What to feed a child who only wants sugar?

Question

My son used to eat anything I fed him. Spinach was his favorate. Since the day he turned two, it seems, he only wants sugary junk or chicken nuggets. Everything else ends up on the floor. I've even resorted to putting candy sprinkles on everything from bananas to spaggetti. I'm scared he's not getting enough nutrients. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Maybe you should start feeding him corn with a tad bit of sugar on it. Over time...decrease the amount of sugar you put in the corn until it is just corn. You can do that with his other vegies as well.

And also, remember...that even though he's 2 years old...you're still the mommy. Refuse to give him junk and make him eat more foods that are good for him. You know better than he does.

Best of hopes to you!

Answer 2

One of the kids I watch(2 years old) used to throw her food on the floor. I'd tell ehr that it is NOT okay to do that. and if she does it again she will be done eating and will get down from the table. She'd throw more food on the floor. I'd take gher from the table and bring her into the living room. and tell her she was done eating. (I'd leave her plate on the table) she would throw her fit when she was quiet i'd go see if she was ready to come back and eat. Usually she would. but if she threw her food again she was really done and her food got thrown away and her plate put into the sink. she is now 2 1/2 and doesn't throw her food on the floor anymore.

As for not eating foods unless they are sugary. I'd say try to compromise. It worked for me. I'd tell Bay take 2 more bites and you can have ____ (what every her favorite sweet is) If she did it then she got a very little of her treat. if not then I ate it and she got nothing else. It is a phase and will pass.

Answer 3

Lots of kids around that age go through spells where they only want to eat one thing all the time. Chicken nuggets is a common one, too. It's normal, don't worry it will pass. If a few sprinkles on his other food gets him to eat it, then sprinkle it. But, just a little bit. You don't want to add too much sugar to his diet.

Answer 4

Having a very picky eater for a child I understand your situation. My oldest son started getting really picky about foods when he advanced to chunkier baby foods and solid foods. He only wanted chicken nuggets, and hot dogs.

Kids are weird eaters especially younger children because they will sometimes eat veggies and jello at the same time. As an adult I find it repulsive however kids seem to like it. I went through a ketchup phase when I was a child. I ate ketchup on everything except desserts. My picky eater went through a ketchup phase and to this day uses barbeque sauce frequently. We used barbeque sauce with him to get him to eat veggies he didn't like.

I would recommend finding a fruity dessert of some kind like jello that he likes and mix the food you want him to eat with the foods he likes. When you first start this you might want to try alternating bites of the desserts and veggies or meat. Try mixing it if the alternating doesn't work. Work towards using less desert type foods and more of the other foods as he gets used to it.

It is normal for a child to crave sugary foods. Children crave sugary foods while adults crave fatty foods. Something else you may want to try is to use kids cereal for snacks or treats as a reward for healthy eating at meal time. Kids cereals are sweet, contain essential vitamins and minerals, and are not real high in calories if you stick to the serving sizes. My wife buys several types of kids cereal and mixes them together as a snack mix for our daughter and she seems to like it.

Good luck!

Answer 5

I agree, quit doing what he wants you to do, you are the parent, not him. When he gets hungry enough he will eat what is in front of him. Now when it comes to throwing food on the floor, that is a big NO. Tell him that if he does it again you will spank him (l do believe in spanking) and when he does, because he will test you, do it, spank him. It doesn't have to be very hard, just show him that you will do what you said you were going to do.
My boyfriend has a 2 year old and she's tried only once to throw food on the floor, the second time, she got her butt spanked. She's never done it again since.
Good luck to you

Answer 6

it sounds mean, but isn't it possible that if u ONLY give him those options, then eventually he will get so hungry that he will start eating the healthy stuff again? i know it's hard to be patient and u feel scared if he chooses not to eat, but that just means he's not hungry enough.... if the only choices u give him are healthy, eventually he will eat! maybe u can disguise it in a different dish, or give him fruit type things that are Naturally sweet....

good luck~

Answer 7

Be a parent and make informed decisions for your child's nutrition. If you feed him something, he will eat it if he is hungry. If he is not hungry, don't waste your food. He also needs to learn that food is not to be wasted and thrown on the floor.

You are the parent. YOU decide what your kid will eat. If he doesn't eat, he'll go hungry until he eats what you feed him.

Answer 8

give him viatims that help also only give him candy once or twice a week if you continue to give him junk his teeth will rot and he will have cavities. a child will not let himself starve so if you cut back on his diet he will become better or you can give him healthy snacks they are sometimes sweet and good tooo

Answer 9

only offer him healthy foods. if he doesnt eat it, put it aside, im sure he will be hungry later and eat it. doing this wont be easy, he will probably throw a fit, but give it a little while and he will change his habits. he knows that if he throws a fit, you will sweeten it up, so stop doing that.

Answer 10

I would make him eat good stuff or go with out. He will change his ways when he gets hungry. All you are doing is enabling his bad habits.

Coach