how to feed a VERY PICKY child?

Question

my son is REALLY very picky with his food. i have tried preparing 'colorful' and 'artistic' foods to entice him to eat but he's SOOOOO stubborn. he doesn't eat vegetables (even if i secretly add it in the food, he CAN tell!)...he only eats fried chicken and fries from KFC, hotdogs and sausages and nothing else...i tried not to give him food besides the dishes i prepared and he can stand hours without food (which scares me sometimes because he might get sick or something)...i just want him to be healthy by eating meat and vegetables and fruits....please help!!!! thank you....

Answer 1

my parents made me sit at the table all night and if i didnt eat then i went to bed hungry. I like to think i turned out ok, and i eat my veggies now too.

Answer 2

It's time to take the hard line, for the sake of your son's future health. Let him know the fast foods and junk foods are not going to be an option anymore. Make sure the whole family is willing to eat the same foods--often kids are imitating someone else in the family who doesn't want to change his/her eating habits. Don't try to entice him with fancy foods, as you are letting his preferences control you. Put out the food, including some you know he has been willing to eat before that is reasonably healthy, tell him you are putting a little of everything on his plate, and then leave him alone to eat or not eat it and don't even discuss it. Let him go without food if he refuses what is on the plate! He won't let himself starve, and you need to show him that he is not controlling you. When he is hungry enough, he will decide to eat what you offer.

Little kids don't need to eat a whole lot of vegetables but they do need some. Cooked will (eventually) be more appealing than raw. But you and your whole family need to be willing to change your habits and only have available the foods that are good for you.

Answer 3

No offense, but if your son insists on eating KFC food, you're not making the problem go away by buying the stuff for him. I grew up in a "you eat what your mother cooks" house, so I never actually refused to eat anything that was put onto my plate. Fortunately, I was allowed to drown some of the more distasteful foods (to me, anyway) with ketchup, so I managed.

In your situation, I have a few options that you could try.

1. Stop serving your son his preferred foods every single day. If you don't, your problem won't end anytime soon. I'm not saying that you cut him off completely, so maybe one or two days a week is ok.

2. As another option, try substituting healthier alternatives to the foods that he wants. Try veggie burgers or meatless soy products.

3. Day 1 - hot dogs. Day 2 - hot dogs. Day 3 - hot dogs. Day 4 - hot dogs. Day 5 - hot dogs. Day 6 - hot dogs. Day 7 - hot dogs. Day 8 - hot dogs. Day 9 - hot dogs. Day 10 - etc. Even the people who work at McDonalds won't eat cheeseburgers every day.

Answer 4

How old is the child?

You can only have a healthy eating child if you only offer healthy foods.
Keep feeding him junk and fast foods, he will become fat and unhealthy, and cause him damage from being teased at school.

You have to stick to your guns.. no chips, no candies, no cookies, no cakes.
if he wants something, make it together. If he is hungry, he will eat what is left out for him.
If you cant stick to a healthy diet for yourself, you cant expect him to do it either. You have to parent by good example. Have foods prepped in advance. if he is hungry, offer him some whole wheat crackers, sliced cheeses and some apple and grapes. If he refuses it. Oh well.
if he has a fit, OH WELL. Send him to his room. He is being spoiled.
Leave it out and eventually he will eat what you leave out for him. He wont die or get sick from being spoiled and refusing food. You might cave too easily. He will eat when he is hungry enough.

Buy healthy whole foods. anything packaged isnt good for you. and you will save money in the long run when you avoid fast food and junk.
Every time you buy him that, you are giving energy to the problem.

Good luck!!!

Answer 5

Seriously a day or two without eating won't kill him, don't offer anything fried or unhealthy, just good food. He WILL eat. Offer things that he can make himself, like put ham and cheese on a plate and let him make his own sandwich. Or he can make his own pizzas, using whole wheat crust. Or, if he is old enough, take him to the doctors and ask your doctor to tell him what happens to people if they don't eat healthy, pictures may help. (My five yr. old refused to brush his teeth, I let him watch his grampa get a root canal, now he brushes 3 times a day, may not be the best idea but it worked)
Also remember, he will grow out of it, make sure he is taking a multivitamin, and maybe drinking juice, 100% juice, no sugar,
Good Luck

Answer 6

Here are some questions that you should be asking yourself:

How is he eating KFC if you don't buy it for him?
How did he get hooked on the junk food (hot dogs and sausages) in the first place?
Who is in charge of your household?

Going to bed without supper won't kill him. You need to grow up and be a mother, not a friend.

Answer 7

I'd say, quit enabling the kid to manipulate you!!!! This behavior will only get worse if you allow it to continue. If he doesn't want to eat what you offer him, then let him make a peanut butter sandwich. Don't go out of your way to purchase special foods for him, other than special treats you get for the whole family. Chances are, he's going to be just fine. Kids have a way of getting what they need most of the time, and if you're worried, pop him a vitamin each day. Pick your battles and quit letting him hold you hostage in the kitchen!!!

Answer 8

OK. try this, my kids HAVE TO EAT one bite of food per year of age. If they don't, then it is time for bed. they get a glass of milk then bed. No discussion. No compromise. He will not get sick if he does not eat. Believe me one night without food will do wonders. If I make a new dish, or one that I know that one of them doesn't like I only put the bites they are required to eat on their plate. This has worked very well for me. I think it makes them feel a little in control if they have a reachable goal and that once that is completed, there is success. And if you think about it, one bite per year of age is approximately and age appropriate serving anyway. Hope this helps!

Answer 9

Let him go for hours without food. Offer him healthy foods and don't cave in. Make him sit with the family while they eat their healthy meal even if he refuses to eat. Hunger will get the better of him eventually (before starvation). He can't eat the unhealthy foods if you don't give them to him.

Answer 10

Try watching the food network with him. It might get him interested in different foods. Otherwise just feed him only what you want. He'll eat eventually. I seriously doubt he'll end up like one of those sad kids on the late night TV commercials.