Does your 5 year old not eat their dinner?

Question

My daughter has been really difficult with food for the last 2 years, usually only with her dinner. We make sure she doesn't eat to much in the afternoon & she doesn't get too much sugar in her diet, we have tried many things, but she just doesn't seem to want to eat her dinner, even when its one of her favourite meals.
We're at our wits end!
Any suggestions?

Answer 1

There are some things to consider in regards to your child who refuses to eat .. my daughter has been the same when it comes to eat she refuses to eat sometimes even though she clearly hasn't eaten much before ..

I started to deduct things one by one ... first i've turned off the tv and she'd run to her play room and want someone to join her but i stuck to my decision and told her that i'd play but after she finished her food .. she would bring her toys with her to the dinner table and again she'd be distracted .. i would then tell her that i'd be happy to play with her and her toys when she ate her food .. it was constant practice over and again but eventually she got the idea .. another thing i prevent is snacking in between meal times .. they got small tummies after all .. i will give fruits but not snacks to munch on .. this way their tummies are hungry already by the time dinner comes .. sounds harsh i know but it does work ..

Last option would be to go out to the playground or go out to play somewhere where there's alot of running involved or alot of physical movement since a part of their brain will tell them that it's time to eat afterwards

Hope this helps :)

Answer 2

Very normal!! Yet very frustrating. 5 year olds are really starting to become there own person and make their own choices. This is just one of their power plays (and it won't be the last). Don't stress about it too much and try not to make a big deal about it. As long as she is eating a good breakfast and lunch and the doctor is not concerned about weight, don't force it. Now I would tell her that at dinner time, the family all sits together at the table. No going and playing while everyone else is eating - that is just good manners. No treats at night if she doesn't eat dinner. She will eat dinner when she is hungry. Besides, dinner should be the smallest meal of the day, with Breakfast being more important.

You can force to horse to water, but you can force them to drink.

Answer 3

I was that way as a child. My parents made me sit at the table until bedtime if I didn't eat. As an adult, I realize that dinner is not the most important meal of the day. Don't make her eat if she's not hungry. But if she wants to nibble in the evening, offer some fresh fruits or vegetables. Not junk food. Of course she doesn't get dessert if she doesn't eat her dinner. Forcing a child to eat when they're not hungry only leads to a weight problem or eating disorders. Instead of having to throw her dinner away, only put a very small portion on her plate. If she eats it, that's great! If not, then obviously she's not hungry. Does she eat a healthy portion for breakfast and lunch? If so, then don't stress about her dinner. Okay? It won't hurt her not to eat it.

Answer 4

Children won't starve themselves on their own accord. She'll eat when she's hungry.

Seriously, the statement, 'We make sure she doesn't eat to much in the afternoon ', worries me a little.

Offer her good healthy meals for breaky, lunch and dinner. If she eats everything, great. If she eats almost nothing, great. Forcing her to eat, especially by making sure she doesn't eat too much in the afternoon so she'll eat her dinner, will lead to eating disorders and probably digestive problems.

If she's within a healthy weight range for her age and she's not suffering any major health problems, leave her alone. Old say, you can lead a horse to water, etc. Allowing her access to healthy food and snacks will almost guarantee a well adjusted and not obese child.

Answer 5

Hi, I dont personally have this problem but my friend did. She ended up giving the evening meal at lunch time (around 1:30ish) then nothing until 5 o'clock when she did a light meal of a sandwich and a piece of fruit and if she was good with the light meal then she got pudding. She then in time reversed it back and focused on the fact that if she ate all of her dinner then she would get her pudding.
Hope this helps.

Answer 6

The General rule here is that she will eat when shes hungry.

However, it seems that she is not eating well at all. Is she healthy? If the Doc gives her a clean bill of health then i wouldnt worry about it too much(i.e, try giving her smaller portions?)

If Doc agrees there is a meidical issue at stake, then i would work with him to see what he thinks would be best. There could be various issues here, like routine changes, meals too close,. If shes eating her other meals and not diinner, then work on that fact and talk with her about why?

Again , check with Doc to make sure shes in top health, ..and then if she is, go back to the rule..she will eat when shes hungry.

Answer 7

Ooooh, you're daughter sounds just like mine! We have no problem with breakfast or lunch...dinner's our sticking point. I don't care what we feed her--it could be what she asked for if she were given a choice--but she won't touch it. Or, she'll take a bite or two and play with the rest. It drives me nuts because, of course, she wakes up in the morning screaming at the top of her lungs about how hungry she is.

I haven't yet found a solution to the problem, but if I do, I will certainly let you know!

Answer 8

Been there still there. Make sure you are not feeding her too late. Try tea at 5pm. My kids, when it gets too late don't want to eat because they are "past"it. Just continue to encourage a few bites. Or split the tea in half and tell her to eat one half. And if all else fails...feed her the main meal at lunch and a sandwich or yogurt and fruit for tea

Answer 9

i had the same problem wid mine try this ...
let her have her supper an hour earlier and if dat doesnt help everytym she refuses to eat her dinner take a toy away from her or sumthing she likes very much and let her know y u doing dat and each tym she takes a bite of her dinner praise her and tell her ONLY wen her dinners finish ull give her back her toy if she doesnt eat it DONT give her the toy back...

Answer 10

I have a step-son that was doing that for more than a yr. Try making her favorties, letting her help make the meal. Make sure you don't give her to much on her plate, sometimes that intimadates them. Just be patiente she'll come around.