How do you get a 2 year old to eat her food when she refuses even though shes hungry?

Question

Shes almost 2 years old but she only weighs 22 lbs and she wont eat the food that we give her she only wants the junk food which is fine every once in a while but she can't live off of junk food. Please help asp

Answer 1

Try letting her help you cook. Mine eat anythig when they help cook.

Next no junk food if it is a problem. I have had this off and on with my 3 year old. we have had to totally limit him sometimes when he gets in a junk binge mood.

I have always just made what we are eating and the kids take it or leave it. No snacks if you didnt make a good go of dinner. I'll represent the same dinner and then they can have a snack with the others after they've eaten.

When she's truly hungry she will eat, and then she will lear to adapt good eating habits.

Answer 2

My daughter was also very picky while teeth were erupting... until I realized that she would eat anything if she could dip it. Every kid has a weakness, shapes, colors, dipping, you just have to find something that appeals.

Leave a colorful arrangement out on a low table for your child. Try thin strips of veggies, healthy grain crackers, berries, chopped fruit, cheese cubes, peas and little broccoli trees. Maybe even a small dish of yogurt or cottage cheese to dip into. Eventually, they give in to the temptation of healthy food. Offer only good choices for long enough and taste buds will be retrained.

If the weight is a concern, smoothies are also an option. If you have a blender, start with a few tablespoons of old fashioned oats. Blend this dry until it is a flour (this gives a bit of protein). Then add yogurt, chopped fruit and a splash of milk. Blend until smooth.

Even vegetable juice tastes good to kids when blended with a sweet apple or grapes. Freeze it and it becomes a nutritious popsicle.

Talk to your pediatrician before giving vitamins or meal replacement drinks like Ensure. If she isn't eating and loves junk food, this kind of drink will become an expensive new addiction.

Answer 3

She won't starve. If she is hungry enough she'll eat. Then, don't offer any junk food. My son lived on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches almost exclusively for over a year. One day, he didn't want it anymore and even though he is very picky he does agree to at least have a bite or two from what we eat. I've tried forcing him, but that doesn't work either. All I know is, that your child will eat if hungerpains get too bad. Don't keep any junk at home and offer several choices that are good for her. She gets to pick. Maybe you can let her help fix some food. Our ped. always said that as long as they get at least one veggie, meat, dairy a week, they'll be fine. My son is healthy and grows normally. Give a multi vitamin as well. Don't make an issue of the subject. Even though they are little they know what they can control. and they will use that power to get you going. Tell her"Okay, you don't have to eat." Then you will have taken the control away from her.

Answer 4

Im sure I do exactly what youre not supposed to do.. but if my son says he is hungry and then doesnt eat what I give him... my guess is that it isnt what he wanted. Just like an adult. If its not what you were thinking of when you were thinking u were hungry then maybe you wouldnt eat it either.
I ask him what he wants to eat before I make it .
And Ive come to find out that sometimes hes in the mood for a sandwich and sometimes he wants a corn dog. ya know? Just ask him. If then he doesnt eat it..... I would let it sit out and when he is hungry enough he will eat it.

Oh and I dont buy junk food. I mean not that I dont ever let him have it... I just dont have the money to buy junk food so I dont. I buy popsicles and popcorn. Those are pretty much his snacks.Other than that he eats fruits and veggies as snacks. He loves em.

Answer 5

well u just have to stick to your guns and not give junk.Your child won't starve to death.She is just trying to get her own way n if u give in this will keep happening but just keep on giving food at the proper times and not all day long.Breakfast ,lunch n dinner and 2 snacks in between.Give a certain amount of time n then put the food away.She will get sooooo hungry she will eat.My son is 83 pounds and 8 yrs old and my daughter is 40 pounds and 5 yrs old.My daughter didn't gain any weight for almost 2 yrs but as long as she had all the vitamins she needed the doctor said she is fine.I wouldn't worry to much.If u can though until she is eating properly again u might want to get a childrens vitamin for her each day or some king of drink that replaces so u don't need to worry if she isn't eating her food right away.I went through this with my daughter as well n that is what I did n it worked.It was recommended to me at a parents aren't perfect group of parents and someone else had done this n it worked for them as well .Bye 4 now and hang in there she'll b ok.Have a great wkend

Answer 6

Please allow me to be rather blunt-

Why is there junk food in the house if you know this adds to the problem? You should NEVER loose a battle of will with a 2 year old. If you start loosing now, the next 17 years will be a lot of fun... for her.

PLEASE check with the doctor to make sure that there is no medical issue involved, but otherwise, just stock some good stuff.

Learn how to offer her choices that she will like, but that only reflect options you like- "Would you rather have some fruit or some popcorn?" Figure out options she likes, but work in your favor- bananas, grapes, carrot sticks, celery and peanut butter, peanut butter and whole wheat bread, etc.

Toss out any foods that have sugar as one of the top 5 ingredients, anything with either 'high fructose corn syrup' or 'hydrogenated oils', or too much salt or chemicals.

Use certain, select treats as rewards. "You can have a (low fat, low sugar) ice cream treat after supper if you eat your -whatever-" (and make sure you don't give her too big of portions at first!)

Answer 7

I have a 3 year old boy the same way. I just kept offering different HEALTHY foods until I figured out what he'll eat. He loves fruit, pretty much all kinds. That's a very good substitute for junk food, since its naturally sweet. He eats other things too, of course. I can't get him to try pasta or cheese for some reason. Just keep giving her healthy choices and she'll eat eventually. Good Luck!

Answer 8

2 year olds should not be fed junk food. You are starting her on a lifetime of poor eating habits. Also, children do not get to dictate what they will or won't eat.

So, you prepare a healthy meal. You set the table. You sit down & eat dinner. If she refuses to eat, you clear the table when everyone else is finished with their meal. You can either put her plate in the fridge for the next day or throw it out. But she gets no food (snacks) until the next meal. Eventually, she will eat!

Assuming she has no food allergies, this is a battle of the wills. I suggest that you win this battle :-)

Answer 9

I think it is a common problem honestly. With our first we just wanted to make sure he ate something so we gave him what we knew he would eat (within reason) but then we had to adjust him to our meals. With my youngest (he's 2) we are not doing this, we make dinner and he gets what we serve, if he chooses not to eat that is fine but if he comes to us later hungry we will offer dinner again. He quickly realized that he eats what we do or not at all. If he is hungry, he WILL eat it. Also ion a side note I have found that if I put some fruit or whatever out and just leave it for the pickings they will both munch on it.

Answer 10

If she only wants junk food and gets it - that's why she's holding out for it . My dog will do the same thing - ignore his bowl in hopes of getting a treat .
Keep the junk food away and she'll eat . Two year olds are learning how to get their way - and she has found one . If she misses a meal -in want of junk food . .Don't worry , she'll eat the next one if she does not get the junk she wants .