how to live with children who are picky eaters?

Answer 1

Being an extreme "selective" eater myself, this topic is a very touchy one. Children should be given the opportunities to try different foods, but if they do try it and do not like it... you shouldn't force them to eat it... or eat nothing at all.

Having had this disorder since a small child, the idea of eating what is on the plate or eating nothing at all was an easy choice for me. If it was something I didn't like, I didn't eat. And I didn't get to the point of being hungry and eating it regardless... I simply wouldn't eat. I was taken to the dr about it, but nothing they could do would force me to eat something I didn't want.

As an adult, it's a struggle dealing the many people who feel it's their business to criticize someone else's food choices. Unlike them, I don't live to eat... I only eat to live.

Here is a good article to read, and a good website to peruse regarding this... Sure, some of this may be extreme... but some parents will need to understand that sometimes the pickyness isn't just a child being difficult. And unfortunately, sometimes a child doesn't outgrow it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/25/AR2006092501276.html

http://www.pickyeatingadults.com/

Answer 2

You may need to look further than your child just being picky. Some children are picky eaters, as they have undiagnosed allergies and the foods are making them not feel well. The child doesn't understand why they don't feel well, just knows that food caused it and therefore turns into a very picky eater.

Also, have you noticed any trends in the pickiness, ex, won't eat soft foods, only salty, that type of stuff? There are children (and adults) that suffer from Sensory Integration Disorder and have a very hard time with textures, smells, temperatures, etc..

Answer 3

Picky eaters are often a source of concern for parents. I have been a daycare provider for 20 years and have been a mom for 27 years. I have dealt with many picky eaters over those years. The one thing that I always remember is that a child will not starve himself. At my house, I plan and prepare breakfast, lunch and 2 snacks for my daycare children. I take into consideration their likes and dislikes and plan to serve something they each will eat at least once during the day. However, I am not a short order cook for them or for my own family. What I do is offer a variety of healthy foods at each meal/snack and allow each child to eat as much as they want and what they want. If they choose to eat nothing, I do not ever beg, plead, threaten, or promise a special treat if they will eat. I just let them get down and they can have something to eat at the next planned meal. In between meals they only get water to drink and at meals they only get milk. 100% juice diluted with 1/2 water is an occasional snack time treat. I have found that children who are constantly drinking juice from a sippy cup are generally poor eaters. Even 100% juice has a large sugar content and fills up tiny tummies. There is precious little that a child has control over in their lives. When and what to eat, when to sleep, and when to go potty are all things you will find parents battling with because these are things a child has some control over. I prefer to take the battle out of these things. I suggest offer healthy choices and let your picky eater choose what he/she will eat. Offer their favorites once a day if you want, but offer other choices at the same time. Don't make a fuss over if they eat or if they don't. Just keep offering. I encourage my own kids and my daycare kids to help with food preparation and meal planning to allow them some input - this is a good time to discuss healthy foods and choices.

Answer 4

It can be hard and frustrating. It doesn't really help to try to force them to eat stuff they don't like. It will just turn into a power struggle between you and the kids and no one wins. My kids are both picky eaters and my husband is also a picky eater. It is hard to force the kids to eat things when their dad won't eat them either. I try not to fix things that I know they absolutely cannot stand, and I usually try to fix at least one thing with each meal that I know everyone likes. If your worried about their nutrition just make sure they take a multi-vitamin everyday. And as they get older there is nothing wrong with making them fix their own peanut butter sandwich (or whatever) if they don't want to eat what everyone else is having.

Answer 5

I don't believe that anyone should make a child eat what they are not wanting. But they should be given a chance to try new things. Adults can send back food that is not to their liking, why can't kids????
I have 3 children
My oldest was never picky.
My middle child is just a plain ol piglet, she eats most anything you put in front of her.
My youngest - now he - he is different, he really does not care to eat meat.

My brother told me to read this book and maybe it would help me understand what my children are indirectly trying to tell me about their eating and why they do it....hope it helps.

Eat Right 4 Your Blood Type - www.amazon.com
Buy it used, it is a very good read and I learned A LOT about my kids eating habits and now they are content and healthy eating the way that their little bodies are asking them to eat.

My daughter is O+ - TOTAL carnivore, has to have meat with EVERY meal, I saw that before I read the book
My son is A+ - he is more of a fruits and beans and veggies kinda kid.

This book also explains what is not good for their blood types, stuff that will make them overweight (besides fried foods) and even ill.

Answer 6

One method I've heard is to have play groups in which all the kids bring their own meals. Kids will often share or the picky eater will see other kids eating other things and 'may' start to give other foods a try. This tends to be why kids diets start to change in Kindergarten and grade school. They seem to follow the group.

Answer 7

I'm a 26 year old 'picky' eater - I prefer the term SELECTIVE! :)

I'm really tired of people thinking MY eating habits are annoying - I think the way I eat is very simple and easy.

Everyone should be allowed to eat whatever they want. I can't imagine forcing people to eat foods they don't like. Are we in prison or something??

I grew up in a house where my dad would be eating his lobster or pigs feet, and my mom and I would be perfectly happy with our cheeseburgers thank you very much.

The more you try to force people to eat what YOU like, the more you turn them off from that food. I know from experience!

Answer 8

I don't know if this will help, but this is what we did with our kids. First I always had something that each child liked. Each child had to try just one small bite of everything on the table. If they served their selves or asked for seconds they had to eat all of that thing. I don't know about your children, but mine would put something on their plate just to make sure no one else got it. They got a snack after school, and a small snack at bed time, such as a glass of milk.

Answer 9

there is no easy way to do it. this comes from experience because i am a very picky eater and always was. so my parents had a little trouble with me. basically all you can do is make sure that you fix something to eat with your meal that they enjoy also you have to make sure they eat. and its not their fault they dont like a lot of stuff. so just make sure there is something available that they can eat also. as long as your child is trying the food and then decided they dont like it there is nothing you can do. but if they wont even try it then you need to try and make them. but for me i tried the other foods but i just didnt like them. would you eat something you didnt like?

Answer 10

I don't allow my children to be picky eaters, and .. no offense, but if your child is a picky eater to the point that it's causing problems, then you are not doing your job properly.

Simple rules. Here's your supper. Eat it.

If they choose not to eat it, they are not served anything else. I don't run a restaurant. When they get hungry, they'll eat it.

Too often these days parents allow their children to walk all over them, and somewhere in the midst, the idea of who's the parent and who's the child gets lost. It's your job to ensure your child gives everything a fair chance, and to sometimes overstep their temper tantrums and put your foot down.