how do i get my six year old son to eat cooked meals and healthy food without gagging every time he eats?

Question

he will eat processed food and junk food but nothing cooked at home or restaurants

Answer 1

Girl, you are asking for trouble with that question on this site, lol! You know some smart*** is going to tell you to learn to cook & he might eat. :-)
My advice would be to limit his junk food to dessert only, after he's eaten a decent meal. Whatever his favorite sweets are, cake, ice cream.... only after a meal.
I know we should eat like they do on all the old tv shows, 3 meals a day with dessert only after supper (or dinner depending on where you're from) but there is SO MUCH junk now that they didn't have years ago & it's so accessable to kids even if the parents don't let them have it. They can get it at school, at a friend's house, at the neighbor's, especially from grandparents...
Good luck with your little guy!

Answer 2

Don't give him another option. Of course he is going to hold out and not eat the good stuff if he knows you are going to cave in and let him eat what he wants from the pantry. Clean out the pantry and the fridge. Have only healthy foods at home. Pack his lunch and do not send in lunch money to the school. Get his teacher on board. They are usually more than happy to help you by keeping an eye on him at school to make sure he's not exchanging his lunch or eating other kids' leftovers. Something else that has worked for me is to get him involved in the cooking process. Let him measure ingredients and mix things. They are more willing to eat that which they've had a hand in preparing.

Answer 3

When I was growing up I was so picky. Cheese pizza, kraft macaroni and cheese, and pb&j (strawberry jelly ONLY!) and fruit was the extent of my diet. Slowly I started trying and liking different things. Now I'm 24 and will eat just about anything. So I think that his tastes will mature as he matures. As for healthy eating - I think it's been over rated. Yes, as an adult I think that a balanced healthy diet is necesary to stay in shape and to have a longer healthier life. But I'm not so sure it's necesary in children. I think as long as he is an active child and isn't over weight, then let him eat what he likes. I was healthy, athletic and very active, despite the lack of highly nutritious foods and vegetables. But there are lots of things that are good for him that he won't consider gross. Fruits are just as healthy as most vegetables - put some sugar on strawberries, it's almost like a dessert. Dairy products - string cheese is a good one....

Answer 4

Remove junk from your home. No one needs it...this being said by a person with a fatty liver that has developed into cirrhosis.

Offer food at each meal. Do not force him. If he doesn't eat, wrap it up to warm if he gets hungry later. Let him know it is available. Then at the next meal time, offer him a fresh meal. Be peaceful, but matter of fact. Put a bucket by his chair, in case he needs to puke.

Eventually, his body will tell him what he needs to eat and he will eat. The hard part is holding firm...don't let Gramma get a hold of him!

Peace and God's Blessings!

Answer 5

I still gag on peas and I'm 42. Try all different kinds of veg till he finds the ones he likes, lots of kids love brocolli if you don't let it get soggy. Kids hate overcooked soggy stuff with salt or spices on it. Bit of cheese sauce helps. Always tell them that they change as they get bigger so its worth trying stuff out to see if they like it now. If it goes up and down their throat do not make them eat it. Don't have processed food or junk in the house. If he is eating the stuff raw, at least he's eating it which is more important than how its served or when it's eaten. By the way this means he has alot of taste buds (fact) that is why he is sensitive to the flavour of foods.

Answer 6

Try reverse psychology. I used to tell mine...no, no, no! Don't eat your carrots and he'd eat them everytime! Once my husband bribed my stepson with a dollar for every green bean he would eat. Well, needless to say he ate all his green beans! Seriously, how is he getting junk food? If you keep only healthy food in your house then that's all he'll have access to. Give him healthy snacks. Surely there is something that isn't junk that he can develop a taste for. You may also check with his pediatrician. If you don't change his eating habits now, he'll eventually have problems later such as hyperactivity, juvenile diabetes or childhoood obesity.

Answer 7

I have a foster child that was brought to me because of severe neglect. When he came to my house he had never eaten anything but chicken nuggets from McDonald's. For 3 days in my house he ate nothing but sliced bread and milk before he broke down and had a meal with us. 2 yrs later he'll eat anything.

You've got to be stronger than the kid

Bree

Answer 8

You do NOT let him have any of that junk and keep offering him the good food. EVentually he will get hungry enough to eat what it is you want to give him.

Answer 9

Make it funny and sneak in the good stuff.

Try whole wheat pancakes cut in funny shapes, calling spaghetti pigs intenstines with fried eyeballs (meatballs, of course).

Kids are more willing to take chances with foods if they're not aware they're doing it! "Gross Out" dinners are always a hit when I'm watching yungins'.

Good luck!

Answer 10

lit bits at a time. terrible food is an acquired taste! i know! as a child i would touch no veggies. now i love them all (with the exception of peas). if you force much on him at once it will be disasterous! it will scar him for life and he will never touch the dish again. i'm this way with potatoe salad.