What to feed a picky eater?

Question

My daughter just turned one. She is a very picky eater, she doesnt even like the normal stuff like mac and cheese, her daily diet is fruit loops,mixed veggies, beans and yogurt. i know that doesnt sound too bad, but she needs to put some weight on, shes in the 5th percentile for her weight. Any one have any ideas for me to try with her?

Answer 1

-mashed potatoes with butter, milk and sour cream. Beat it with a mixer so it is smooth. Add some salt and sometimes you can smash steamed carrots and mix it in.
-homemade banana bread, add finely chopped nuts, some shredded carrots, raisins, and reduce the amount of sugar a little
-pasta with butter (add some salt)
-the rottiserie chickens that you buy from the wholesale clubs
-frozen french fries, but bake them at home
-white rice with shredded meat that you made for dinner or even mix in sloppy joes or just the broth the meat you cooked for dinner

Answer 2

Consider yourself lucky, at least your little one likes a variety of stuff. My 7 year old has been a vegetarian since age 3. She eats mostly starches like mac and cheese (chef boyardee canned, no other will do, wrong color, wrong shape noodle, too runny or too dry)and beefaroni, and likes all sorts of fruit, and french fries.
She is not overweight and is very active. She gets great grades at school despite having been diagnosed with mild autism.
In short, I wouldn't worry too much about her diet as long as she is eating a variety of stuff. Next week she may only want home made, free range, grain fed in a friendly environment, all white meat fried chicken. Enjoy it while its still relatively easy. Keep trying new stuff.
Try touch, feel, kiss, taste the new food. Choose stuff that has interesting textures and shapes. Peaches, star fruit, mangoes, papayas, different color grapes, avocados (avocados are fattening). Or try making food into animal shapes or meals into 'themes'. My family cracks up at the ridiculous meal ideas I come up with. teamed up with a movie that matches the theme, its a whole night of silly fun. E mail me if you want ideas.
michaelsmaniacal at yahoo.com good luck, enjoy your baby!

Answer 3

my daughter was always in the 3 to 5% in her age range for weight. She ate she was just VERY very active. She is 8.5 now and ADHD and weighs 46 pounds. She has never liked much meat only boneless skinless chicken strips. Her doctor orders her children's ensure drinks she hates them to i MAKE her drink half at least every morning. Make sure you talk to her doctor and ask about getting a nutritional drink or vitamin. Introduce new food my kids older so it's easier to reason with her then a 1 year old. I tell her she don't have to eat ANYTHING but she HAS to try it. In general 1 year Old don't eat a huge verity yet at that age she liked the Lil kids microwave Gerber dinners like chicken noodle. My daughter is just slim made she is 8.5 wears a 6 or 7 SLIM they hang on her hips she's the smallest girl in her 3rd grade

Answer 4

I speak from experience when I say, allowing them to be picky only sets the stage for a pattern of demanding behavior later on down the road. If you stop giving in now, you can save yourself a lot of grief in the future. If they are hungry they will eat what is offered. Trust me they won't starve to death.

Trust me, you dont want a demanding teenager, who is angry all at you all of the time just because they don't get their way.

Nip it in the bud now and it won't be a bigger problem later.

Answer 5

At age 1 unless you have a family history of allergies to eggs she may eat scrambled eggs. My son loves him. Also, if a child is hungry enough they will eat just about anything. I'm not saying to starve her, but put just a spoonful of her favorite on the plate along with some new foods. She needs some kind of protein

Answer 6

I would let her eat whatever she wants to eat and I would talk to her doctor about maybe giving her Pedisure during the day so that she is getting what she isn't getting in the food that she is and is not eating during the day. Also I would just keep encouraging her to try different things. Make deals with her if she eats so many bites of something new then she can have one of her favorite things to eat. Also if it is something that you don't like please do not let her know that because she might not even try it if she thinks that you don't like it.

Answer 7

Very young children go through repeated phases when it comes to eating. Don't worry (I know that's easy to say) - over time she will balance her own nutrition. I would advise you to get some calcium into her; milk is important at her age as she forms teeth and bones.

Whatever you do, DON'T give in to all her whims. That is, don't try to tempt her with junk food just to get something into her. Try introducing one healthy choice along with the usual foods she accepts. In my experience, kids who gets hungry enough will eat what is put in front of them. Eventually.

Hang in there, mom, and remember who the parent is!

Answer 8

Cut out those nasty fruit loops and try Annies Mac and cheese that does not have all the junk in it at least.

Answer 9

Just give her what she wants now. I used to be a picky eater to the point where I wouldn't eat anything at all. But I'll eat ALMOST anything now.

Answer 10

Krystal,
At one year old...You should be introdusing other tiny pieces of food items. Give yer daughter a choice of a few different things. There is the babyfood for toddlers on the shelves or try some food you made at home...small pieces of pot roast, mashed potatoes, noodles with butter, etc...what ever you eat is safe for your child in SMALLER portions tho. and moderate how much she puts in her mouth. This age, they are feeling things out...and making faces, lol texture is BIG at this age. and COLOR too....small chopped steamed carrots. and remember...they make be small...but they have taste buds just like you and me. My 16 year old, and 14 year old grew up just like this...and my 14 year old....is STILL a picky eater. lol good luck hun