Mums have you any ideas for a picky 4 year old's dinners?

Question

We have my boyfriend's son stay over with us every other weekend and he will only eat plain pasta twirls, white bread and butter, and carrot sticks for dinner.
He is good very generally with his food - he does not ask for cakes biscuits and sweets very often and will eat pieces of fruit.
Breakfast is good he loves lightly cooked toast or shreddies.
The key seems to be that he wants everything cut up uniformly and served individually, nothing runny or unidentifiable.
He seems to accept these items if they are served in this way.
I would be grateful for any other ideas other than the one meal he will accept for dinner.. especially for any meat or protein ideas as i cannot find anything he will try!
Thank you in advance!

And Dads too !! Thankyou!

Answer 1

I've implemented the "no-thank-you-taste" at our dinner table, which I learned from my Mom. Even if my daughter (who's also 4) doesn't want to eat all of the veggies- her least favorite-on her plate, she had to eat at least one. Take it slowly at first, don't expect miracles. But after a few years of exposure, she's come around to trying new things (like spinach! and broccoli! and squash!). It's just about exposing them to eating healthier. And kids also go through phases, again mine went through a "I will only eat pasta and bread" diet for a while. Eventually it passed. You could also try making foods more kid-friendly- like happy faced sandwiches (with meat or peanut butter- both sources of protein) or sandwiches cut into shapes with cookie-cutters. You could also try letting him help prepare some simple meals, obviously nothing with the stove or knives. It seems that with my daughter, the more involved she is in the process, the more willing she is to partake in the end result. Good luck!

Answer 2

The key to these types of eaters is to not change a lot or add a lot at once.

Try cooking up a chicken breast - cut up the way he likes it and add it to his meal or try shrimp. Something neutral.

Don't make a scene if he doesn't want to eat it. You should encourage him and praise him to try it, at least one or two bites. If he likes it he'll ask for more, if not - try again another time.

Also, have his dad talk up the dish. That might encourage the youngster to at least try a bite or two.

He's 4 y.o. being passed from mom to dad. The same meal may also be a way for him to be comfortable with everything else changing around him. Is he finicky all the time or only every other weekend?

Answer 3

I find that this helped me soooo much when my daughter would only eat hot dogs and cheez-wiz sandwiches.

Take the little boy grocery shopping with you. Tell him it is up to him to pick out something new for dinner for everyone. Even if it is something small (like plain pasta with grilled chicken on the side) Baby steps.

The first time I did this with my daughter we had sausages, grilled asparagus and Dragon fruit for desert. It was something different for all of us.

Eventually, while he there, plan the following weekends menu together. Go through some cook books together, write down what you will need and then take him out grocery shopping when he comes back.

She loved this because I depended on her for her choices (a meat, veggie and dessert) and it made her feel important and that she had a key part in a normal adult activity.

P.S. My daughter grew out of it just in time for my youngest to start being a picky eater (anything with blueberries, at least that is better than hot-dogs ;) )

Answer 4

It could be the tecture of the foods is bothering him. If a 4 year old eats that's a good thing. I bought a small table and chairs for my chldren. I tell them we are going to have a picnic outside.It seems that because itis a picnic they will eat almost anything I put on their plate. My might also want to let him help you prepare the meals.

Answer 5

My son is extremely picky as well. He wants butter toast "not cooked mom" lol Just bread basically. He will eat chicken nuggets and chicken legs. Oh and Bacon at breakfast. It's the only meat he will eat. Mac-n-cheese is a staple for him, it's one of the few foods he will eat every time.

As for the bread, we try to add variation like cheese toast (place a slice of cheese on top of bread and place in oven until cheese is melty) or add cinnamon on top of the butter for a sweet treat.

You really just have to wait for him to outgrow it. Sometimes if he won't eat what I cook, I let him have a bowl of cereal for his supper. he likes the nutritious ones like Raisin Bran ( i add extra raisins) and Honey Bunches of Oats.

Good luck and God Bless

Answer 6

How about eggs for dinner? They are a great and healthy source of protein. I do that for my kids occasionally because they are not crazy about meats either.

Another option is cottage cheese -- it's *very* high in protein and low in fat. I mix it with pasta and just tell the kids it's cheese, and they love it.

Answer 7

Do not try to change any of this child's eating habits. He is
learning from his mother and she apparently lets him eat
this way. He cannot learn two different ways of eating. He
will change when he's a little older. Right now, he will probably
eat what he wants, and his body knows what he wants--if it
if offered to him.
Do not try to force ANYTHING on him, unless he has terrible
behavior. Just love him and add to his security, don't detract.

Answer 8

My 2 year old son loves hummus with anything. He eats it on crackers, with vegetables, even all by itself. He also loves dried fruit and anything that he can dip in (yogurt with graham crackers, veggies and hummus) etc.

Hope this helps.

Answer 9

anything with peanutbutter is good for protein! :) I don't know many kids who say no to peanutbutter on celery, pancakes, waffles, toast, pb&J sandwich