be of no help because we do what you are trying not to – we offer a (usually) healthy dessert after dinner to the family members who eat an appropriate amount of their meal. That typically means three bites of each new or not generally well-liked food item. Last night's dessert was a mango, which was a big hit, and tonight's dessert will be strawberries.
Our oldest's eating habits have not really been a problem though. She is severely allergic to egg (and I mean, epi-pen allergic) and was allergic to dairy until 2 1/2 so we have had to get creative. I think the allergies have helped expose her to different foods from an early age because we couldn't always eat the typical toddler food. Our littlest also has severe food allergies but at 11 months, it is too soon to tell how picky she will be. Right now she'll eat anything in front of her from mango to leaves
Good luck!!
Jana
Heather
June 15, 2009I wish I could offer words of advice, but sadly, I am in the same situation. Hanna will only eat chicken (mostly in nugget form), string cheese, peanut butter, hot dogs, and bananas. And of course anything that is sweet. If I were to leave her at the table until she at least tried something new, she'd never leave the table. I'm just happy that every once in awhile she'll eat a few bites of broccoli. I hope she gets less picky as she gets older.
My son on the other hand will eat anything! Including sand and mulch!
The Shopping Mama
June 15, 2009I wish I could bribe with healthy desserts! But, my son won't even try most fruit. He seriously makes a face at strawberries. I'd have to bribe him with brownies or chocolate and then he'd end up eating more of that than the actual meal.
sbregand
June 15, 2009Our 2.5 year old is very picky. Getting her to eat can be very difficult. We have figured out the foods she likes the best (cheese and turkey) we try to offer those in every meal as well as add them into foods she might not normally eat. There is also a great book out the called Deceptively Delicious – and it has recipes where you use purees of veggies in meals that kids normally eat. Like pancakes and such. Good luck
Michelle
June 15, 2009Our kids are all very good eaters. The other day, my oldest actually picked green beans for a side dish of her own free will. Her favorite meal is spinach quiche with broccoli.
I've always given my kids veggies. I started them out young. I did away with baby food as soon as they were able to eat soft solids. They got what we ate.
There are a few foods my kids won't eat. Some won't eat sauerkraut (which I won't either, so I don't blame them!)My oldest won't eat stuffing, but she's got some sensory issues.
I am not a short order cook. My kids eat what is put on their plate. If they don't eat, they don't get anything else. If it's breakfast, they don't get a snack before lunch. If it's lunch, no snack before dinner. If it's dinner, they go to bed hungry. They won't starve. When they get hungry, they'll eat what's put in front of them. When they were little, we would save the meal in the fridge, and if they got hungry between meals, they could feel free to finish their food. Now that they're older and can understand cause and effect a bit better, that's usually not necessary.
In special situations, I will make a PB&J (or let them make one, now that they're older.) I make some casseroles with stuffing, and I can appreciate the fact of just plain not liking something, but if they want dessert or are still hungry, they need to eat some of what we have.
Briann and Shaun Neeley
June 15, 2009i don't have a toddler yet BUT my husband was an extremely picky eater (and still is) growing up. He would only eat cereal and bread with jelly on it! He wouldn't try anything new and had his first piece of pizza in like 8th grade! My MIL just let him eat cereal because that's all he would eat! I was watching super nanny the other day and she said, don't force new foods if they don't want them and don't force them to eat. Hope this helps!
Debbie
June 15, 2009Someone before mentioned the book "Deceptively Delicious". It's by Jessica Seinfeld, and it is a great book! Lot of good tips on adding healthy food to tradtional meals that most kids will eat. I've added cauliflower puree to deviled eggs, butternut squash to maceroni and cheese, and other recipes like that. The trick is to hide the fruit and veggies in the main dish, but also to put fresh ones as a side dish. That way if they don't eat all the fresh ones on the side, it's not such a big deal, because it's already hidden in the main dish. Another tip I use is that I always have the same veggie paired with their favorite kid food. For example, my kids know that every time we have chicken nuggets, we have green beans with them. Kids like repitition, and knowing what is going to happen. Now when I mention that I'm making them chicken nuggets, they always say "with green beans too?". Hope the tips help. Good luck!