Picky Kids...?

Question

How is the best way of getting picky kids to eat food they havent tried before? My 3 year old daughter will happily eat things she has on a regular basis and knows she likes, but when presented with something new, she's reluctant to try it. I have to bribe her! I've tried giving her dinner and not letting her down until its gone. 2 hours later she's still sat there, only having eaten the part she knows she likes and saying she doesn't like the bit she hasnt even tried before. Iv tried not letting her have anything else unless its eaten, she ends up going to bed with no dinner because she point blank refuses to try any of it. Its so frustrating! I know my attempts might seem harsh, but if i let her get away with it then she'll think she can leave her dinner to have something else every time. What do other parents in similar situations do? I want my daughter to have a more varied diet but seem like im banging my head against a brick wall!

Getting her to help doesnt work :-( she loves helping but then still says "i dont like that!" Even before she's tried it.

The kind of food i mean is anything except fish fingers, potato, broccoli, pie, beans etc. That kinda thing. I want her to try things like home made fish pie, fish cakes, green beans, spinach, grilled fish, boiled fish, even home made cinnamon buns that she refused to try (they were delicious!)! The response i get is "i dont like mummys fish, i like Keri's fish". Iv tried swapping round so she has mine and i have hers but that doesnt work either

Answer 1

i have the same problem with my 3 yr old, i think it's just a stage that they go thought, try hiding her food, for example if she likes spaghetti bolognaise add some finely chopped up veg into the mince and don't tell her until after she has eaten it what was in it, good luck

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

No, your methods don't sound harsh. Right now, you are in a bit of a game with her. Children pick up on the anxieties of the adults around them. If you are bracing yourself for dinner time dramas then the child will know that is the way to push the buttons.
Forget about what the child will and won't eat. Simply make a healthy plate of food that the whole family will eat and YOU and the rest of the family enjoy it in front of her. When she sees that you don't have a problem with it, then she will pick up on that.
If any new food is presented with a disclaimer of "look, you'll like it, come on give it a try, etc.", then you can just about guarantee the games will begin.
Some children will eat things like Brussel sprouts, which are a notorious enemy of childish digestive systems because the food was placed in front of them and there was no room for a debate with the parent.
You are the parent, you do not argue with your children. You are there to guide them and to look after them until they move on with the good lessons you've taught them.
Take control and cook a healthy balanced meal and eat it with no drama. If there is a drama, DO NOT respond. Ignore it. After a while, she will see she isn't getting the desired response and she will eat the food you place in front of her.
It's simply positive reinforcement which works splendidly when you get used to the techniques.
Avoid bribing. It sets the mind up for a life of not having any inner discipline and no basis to make decisions unless a reward is involved.

Answer 4

Try giving her the new food first before she gets any of your regular stuff. Say she can't eat the regular food until she eats the new food? Or say she can't have desert unless she takes two bites out of the new food. Then the next time you have the new food, say four bites.

You could also try something fun. Try it with the whole family. And have a contest. Kind of like "Fear Factor" and make a whole bunch of food and put a bit in bowls. Then put the name of each food on a card and put the cards in a hat. Then pass the hat around. What each person gets, they have to eat it all. But put that as the second game, and the 1st can be like walking across the yard and back. Then follow with some other games.

Answer 5

My son is 3 and a half and he's the same. At this age they are discovering their likes and dislikes and establishing their own personal tastes. You know how they like routine? It's the same with food. My suggestion would be to wait a little while - if she's eating her 'regular' food well and has no health problems, it could just be her age. Try again in a few months time - I know it's boring for you but you'll just have to stick it out until she becomes more open to suggestion! Good luck.

Answer 6

this may not help at present but if this continues to school age my experience may help...my daughter would not eat anything but chicken..... chicken and chips, potatoes etc... no about of persuasion would change her mind. I don't believe in being underhand like mixing vegetables in potatoes as i feel it disrespectful. so I stopped stressing about it and served up chicken every mealtime ....that shifted the power from her to me. Once I had regained the power and i knew she was a little tiresome of chicken I spoke to her Friends parents and found out their favourite meals then invited each of them for dinner all the family ate that friends favourite meal spaghetti, omelet, rice etc and I served my daughter chicken this reverse psychology and a little peer power worked like magic it didn't take long for her to be asking to try a taste of the meals her friends were eating ...I didn't rush it and for a long time I asked do you want chicken or what we and Lauren or Emma are having slowly she introduced variety herself remember softly softly catch the monkey. Dont punish her or let her frustrate you if you do she has power over you

Answer 7

So let her go to bed with no dinner - once every now and then won't hurt her, I'm sure. Don't go forcing her to eat new stuff just because you think it's something cool to eat - if it's something she really should be eating, fine. Be aware also that if she does try it properly, and still doesn't like it, then OK, but let her know she will have to try it properly before you will accept that as an answer.

It's tricky, I know, but be firm, and consistent.

Answer 8

I usually tell her and him that they won't get any pudding if they don't eat their dinner. When I can tell their getting full, I usually tell them 3 more bites, then you can have pudding(dessert). It works 95% of the time. Sometimes they just don't like it or are full, no dessert and not bothered.

I wouldn't want boiled fish either. Alot of fish in there, try a cumberland sausage. Make lasagne with spinich in it.

Answer 9

just try putting a little on her plate,dont make a big deal about it. Try making the food look funny. If your anxious it will make her feel the same way.try mixing the food with the stuff she likes.


Hope that helped.
Other than that keep doing what your doin,she will learn

Answer 10

I started a 'star chart' sort of thing - one day a week have a 'try something new day' and make that the end of the star chart week, so if she tries her new thing (and has been good maybe 5 of 7 days) she gets her treat that afternoon.