6 yr old wont eat anything except Eggos!?

Question

my daughter, as well as my husband and I are very picky eaters and my youngest(6) will eat only limited fruit(apples grapes raw carrots), bread and cereal, peanut butter sandwichs and no meat at all. She also hates milk but occassionally I can talk her into yogurt. Before her only meat eaten was sausages(Brown&Serve! which noone else in our house ate) We cant go out for dinner unless it's IHOP! Now she informs us she will only eat Eggos for dinner-now 2 weeks. Should I worry? Shes already too small(5%ile weight and 2%height) for her age but I cant make her eat. If I give her a good vitamin for her age and weight, should I just let her eat what she wants? There is definately an aversion with all of us in the household to eat things other than bland tasting foods but she is even more picky. She has been around people who eat a variety of foods(grandmas, etc) and that made no impact at all. What to do, where is there help?

Answer 1

I'm 66 now and was just like your kids. When I was 5 all I would eat was tomato soup &, potatoes. I was very small and hated food. I would not drink milk either. My parents tried to force me to eat, to no avail. Kids are smart. Why do you want to force them to eat meat. There are lots of people in the world who don't . Sometimes kids know better than us. My parents forced me to drink milk I did not want. YUCK! After many years of bad headaches I found out I was allergic to milk. HUMMM...Just let them be kids. Let them eat what they want. They will not starve. Give them a kids multivitiamin. As they grow up their eating will improve, but only if you don't make a big fuss about it. Kids are great at rebelling. Good luck and try not to worry so much. They are healthy and at least eating. Make it enjoyable for them and they will be happier. If you insists on forcing or worrying and don't let up your kids will start to feel sick to their stomach and eat even less. You will lose all you are trying to accomplish. Good luck.

Answer 2

It's not up to the child to dictate the dinner menu. Whatever you picky adults are eating, serve the same to your daughter. (And look to your own habits for the source of your daughter's food problem. Maybe you need to make a point of trying new foods, too, showing her how you can try something unfamiliar and may end up liking it.) My kids grew up with the "one bite" rule: You need to try one bite of each food at each meal. I never insist that someone eat more than one bite if they really don't like the food, but they need to take one bite, even if they didn't like that same food last week. Tastes change, especially in young children. My daughter hated anything with melted cheese as a child, but over time, her favorite foods became macaroni & cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches.

A good multivitamin/ multimineral will help. And really, you can make a pretty nutritious meal from peanut butter on whole grain bread along with the fruits and veggies that she will eat. But I would really encourage you to help her develop some other healthy food choices. Often kids are more willing to try new things if they have a hand in selecting/ preparing it. Some ideas to try: 1)Go to a farmers market and select a new variety of something that she will already eat (a different type of grape or apple, for example.) Then try something a bit different - Asian pears are crunchy and sweet like apples, so she might like it. 2)Try growing some food plants at home, like strawberries. I have had many kids find out that they like Snap Peas when they picked them off the vines in my garden. 3) Start having your kids take some responsibility for meal planning and preparation. They can select the menu, help you shop for the food, and assist in the preparation. Make it a rule that each meal needs to include at least 3 different foods, and everyone needs to try one bite of each. At age 6, my kids could put fish sticks on a cookie sheet (with an adult handling the oven duty), make a simple salad, and butter slices of bread. They are both very healthy and fit in their 20s, both open to trying new foods and interested in cooking.

Parents are role models, so try some of the ideas I've suggested and see if you don't see some progress. Remember that it will take time, but stick to it. And don't let her have Eggos unless they are a reward for trying new foods!

Answer 3

Both you and your husband made her this way.

If your 6 year old can decide whats best for her to eat, and decide to eat only that, then the problem is you.

Picky eaters are created, they dont just happen. Tastes are aquired, the the less you venture, the less you gain. Especially the older and more stuborn and inground you get.

Theres nothing worse than picky eaters, especially as adults. Its a very unhealthy limited lifestyle, and not worth encouraging in yourself, let alone your children.

Theres only so much pediasure and vitamins can do. Iam sure they will help very much, but your body isnt designed to metabolize and create the building blocks of nutrition from soul sources such as drinks and pills. At some point problems will arise. Such as IBS, cronic constipation, poor health and mal nutrition to name a few.

I think your whole family should invest in a visit from a nutritionalist.

