Did you stop letting your kid be a picky eater?

Question

I'd like to know your experience when you started making your kid eat what you made. And how exactly did you do it and how did they react? My 3 year old doesn't like to eat much- no fruit (beside juice), rarely a veggie, no bread etc. So to offer something he likes at every meal is impossible.

Answer 1

There is no way to make them eat something that they do not want to eat. You fight, they win. There are some fun "tricks" that I have used to get my kids to eat more (and better) foods.
I bought a "crinkle cutter" and cut up vegetables with it.
I would give them a choice of dipping sauce (usually salad dressing) to dip their food into. My youngest went through a period in which he would only eat pineapple if it was dipped in ketchup. I would also cut the fruit with the cutter and make yogurt based dipped.
I would have them "help" me cook as much as possible. They were more willing to eat something that they helped make.
We grew some of our own vegetables. The kids helped plant and care for these vegetables and were proud to eat them.
The thing that has helped the most is the new set of pots and pans that we bought. These were Rachael Ray pans and my kids LOVE her to death. Now all the food we cook is Rachael Ray food and they will eat it. Cookbooks work well too!
Kids will also need to see something "new" on their plate at least 14 times before they will even think about trying it. It also helps if they see you eat it. And food ALWAYS looks more appealing when it is on your plate.

Answer 2

At about 13mo I started serving my oldest what we ate. We did not offer anything else. Sometimes she ate sometimes not. (I did serve a lunch she liked.) If she did not eat, she did not get a snack or anything later. (though at 13 mo to about 2 yrs I allowed her to have milk) I have done this with all my kids. They don't always eat, and sometimes there are tears when the others (those who ate) get a snack and the one(s) who didn't eat dinner sit and stare at the ice cream or popcorn or whatnot. But they know the consequences of not eating and it is a choice that they make. Kids will eat what is in front of them if they are hungry enough.

I had some problems with children 1 &2 not eating dinner and then stuffing themselves silly with breakfast and lunch so they didn't have to eat dinner again. LOL. We got around that by saran wrapping dinner and serving it for breakfast and lunch if they didn't eat it for breakfast. That only needed to occur once or twice and they were back to at least trying dinner at dinnertime.

Your child is three, he is old enough to understand that if he doesn't eat dinner there are no snacks. The thing with this plan though - YOU have to be the parent and be CONSISTENT! Really stick to your guns.

Honestly, I believe that part of the reason that the nation's children as a whole are chunkier than they were when I was a kid is because as parents we are not doing a very good job of making sure they eat balanced meals, limiting the junk they eat (including juices! Those are high calorie and low nutritional value) and making sure they get exercise (aka, just playing and running outside)!

Answer 3

My daughter has been eating what we eat since about 8 months. Only when she was young I ground things for her. Now she is almost 1 year old and can eat with the rest of us at the table. She eats just about anything. even broccoli (with cheese only) and meat. I still make some variations in her food. Like when we have tacos, she gets meat sticks, cheese, and a tiny bit of mild taco sauce. things like that.......but she eats very well and does not seem to have taste issues at this point.
Any time she did not like things when she was a baby, I just waited a while and offered them again. She HATED green beans for along time, but now she eats them.
The rule in our house is you eat what is on the table or you eat PBJ. there was no special cooking. That works. I eat PBJ sometimes (I cant stand pirogies, but the hubby/kids love them).......heck, even the husband eats it! But it works well for us.
Try "dip".......my niece was very picky when she was 3. she would eat ANYTHING as long as it could be dipped in something. Ketchup, mustard, dressing, BbQ sauce........she ate it all. That made food more fun for her and she ate a much better variety that way.

Answer 4

It is normal for three year olds to be picky. Place a meal in front of them that is well balanced- grains, veggie, protein. Make sure everything is lean, and fresh. If they do not eat it, they will eventully get hungry. Later, when they beg for sugary juice or cookies, tell them they had the choice not to eat their food at lunch time. They will have another opportunity at dinner and they will make the choice to eat then or not. Skipping one meal will not harm your child. The calorie intake for preschoolers is less than what the average person thinks. Hope this works! Also, when offering drinks, only give them 4 ounces of 100% juice, milk, or water so they do not get full from liquid. Most of the nutrients the child receives should come from food.

