How can I get my daughter to finish a meal?

Question

She is almost 3 years old and she is always hungry. She lightly "grazes" all day on what we give her to eat, instead of finishing a meal and being full. It drives me crazy because I cannot afford to cook 2 and three different things for her at one meal time and then have her pick at it or take 4 bites and be done. Any helpful advice will be appreciated, thanks! Oh and she is going to start preschool this fall so maybe being around other kids eating their lunch may have an influence on her I'm hoping.

The foods she really likes are meat (turkey, ham, hamburger meat, hotdogs). She likes mayon-daise (mayonaise) sandwiches with the crusts cut off and fruit snacks! Oh and chocolate milk. She eats little bits of this stuff all day long.

She is not fat. Actually is thin.

Answer 1

Don't expect her to clean her plate, just offer small portions of well-balanced foods. Little kids do better with small meals and snacks (it's better for adults too). Keep mealtime positive, give her the impression the food is yummy!

Before you punish her for her eating habits remember this will affect her body image and eating habits as an adult too.

Answer 2

I don't have any kids yet, so you can take my perspective or leave it, but I'd say that as long as your daughter does "graze" all day, that means she is eating and hopefully getting nutritious food. So I wouldn't worry if she doesn't finish her meal. Doctors say it's healthier to eat small meals throughout the day instead of three big meals anyway.

I would serve her whatever you've prepared for a meal (don't make extra stuff just to try to get her to eat), and if she doesn't eat it, then don't worry. When she's hungry, she'll eat, and just make sure there are nutritious snacks available like fruit, veggies, milk, cheese and whole grain cereal and crackers.

Some people believe that babies and toddlers instinctively eat healthy amounts, just enough to be satisfied, because they haven't developed any "food issues" that many older children and adults have. Many overeaters blame the fact that they were taught to "clean your plate" at every meal when they were kids.

And you're right about preschool: there's a good possibility that she will fall into the habit of eating on a set schedule. Don't worry so much! It sounds to me like your daughter is doing fine.

Answer 3

Both of my kids were considered underweight (until they came out with the breast feeding only charts:)) The dietitian recommended 5 to 6 meals/snacks a day. We sit down together for meals and when they leave the table I take their food away and they must wait for snack time to eat again. Every meal should include food from 3 or 4 food groups, every snack should have 1 or 2 food groups. Our children have 2 breakfast a cold one first thing, then a warm one about an hour later, snack mid morning, lunch, afternoon snack, supper. There is never more than 2 1/2 hours between food being offered. If they don't like what I serve, they wait for the next snack/meal.

You choose what to serve and when, she chooses what to eat and how much. If you try to force her to eat it can lead to poor eating habits when she is older. Never bribe with food, if you say that if she eats all her carrots she will get ice cream you are telling her that ice cream is "better" than carrots. Do not require her to clean her plate, she needs to listen to her body and stop eating when she is no longer hungry.

Answer 4

I would not let her "graze" all day long.You are the parent,therefore you are the one in control.Kids at this age should have three meals a day and no more than 2 snacks.It might be hard at first, but she won't starve.If she tells you she is hungry ,tell her it's almost time for lunch/dinner/snack,and offer her water or an activity to keep her occupied.Give her healthy, and tasty snacks that will hold her over till the next meal.The bonus is that you won't have to be a short-order cook anymore!!

Answer 5

First of all, I don't think you should EVER tell a child to finish a meal. That teaches them to ignore their natural hunger. This can lead to obesity and other eating disorders. (Sorry, I have a very strong opinion on this one. My husband is the product of a very pushy clean-your-plate kind of mom.) On the other hand, I don't think you should be cooking made-to-order meals for her either. My daughter (2) is a pretty picky eater, too. I got tired of having to cook our family dinner, and then deal with her pickiness . So I just started feeding her our dinner. I give her TEENY portions of the stuff I know she probably won't eat--just so I can feel like it's there if she wants to try it. Then I let her eat the rest of her dinner (small portions) and ask for more of what she wants. It was hard at first, because she was used to getting what SHE wanted and not what we were eating. But after a few nights of tantrums at the table, she learned that we all eat the same dinner. Sometimes there are still nights that she doesn't eat enough dinner and gets hungry later. That's when I offer her healthy snacks (like veggies or raisins) and let her eat as much as she wants.

Another trick: As it gets closer to meal time, offer her fruits or veggies to nibble on. They will fill her tummy for the moment, but leave her nice and hungry during meals! Plus it's healthy too!

Answer 6

I have a step kid that is 4 and he does not like to eaet anything other than Pizza, mac and cheese, and salad with lots of stuff in it. When we make things that he does not like we try and put something out there that he will eat like a salad and if he wants seconds on his salad then he has to eat half of something and most of the time he is to full for the salad. Also when my two step kids like to eat junk food during the day and they did not eat there breakfast or lunch they know that they get no snacks or pop just water. When they break down and say then fine I will eat my (whatever they did not want to eat) they eat that first then the snacks or junk food. Hope that works for you

Answer 7

DO NOT FORCE YOUR CHILD TO EAT!!!! This is a stepping stone towards an eating disorder and or obesity. I have been told by our local health dept. personnel that it is best to let the child eat less at any given time and more often than to make the child sit and eat everything offered three times a day. If the child does not finish her meal, there is nothing wrong with putting the leftover's in the refrigerator until she is on the prowl for food again later. Also, if you share likes and dislikes in the foods that you eat, just fix yourself a meal and share it with her.

Answer 8

DEFINITLY dont cook anything else than what is put in front of her! You are not a short-order cook for her, if she doesnt like what is put in front of her or only eats a couple bites then let her do that. I promise you she WILL NOT starve, when she gets hungry enough she will eat everything that you put down. Also, don't give her any snacks in between meals, that way she is sure to be hungry during scheduled meal times! Good Luck...it WILL get easier! =)

Answer 9

Grazing is actually a better way to eat but not what you feed her. Mayo sandwiches and hot dogs??

If you want her to eat a traditional lunch or dinner, then don't let her snack all day. Skip the fruit snacks which is basically candy and give her fruit.

Answer 10

dont let her have so many snacks during the day. tell her she needs to eat all of her lunch and dinner, and she can have two snacks a day. or something like that.
if shes off snacks and still wont eat her dinner, give her an ultimatum. my niece is 4 and very insistent on being a big girl. she went through the same phase. we told her if she didnt eat what her mom cooked for her, she'd have to eat baby food. she shut up and ate. she didnt want to be a baby.