Why wont my kid eat his food?

Question

He is 2 and never wants to eat real food, but he will eat junk food (i do this as a test) so he obviously not, not hungry...what do I do???
This has been going on for days...he will put up such a fight or scream and cry when I try to force him.

Answer 1

Define junk food.

My son at that age was a pretty picky eater, kids will prefer sweet to bitter which is how most veggies taste to them. I just kept offering a variety and talked to my doctor. He ate a lot of Spaghetti O's, fruit slices, dry cereals, and cheese. He grew normally and the doc said I was doing fine.

FYI: Now that he's older (15) he will eat almost anything and will eat veggies with no problems. Two year olds are at the first part of being their own people, this too shall pass.

Answer 2

as a mother of 5 boys, I have been there honey. OK, first, you make bargains with him. You tell him after he eats his veggies or what ever then he can have a certain amount of junk food. ALSO on the other hand, i have had a dr tell me when they get hungry, they will eat. You need to also make sure you are a role model. Even if your cupcakes are locked in your room>>LOL

Answer 3

No child will ever voluntarily die of starvation. Obesity is such a problem you don't want to start bad habits. Offer him breakfast, if he doesn't eat that wait till lunch, offer that and if not dinner will follow later. Eventually he will learn to eat what he's given. Don't fall into the trap of allowing him to fill up on milk as that will kill his appetite.

Answer 4

Kids often do this to get what they want, most of the time because of taste.

You might want to try this technique: "Yummmmmmm, this is soooooo good..." and eat the veggies, and the kid might want some. (my humanities teacher told us this)

Make a big box of sweets and put them up high on a shelf. Then, say, eat this *show lots of veggies* then say, get this *show small piece of candy. That way, the kid will know, "hey i get candy for eating good food* (i saw this on supernanny)

I know he's only two, but you really have to get help and maybe try these methods.

Answer 5

Don't give him junk food and if he doesn't eventually eat I'd be shocked. I wouldn't reward him for eating though. That's going to create a whole new problem. Try to make healthy foods more palatable and offer him just one or two things at a time. Healthy things to try: whole fruit - not juice, low in sugar or sugar free cereals or granolas, rice cakes, crackers. He's only two. Give it time.

Answer 6

Honestly, don't feed him. If he is hungry, he has sense enough to ask for food or start crying or whatever. But when you dote over how he won't eat, you are aggravating the problem and letting your son know that he has control over you. Leave him alone, although it may be hard.

Answer 7

it is not bad for kids to get a little hungery. first dont let the foods you dont want him to eat be seen. second let him not eat if he doesnt want to. leave the food there for him and work in the things you want him to eat a little at a time. say give him a small piece of liver with some apples. then increase the amount over time. dont let there be leftovers on the plate give him less then he will eat so he doesnt get used to leaving food on the plate. :)

Answer 8

yeah, cuz junk food tastes good!

Don't allow any junk food and give a reward for eating what you want him to eat. Maybe a toy?

Answer 9

Well had you not "introduced" him to junk food he wouldn't want it. Stop trying to force him to eat ANYTHING. If he doesn't want the meal don't let him have anything else. YOU created the problem now it's up to YOU to fix it. Babies aren't born wanting junk food...

Answer 10

well you can do one of two things make a bargin with him like if he eats so so much of his food he can get a peace of candy or something or you can just not give him candy tell him if he doesn't eat his meal he doesn't get anything because after a few days of not eatting he'll be so hungry he'll eat anything