My 3 year old won't eat any meat or vegeatbles at all. How do I expand his diet?

Answer 1

My son did that. He would only eat chicken and jumbalaya. So if we had roast and daddy accidently said "roast," I would have to take his plate, bring it to the counter, bring the exact same plate with the exact same food on it back to him and say, "here, eat your chicken." You would be suprised the different colors and textures, and shapes that jumbalaya comes in. Macaroni and cheese was jumbalaya. Every meat we gave him was 'chicken.' I know lying is wrong, but it got him to eat!

Answer 2

It is obvious that he/she does not like it at all - yet!

I ate fruits almost all of the time when I was a child and my mother thought I was the devil incarnate because I refused to eat regular food. I liked sweet foods, and preserved fruits - anything that was not recommended as a balanced diet especially for a young child.

I was always first in class without working hard at it; grew to 5' 7"; am healthy - every time I have a physical; and now, I eat just about anything - mainly vegetables which used to make me gag. I juice them, steam them and eat them raw where possible because I love being healthy. I also walk and run almost each day for two to three miles on a work day before going to work, and longer on off-days.

What I am trying to say is that all you have to do is keep trying - the child will come around eventually. Most children do not develop good eating habits right off - you have to coax them. Make it fun. Try to find the time and soon your sweet little toddler would be asking for those same foods. I've been a mother for quite some time now. It works.

Answer 3

They will eat when they are hungry. I fretted over my son's lack of meat diet and took him to a pediatrician and everything. They told me not to worry that he was within his height/weight limitations for his age and that he would eventually eat more variety when he got hungry. He's still not a big meat eater so I give him gummy vitamins w/iron. But his tastes have expanded. Try to make it fun for the child cut foods in shapes that look desirable and fun. Add a dab of food coloring to things too it won't hurt.

Answer 4

I was just like that and now have a 3 year old that does the same. I asked his pediatrician about it. She said it was normal and not to worry too much about it. Instead of meat they can get their protein from other sources like eggs, nuts, peanut butter, etc. They can also get iron from iron enriched breads and cereals. If you are worried, you can always give them vitamins. My son begs for vitamins now since they come in such great flavors.

With my son, we make sure that he has the same things on his plate that we do. He often responds with "but I don't like carrots." I don't force him to eat them, but sometimes I promise something special if he will just taste them. He's notorious for not liking something he's never tried. It may take a long time, but repeated exposure to foods will help him to eat them later. My son will now eat certain meats, but still goes through phases.

Good luck, and don't worry too much. Many picky eaters have grown into happy, healthy adults who now eat meat and vegetables.

Answer 5

MAKE VEGETABLES FUN! Try feeding him apples, only with peanut butter or nutella. This might not work on a three year old but my parents used to pretend that the broccoli was choo choo train and then they'd put the broccoli on their fork and say that the train was going under a bridge when they popped it in my mouth. Feed him grapefruit topped with sugar. Try putting delicious sauces on the meat. Or buy the really thinly cut cold cuts from stop&shop, they taste pretty different I have to say.

Answer 6

You can do things like puree carrots and other vegetables and put it in a spaghetti sauce. Take apples, cut them up, smear peanut butter on on the slices and use raisins and small marshmellows to create smiley faces on the slices. Feed him things like lasagna that have the meat already in it, but maybe not in a way that is detectable to him. Most of all, don't force him and make sure that he is taking a children's multi vitamin.

Answer 7

My pediatrician blessed this method...Cheetos bribery! I give him a few Cheetos after he has tried a few bites of something new. Ketchup is our favorite vegetable. Once he started eating junky chicken, it didn't take long for him to eat healthy chicken. Sometimes I make grilled cheese with a little turkey inside. I am all for fortified cereal and vitamins.

Answer 8

My son was extremely picky eater too. I made faces with food on the plate, or colored it funny colors. We also had games we played like a water race to finish a glass of water. as long as it's fun and not something forced they will eat it.

Answer 9

All kids go through stages like this. I wouldn't worry too much. Just keep serving it. When he gets hungry enough, he will eat it.

Answer 10

give him things to dip the meat/veggies in like cheese/ dressing/ ketchup/ bbq sauce kids at this age love to dip. also sneak what ever you can into noddle dishes kids this age also love noddles