My 2 1/2 year old son will only eat spaghetti hoops and chips. Help!!!?

Answer 1

Kids go through these certain food phases when they're little. Go with the flow. We went through the mac and cheese only phase, the corn bread phase, cheese pizza phase, etc. as long as he is eating, it's ok.

Answer 2

I know exactly what you mean. My 2 1/2 daughter has a very limited menu of foods that she knows she likes and foods that she eats. I found it helpful, at dinner time, introduce him to something new. Put the plate in front of him and go about eating dinner without saying anything. Dont make it look like a big deal that he's going to try something new. If he just absolutely wont eat it, then the bribary begins. Get a handful of M&M's or something sweet that he really really likes. Tell your husband "Daddy, if you eat one of these fish stix, you can have a candy", and reward your husband with the candy for eating the food. Then tell your son the same thing "Son, if you try one bite of a fish stix, then you can have some of these REALLY YUMMY M&M's. You notice it'll take a couple of times and sometimes he may not do it at all.. but if he thinks that he's going to be able to get something fun or yummy out of trying new things... he'll do it! Hope this helped!

Answer 3

While I do believe this is a phase kids go through I also believe you are setting yourself up for bigger problems if you allow it to continue. At 2 1/2 he should be eating what you eat. If he doesn't, then he doesn't eat - he won't starve - and believe me he'll soon figure it out that he needs to eat was is offered or go hungry. I've seen (actually have a niece) who would only eat cheese and chicken nuggets. Guess what, she's 16 and will still only eat cheese and chicken nuggets because it was allowed - you can't believe the health problems she has now. Don't let your son train you - you train your son. You may have a few rough days but don't give in! You both will survive.

Answer 4

I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter, and two nieces the same age - they are all going through a fussy food stage. Apparently it's quite common at this stage in their development - I panicked too at first, but then I read Dr Christopher Green's book "Toddler Taming" which basically says that as long as they are healthy and happy, with energy and eating something, it simply doesn't matter. It's just a phase! I've also found the website mumsnet (www.mumsnet.com) very helpful for my toddler-related stress - it always has sane advice on matters like this and also manages to make me chuckle at the same time! Good luck!

Answer 5

My little guy is also pretty fussy with food. At least he's eating. What I do is try to hide the veggies in as much as I can. I think the spaghetti hoops come with a tomato-based sauce too? If so, puree a small amount of cooked peas or carrots and add it to the sauce when heating up. It should blend right in and he won't be able to tell it's there.

Answer 6

Whats his fave cartoon or tv character?? if its bob the builder tell him that bob has eaten all the spaghetti hoops and chips. Write him a letter from bob giving him a menu for the week get him involved in helping you to make a menu or let him pick stuff at the shops with u (avoid hoops and chips aisle!!) it works promise!!

Answer 7

He'll eventually eat whatever you give him. Put peas and green beans and broccoli in front of him along with apples, pears, and peaches. When he gets hungry enough, he'll eat them and find new favorites. Start the habit now because the older he gets the harder it will be to break the chips habit.

My daughter will get cookies and chips or ice cream and pie in the evenings after dinner if she has ate at least 3 veggies and 2 fruits along with drinking 2 glasses of milk.

Answer 8

Kids go through stages. Mine exists on grilled cheese, fish sticks and chicken fingers. The other day he asked for an apple and I almost passed out. Talk to your pediatrician. He may prescribe vitamins. Put other things in front of him like carrots, Cheerios, raisins. Stay away from fatty stuff - no fast food as that engenders further bad eating habits. You can try not putting the stuff he likes in front of him. When he's hungry enough he'll eat (if you can stand the guilt).

Answer 9

My four year old went through the same thing (different food) when she was 2.
At first, I tried to force her to eat what we ate, but then I started doing it backwards. I only gave her the food she liked and refused to give her anything else.
I made seperate meals and we all sat together so she watched everyone eating something we wouldn't give her.
She stuck to her guns until a few months ago. Her competitive child's nature kicked in and she started demanding she be able to eat what we ate. I didn't give in for three weeks after she started this just to push the point home to her that we did not want her to share with us.
When I finally did give in and let her "win", she ate everything I gave her and gave me a comical glare and said "I ate it!" like I was expected to yell at her for eating what the rest of us did.
Now, every time I want her to do something, and she refuses, I tell her "fine, don't do it, i like doing it anyway." She cannot resist one upping anyone, so proceeds to do what I wanted her to anyway to spite me... Let me clarify one point, though...this does not always work. There will obviously be things kids stick to their opinions about, but it is wonderful, this reverse psychology.
I realize that all kids are different, but this worked for me, and a few of my friends have done it also with varried results, but most good ones.
I hope telling you of my experience helps you come to a decision about what you need to do.
Good Luck!

Answer 10

My son was very similar at that age. He was very picky about what he would eat, and he went through this stage where the only thing he would really eat were Spaghetti-O's, no matter what I tried to feed him. I asked his pediatrician about this and she said it was normal. That sometimes young children go through stages of liking or disliking certain foods, or showing that they favor one food over others. She said that a lot of it had to deal with the different textures of foods and children getting accustomed to the transition from smooth baby foods, to foods that actually have texture to them.

She said that he was fine, but she suggested that I continue trying to introduce him to new foods. She said that I could try to make it fun for him, by cutting up his food in different sizes and shapes so that he was more likely to want to try new foods out. Believe it or not, it worked wonders. I had a lot of problems with getting him to eat meats and certain vegetables, but when I started cutting them up in cute little shapes and in sizes small enough for his hands, he took to them pretty quickly.

And she also said to be patient and not to give up if he showed a dislike for certain foods now, because he could like it later. So she advised me not to force any foods he didn't like on him, but rather wait and try to reintroduce it at a later time. This worked really well with carrots and corn, which he always spit back (or threw LOL) at me the first couple of times I tried them.

If you are concerned about your son's diet, speak to his pediatrician. See what she recommends and if this is a reason to be concerned. Best of luck to you!