Does anyone know what we should do about our five year old and his eating habits? To be straight he is really wierd about food. He won't eat anything that looks funny, smells funny and gags on things like green beans. We have gotten to the point where we are so fed up we have given him no options as to trying and finishing a certain amount of foods (they are small portions). He is extremly stubborn and has not eaten for twelve hours now. I plan on sending him to bed hungry this evening. I feel really guilty about doing that but he knows that he has to eat his "growing food". At this point I can barely look at him Im so annoyed. Ugggg...anyone ever see anything like this? The doc says it is the parents responsibility to give the child food and the child decides to eat it or not. It is not normal. At the moment, he doesnt want to eat a plain chicken sandwich which he has eaten before. Think its mostly a power struggle. Thanx.
2006-09-27 09:52:49 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
thankx so much for all the answers. i have tried to give him healthy choices but just like one of you said it has been embarrasing when trying to take him out other places. we will try and get it all worked out. thanks so much!
2006-09-27 10:34:20 · update #1
Most children go through this phase at one time or another. My daughter did too. What I did, I gave her a choice for breakfast and lunch (unless we were all having the same thing) and dinner was what the family ate. I would give her small portions of the foods I knew she didn't like and she would have to try some of everything. If she ate everything she could have dessert, if she didn't eat everything then she didn't have dessert with the family. There were times that she took an hour after everyone was done eating to finish (I wouldn't let it go longer than that though). If he doesn't eat than he doesn't eat. He will eat when he gets hungry enough. My daughter went to bed a couple of times hungry and while it broke my heart, I knew she wouldn't learn if I just gave up and let her eat whatever she wanted. I think you are doing the right thing (even though its really hard and frustrating) just keep up with it. If you have any concerns, I would contact his pediatrician who could offer some good advice.
Note: After he goes to bed, take a long warm bubble bath with candles and have your hubby give you a massage and you him. It might help keep your sanity
Note: My daughter was 7 years old when I finally started what I explained above. I tried what the person before me said and it got exhausting making pretty much two dinners, and embarressing when we went to friends homes and she wouldnt eat their food because it wasnt what she liked. She came to expect to not be made to try new foods so she didnt like anything that wasnt familiar. I had to start all over again as if she was a 3 year old. Finally, she tries new food, eats what I make for dinner (even if she complains a little she still eats it). You should stick with what your doing for your sanity in the long term.
2006-09-27 10:09:07 · answer #1 · answered by Kristin Pregnant with #4 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't fight the food war - you can't win, and it's not necessary. Sit down with your child and discuss the foods he likes to eat or will eat (this doesn't mean he gets all the garbage he wants). There are lots of modestly healthy kid friendly foods:
peanut butter
macaroni with cheese or meat sauce
Eggs
fruit.
Bread
Yogurt
Get a solid set of basic items and use these as the foundations for his meals. Insist that he eat a multi vitamin every day and at least some fruit (let him pick the kind). When possible use the healthiest alternative (wheat bread, wheat pasta) and make the food fresh.
Let him decide the amount he's hungry for - never insist that he eat more than he wants. He'll know when he's hungry and if he likes the food we'll eat what he wants.
That ensures that he has food to grow on......but this means no desserts at all...if he wants desserts, then he has to eat some fruit (and perhaps at least try a vegitable) when it is served.
The best dessert in the world is chocolate milk - tons of calcium and protein.
Avoid junk food altogether with a fussy eater - makes them think they can have 3 meals a day from McDonalds. Nothing fried, no garbage
Don't make food a battle - if you accomodate (without giving into junk food) he will eventually start trying different foods because he will feel left out of the good things.
2006-09-27 10:07:42 · answer #2 · answered by Clockwork Grape 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my five year old does the same thing. I had to offer it to her during dinner time only. When diner is over it is over. Take all food away and eventually he will eat. He will get hungary sometime. Just offer foods that is all you can do. If he does not eat then do not give snacks. Also I love to use sticker charts. use stickers for every food he finishes. and offer a treat when the whole chart is full of stickers.
sticker charts are at:
http://www.latitudes.org/behavioral_charts.html
good luck
2006-09-27 09:58:36 · answer #3 · answered by sr22racing 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let him choose what he wants to eat.
Give him the option--Mac and cheese or chicken. Try options to give him control.
Some kids only like to eat ____ for ages. That's fine--they are still eating. They are still getting nutrients.
It's a battle that you aren't going to win. Listen to him and talk to him. He's not going to die from poor nutrition if you only feed him hot dogs or mac and cheese, but going to bed hungry shouldn't be a viable option.
2006-09-27 10:01:13 · answer #4 · answered by FaZizzle 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do what I do. Let him drink breast milk out of a cup. Seriously, I know I make hella fun of these crows, but in all honesty, my son would beg for a cup of expressed milk when I was pumping for my baby. At least it's something that's not junk food.
2006-09-27 10:18:21 · answer #5 · answered by Goddess of Nuts PBUH 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my son was the same way and my doctor told me he will soon eat when he tummy is not feeling good and all he would eat if we let him was junk food well now my son is 6y/o and eats everything and you also just got to sit back and see what your child likes.like my son will not stop eating watermelon,corn on the cob,tuna fish and cheese sandwinch,just a mayo sandwinch the gandmother use to call it a wish sandwinch lol
2006-09-27 11:07:01 · answer #6 · answered by kim_possible_7281 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you give into him now you will always be giving in to him. When he gets hungry he will eat. Do not let him have anything except water till he eats. I went thru this with one of my children and one of my grandchildren. My Grandchild now eats things at my house that she won't eat at her home.
2006-09-27 10:06:44 · answer #7 · answered by BUPPY'S MEME 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.dingosgotmybaby.com/2006/07/1...
hope this article is helpful to u in general... about positive reinforcement. as for eating... i suggest also that he will eat when he is hungry. so leave out some food, like cut up veggies and fruits, pb&j sandwiches, etc, and see if he crawls out of hiding and devours it!
2006-09-27 10:01:06 · answer #8 · answered by sasmallworld 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He will not starve, when hes hungry enough he'll eat, BUT you must not allow him any junk, NONE, or else he won. you shouldn't make it a huge battle. if there are only a few things that he will eat, as long as its not junk food, let him have it.
2006-09-27 10:15:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
my brother was really finiky about food too. (i was 15 when he was born) and i remember being difficult too
best advice, when he's hungry he'll eat, until then stop stressing, it's not good for you or him
2006-09-27 10:29:22 · answer #10 · answered by sparrow 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