Answer 4

my favorite nephew only eats 2 egos at the most for dinner and 2 for breakfast, my sister has never bothered to take time on suggesting something else for him so hes a skinny little brat that likes egos but at least hell have his cup of chocolate keyword chocolate milk. he will not eat a hamburger that has a pickle or has had a pickle 2 miles away :P if he can see it he'll stop eating which leaves him to the candy he can get his hands on and the egos and milk, since my sister picks them mcds everyday for lunch. i don't think is healthy and i feel its wrong but whenever i get my hands on him and take him with me he will not eat anything other than chips fries egos coke and well at lease one thing he likes boiled shrimp in cocktail sauce and oysters out of the can.


i seriously believe in exposing kids to food even if u don't like them and i also believe in making kids actually eat a good meal at least on and the other two should be decent. my mom practiced a habit of telling me that if i didn't finish what i asked for she would shove it up my other end. my cousin is a carnivor he'll eat all meat all day only my aunt serves still serves his food so he'll eat right hes i believe 12 :P she'll serve some meat some type of cooked potatoes and some rice or beans or lentils and a piece of bread or roll, if he finishes the meat he has to finish the rest before getting more meat .....he takes about 3 servings of meat :P and i mean adult size:P.................shes gone from no tv,to no getting up till ur done i dont care if u dont like it and its worked.

Answer 5

With most of the U.S. obese, I wouldn't worry. But the next time I was at the doctor I would mention it. I never made my children eat if they did not want to. I would not let them have treats but, to a parent that has a picky child an eggo is a nutritious meal. (been there done that) My sister in law made her kids finish their plates even when they were not hungry. They are now in their thirties and all over weight. Mine are in their late twenties and fit and trim.

Answer 6

Be firm. Make her try a food by telling her she needs to taste what you're making before you make her something she likes. Also, try to avoid making comments about foods you don't like, that, for some reason, causes the child to think that they don't have to eat foods or even try them. I would also buy the v8 fruit fusion drink, at least for her to try, it has the full serving of fruits and vegetables in a day (my son is too a picky eater, but he loves this juice). Don't let your child tell you how things are, you tell her how it is. If worst comes to worst, put your foot down and if she doesn't eat what you make, she can have water and that's it. Let her know that you're not a short order cook or a restaurant. you're the parent, not her.

Answer 7

Why do "parents" these days let the CHILD be the one to tell them how things are going to work? Are you kidding me? When I was given a dinner, I was told I would eat it, or not eat it. But I'm not getting anything else. Eventually, I got hungry and ate. If you can't stand up to your child, you have no business being a parent at all. That's what's wrong with so many spoiled children these days. They're going to grow up and try that on someone who is going to put their foot down with them, and then it's going to be hard for them when it happens. You are the mother. Not your six year old child.

Answer 8

It's not up to the child to dictate the dinner menu. Whatever you picky adults are eating, serve the same to your daughter. (And look to your own habits for the source of your daughter's food problem. Maybe you need to make a point of trying new foods, too, showing her how you can try something unfamiliar and may end up liking it.) My kids grew up with the "one bite" rule: You need to try one bite of each food at each meal. I never insist that someone eat more than one bite if they really don't like the food, but they need to take one bite, even if they didn't like that same food last week. Tastes change, especially in young children. My daughter hated anything with melted cheese as a child, but over time, her favorite foods became macaroni & cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches. A good multivitamin/ multimineral will help. And really, you can make a pretty nutritious meal from peanut butter on whole grain bread along with the fruits and veggies that she will eat. But I would really encourage you to help her develop some other healthy food choices. Often kids are more willing to try new things if they have a hand in selecting/ preparing it. Some ideas to try: 1)Go to a farmers market and select a new variety of something that she will already eat (a different type of grape or apple, for example.) Then try something a bit different - Asian pears are crunchy and sweet like apples, so she might like it. 2)Try growing some food plants at home, like strawberries. I have had many kids find out that they like Snap Peas when they picked them off the vines in my garden. 3) Start having your kids take some responsibility for meal planning and preparation. They can select the menu, help you shop for the food, and assist in the preparation. Make it a rule that each meal needs to include at least 3 different foods, and everyone needs to try one bite of each. At age 6, my kids could put fish sticks on a cookie sheet (with an adult handling the oven duty), make a simple salad, and butter slices of bread. They are both very healthy and fit in their 20s, both open to trying new foods and interested in cooking. Parents are role models, so try some of the ideas I've suggested and see if you don't see some progress. Remember that it will take time, but stick to it. And don't let her have Eggos unless they are a reward for trying new foods!

Answer 9

Just because the item is sold in a store and described as food does not mean it is food.

As long as the doctor thinks she is healthy, and that her diet is sufficient for her age and development then the choice of what to eat is clearly up to you.

A 6 year old is a child and only allowed to have the choices you are willing to give them. My mother, my wife, and most women I know fix what is best for the child and let them choose to eat it or not.

Remember it is your child and as long as your not depriving her of food, then you can deny her the right to eat anything.

Your the parent and she is the child. Giving a child a choice does not relieve you as an adult from any responsibility. So, be responsible, and sensible.

Answer 10

OMG whats wrong with you people? You feed her whatever ALL of you are having for dinner. If she doesn't eat, then she doesn't eat! Don't give her anything else. When she gets hungry enough, she will eat what you put in front of her! In the mean time give her a vitamin and don't worry she won't starve to death. When will you people get it YOU are the parents and YOU are in charge! You don't let your little brat do anything she wants, you teach her to do what is necessary! It is ridiculous to make a different meal for her or anybody else!