my mum used to make me meals and I'd be expected to eat them. Now I have kids of my own I wish I'd carried on doing this with my two. instead I've always given them a choice of what to have. Now they are a bit older they are asking for the same stuff all the time and won't try anything new. I know it's my own fault and I don't want any lectures, but has anyone else experienced this, and if so, what have you done to solve it?
2007-01-09 21:14:12 · 9 answers · asked by The Way 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Instead of running a resturant, fix a variety of items for your meal. This allows them to choose from what you have fixed.
(I have a 7 year old who HATES most foods) I've made a deal with him, that if he tries something new (actually chewing it up and tasting it) and if he does not like it, he is allowed to spit it in the trash can.
It works. There have been a (very) few times that he has actually liked something he normally would not have eaten. There are still A LOT of times he is spitting into the trash, but at least he is trying different things. And even if he has tried it once, the next time it is on the table, it is still the same thing, try it, spit if you don't like. Because his tastes may change from one time to the next.
Best wishes!
2007-01-09 21:22:04 · answer #1 · answered by †♥mslamom♥† 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have been through this. Don't worry.
Just give them what you give them. If they have not eaten it after 30 minutes take it away. There is no more food until the next mealtime. They will soon get the idea. Going hungry for a day or so won't kill them.
This may sound harsh but you are doing them a big favour in the long run. A person who grows up with a little discipline is able to apply that discipline to him/herself in later life and is thereby safe from becoming a pathetic waste of space like Paris Hilton.
Good luck with it, be kind but firm, you will prevail.
2007-01-10 05:54:31 · answer #2 · answered by TC 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
dish up wht you want to eat. Offer nothing else. They will not starve themselves, they will however scream a lot until they realise you mean it. My son was terrible(his twin ate everything). When he turned 4 I told him he must eat 4 of everything on his plate (4 slices carrot, 4 peas etc.) and for some reason after fighting with him and food since he was 17 months (ate everything that wasn't screwed down till then) it worked. He is 7 now and it can still be difficult but he is getting there. Now the rule is he must try 1 new taste a week.. I dish up for tea what my daughter and I like and he has to eat it or go without. Generally I make him eat 1/2 of what I want him to. A good trick here is to dish up twice as much as you think is reasonable for them to eat and tell them when they argue that as a compromise they can eat 1/2. They THINK they have won but you know you have. My son survived for 2.5 years on weetbix for breakfast, P.B sandwich for lunch and a tub of yogurt for tea. I tried everything, and I mean everything. I drove myself insane trying. The health nurse finally told me it was my job to put the food infront of him and his job to eat it. I went with this till he was 4 and then told him now he is 4 life is different. As they get older you can reason more. I went through what food does for the body. Vitamins, calcium for bones, iron for brain. Kids need to know why we need food and what different ones do for us. I am not saying he is the best eater in the word but he is 110% better. Just do not offer an alternative and explain that this is what is for tea and if they don't want to eat then it is bed time. Mind you this may backfire. Mine at 3 would walk past as I dished up tea , look at the plate and say "I'm going to bed. Goodnight" Stubborn little bugger. lol
2007-01-10 05:50:23 · answer #3 · answered by Rachel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I cook a meat, a starch, and a vegetable and some times a desert. I served small portions to my children and they had to eat what was in front of them. One child got stomach aches from tomatoes and oranges. That he did not have to eat. My daughter makes then take a thank you bite of things her children do not think they like. Another daughter makes them eat half if it if they do not like it.
2007-01-10 06:23:44 · answer #4 · answered by T 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I make what I want to eat, if they don't eat, they don't eat. When they get hungry enough, they will eat what is in front of them. When they start to pay for their own meals, they can have whatever they want. Until then they get a variety of different meals.
2007-01-10 05:20:46 · answer #5 · answered by Rick R 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Their freedom to choose should be based on their ability to make right choices. Put your foot down & make them earn their freedom.
2007-01-10 05:24:18 · answer #6 · answered by irmaynerds 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Start buying different types of food then they will have to eat whatever you fix
2007-01-10 05:18:31 · answer #7 · answered by ஐ♥Julian'sMommy♥ஐ 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
our meals are centered around the kids
2007-01-10 05:22:58 · answer #8 · answered by blank 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
give them the same food but maybe serve it differantly......... in time they might learn trying new things isnt too bad
2007-01-10 05:22:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