Answer 5

I had the EXACT same problem with my three year old son. He NEVER would eat anything I fixed for dinner. Finally, I decided that enough was enough with horrifying dinners. I started making him a plate of exactly what we were having but in TINY portions at first so it didn't look so overwhelming. Like maybe three bites of meat and two bites of everything else. Then I bribed him big time. If he would eat all his dinner he could pick out the dessert. Or if he would eat all his dinner he could pick out the next mornings breakfast and so on. This way, he is getting used to the other foods as well as still feeling like he has a say so in what he eats. After about two weeks it's working like a charm :). Don't get me wrong, there were times he didn't eat and that was it for the night, once he realized there wasn't a snack to follow he started eating his dinner. I have now increased the portions and all is well! Good Luck!

Answer 6

I had/have the same problem. No veggies or fruit!! I didn't know what to do. So I gave them fruit and veggies in different forms that they seemed to like.
instead of... try......
bread- dinner rolls
apples- applesauce (with cinnamon)
potatoes- sweet potatoes (with brown sugar)
strawberries- strawberry sorbet
get the idea? If it's more interesting to him, you'll see that he'll eat it. Mine will only eat chicken if I give it to him in the form of nuggets and he MUST have sausage gravy to dip it in! Ewwww
But he eats it! They'll both eat veggies if I give it to them cut up small and ranch dressing or whatever dip they like that day to dip it in. Kids seem to like to dip everything....it still a struggle sometimes but I think I'm winning! Just to be on the safe side, I give them a kids chewable muti-vitamin before bed each night.

Answer 7

My 2 kids have never been allowed to become picky eaters. They have been expected to eat what everyone else eats since they became old enough to eat regular table food.

To get your kid to eat nutritious foods, don't offer anything but. If he's hungry, he will eat.

I know kids love to dip, so let them dip everything. Fruit and veggies are easy to dip. The most used dip in my house in natural applesauce. It's healthy and tasty and the kids love it.

Answer 8

I never have allowed my children (2&½ & 4) to be picky eaters. I would serve them their supper and tell them that that is what we are having for supper and that that is all they are being offered to eat.

If they pitch a fit, then it’s off to time out until they are ready to behave properly at the supper table (this may take 2 or 3 VERY unpleasant suppers).

They get half a glass of drink and must make good progress on their supper before they are allowed a second drink lest they fill up on fluids.

They will sometimes eat the part they like and leave the rest. They do not get seconds until they eat everything in their first serving. Sometimes for seconds, I let them take only their favourite part, but if they go for thirds, then they have to finish helpings of the stuff they don’t like first.

If they eat only the portion they like and leave the rest, I tell them that that’s fine, I won’t make them eat if they are not hungry, but not to expect any snacks later. If they ask for a snack later, they must finish their supper (which of course has been saved for this moment) before they can have a snack.

My almost 4 year old now rarely complains at suppertime because he knows the rules. If he doesn’t want to eat something, he doesn’t get a treat later. I tell him – finish this you get dessert. Even if he thinks it’s gross, he’ll do it for the treat.

My almost 4 year old is doing very good with it now but I’m struggling with my youngest, who last night pretended to gag on a mouthful of rice after I insisted she eat the last bite before she got her treat. She had already eaten a half cup of rice, she was just taking a stand on the last bite. After two trips to the corner and a promise of getting her treat, she allowed me to put the last mouthful in her mouth where she proceeded to gag. I told her to swallow or she wasn’t getting her treat and she did. My daughter’s a very good actor.

Stay firm!

Answer 9

I make my 2 year old eat whatever I make by constantly telling her that she likes it. Dont give her options that when she starts to become picky. A child should be picky becuase 99% of the things you give them are good for them. Some vegetable I had like spinach but I give it to her and I may take a bite or two to shoe her that its good for her. You have to set the example, that just one of the many things we have to do as parents.

Answer 10

My 3 year old is the same way! I was going to ask my doctor next month at her visit. She is SO picky. People tell me she'll eat when she's ready and that she's not starving. The problem I have with my 3 year old is that even though she doesn't eat, if I were to pull out a cookie or pop tart, she'll eat it. What's up with that? Good luck . . .