how to get my 5 yr old son to eat more variety of foods?

Question

he will only eat chicken nuggets, fries, pancakes, pizza and sometimes bananas or raisons. He does eat/drink all kinds of milk products. Help!

Answer 1

I have a 16 month old son and he is still on the bottle. He tries to eat solids but hasnt totally got it down. I need as much help as you do. My doctor has sent me to a specialist. I know to prevent this from happening to my 3 week old daughter I should start her earlier.

Thanks for asking that ?

Answer 2

Some of the food you've listed is better than others. For example weetbix for breakfast is actually good. It's one of the healthier cereals on the market. If he has milk with them then all the better as he's getting calcium. Youghurt is good too but it depends what type it is. Try to get him to eat the fruit based ones rather than the confectionary type ones. Make sure that if you think that is all he is going to eat you get it in a decent size. For example get the normal size instead of the kids size if you buy it already packaged I'd be more worried about dinner foods. Rice pudding is good as a second course but you should probably try to get him to eat something for the meal. From what you've said it looks like he might like mushy foods. If that's the case try pureeing or mashing up the things you want him to eat. Does he have a favorite color which is a food color, if so you could have things all that color on the plate. Also look at the now and then principle. You can show him this with pictures. Basically you do a picture of the main meal, an arrow then a picture of the rice pudding. If he can't communicate well with his voice try using pictures or sign. This will give him a better chance at communicating and also understanding what you're talking about. If he's under the treatment of a speech therapist or pathologist then they should be able to help you with the communication difficulties. One last thing and its only a thought having the whole family around may be a bit too much for him. Try just having you and him having the meal. Then once he gets used to that you can slowly introduce new members of the family into meal time.

Answer 3

Children normally eat the food that parents themselves eat - so first thing is to check out if you are setting a good example. Try and introduce a variety of foods other than what you mentioned - start slowly and don't overdo it.

Also try to introduce him to different kinds of cuisine - I don't know where you stay, but I am guessing wherever it is, Chinese food for or Mexican food should be available - if you are more adventurous, you can try Thai food or Arabic cuisine . A variety of taste will make eating a rewarding experience.

Also here in California, there are a chain of salad joints called Fresh Choice - where for a small sum, you get lots of varieties of soups, salads, pastas, breads and (healthy) dessert. My kids have been going to this place ever since they were on table food, and LOVE it!
Try and see if your city/ town has something similar.

http://www.freshchoice.com/

Answer 4

Don't serve him chicken nuggets, fries, pancakes, pizza. Don't even allow junk food into the house. Serve healthy stuff, and make sure that it's what you're eating, too. You seem to know that there are healthier alternatives, so if you're eating it, and it's all that's available, he'll eat it when he gets hungry enough.

Also, you can show him how the same basic foods can be prepared in a healthy manner and still taste good. Marinate the chicken in fruit juice and spices and grill it outside. Potatoes don't have to be fried: they're wonderful when baked, and since he enjoys dairy products, try mashed potatoes made with butter and milk (and a hint of nutmeg or garlic salt...yum!) Pancakes are OK once in a while. Homemade pizza can be fun to make with him, and you can make it with veggies on it and less cheese. Raisins and bananas are great -- add some almonds, walnuts, dried papaya, or peanuts.

And make sure that he gets outside and runs around, climbs trees (or monkey bars), and plays games that require eye-hand coordination.

Answer 5

Don't let the others make you feel bad. I had a picky eater and I was a picky eater. My worst memories are my mom making me eat things that made me gag and my son’s worst memories are me making him eat carrots and eggplant. To this day neither one of us can eat things that we were forced to eat as small children. In your child's case it could be a power struggle. I told my son “there is only two items per food group you don't have to eat, think wisely about choosing those items.” You are giving him some power back. Not to sound like the other rude non-helpful commenter's, the chicken nuggets, pizza and fries sound like they are out to eat foods, limit their availability. Try a couple of weeks of home cooking only; he wouldn't have those foods as choices. Find out how much a 5 year old needs of all the food groups, see if he is getting what he needs. Keep introducing him to new foods but don't make a huge deal otherwise every time you come to him with something it will turn into a battle. Peer pressure in school will began to help them try new things. My son never drank milk (cows) until all those little cartons were being chug by classmates. If your son continues a diet mostly consisting of animal proteins and fat you will need his cholesterol checked yearly. I had a cousin whose kid lived on junky meals and had high cholesterol at 8 years old. I don’t agree with the doctor theory of they eat what the body tells them to.

Answer 6

Sit him down and tell him he can't leave the table until he eats whats on his plate and if he doesn't he'll go hungry. Start off with a little at a time then work up to more. Make it fun. Take the MD's food away make a chart and if he follows the chart on what he eats and get stickers then at the end of the week he can eat at MD's or what ever fast food place he likes. But stop buying junk and only keep good stuff in the house and then he'll have no choice but to eat it.

Answer 7

Make something different for dinner...put something he likes on the plate as well as something he has never tried....in order for him to leave the dinner table he must take at least three bites of the new food. Let him know that you will be trying new foods every day. I hope you do not make separate meals for him than you do for anyone else in your household. He should be eating whatever you eat....you are not a restaurant where it is cook to order, it is what ever you choose to make. I have never had problem with my kids eating or trying anything new...they take three bites if it something new, then from there if they tell me they do not like it I find out why and go from there.

Answer 8

Do you cook at all?

Make a breakfast omelette: Like a couple of scrambled eggs, little pieces of ham, onions, green pepper, and sliced olives. For a drink, I would give orange juice or milk and the side sliced cantaloupe, and about a dozen grapes.

Or how about a bowl of fiber rich grape nuts, and put raisins, and banana slices on top? and a little yogurt?

For lunch or dinner a homemade chicken salad sandwich or fish.

Check out a health cookbook for kids. Enjoy.

You present it in a pleasing appetizing way and mix it a little, he'll eat it.

Answer 9

Growing up...my father MADE us try a little of everything on our plates..IF we didn't like it when we were finished eating the spoonful that was put on our plate, we didn't have to have 2nds...

My son is also 5 and he's told to take 5 bites of something and doesn't get the extra noodles or what have you UNTIL those bites are taken...my kids were raised the same as I was...TRY it ~ you might just like it...they eat lima beans, brussel sprouts~ just about all veggies...make sure veggies are with every dinner..and not just french fries...mashed potatoes

Answer 10

most five year olds are like this. They have picked there favorites and stick with it. You can offer them other things and try to get them to try it. Offer stickers. they will do anything with a little inspiration. Make it a sticker chart for dinner. I have a 4 and 5 year old girls. They are picky too. But remember if they don't like something try again in a few months, My oldest loves green beans, my youngest would rather die. everyone is different.