Picky eater?

Question

I have a three year little girl that is an extremely picky eater. There are only about ten things that she will eat. No fruits, no veggies. I know this is not just a "phase" because she has been this way for almost 2 years. Is there anyway to get her to try new foods without forcing her to eat it?

Answer 1

Yes, and may I say her name is not "picky eater" it is "The BOSS of you" lol. Of course it's not a phase, it's a learned behavior. This is a really common new parent trap! If your pediatrician has checked her over and found no physical reasons for any of this you should try the following: Stop buying and providing any of her chosen foods that are not healthy. Many 3 yr olds love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and they are very healthy. If yours does, she may eat only that for a month but she will be getting nutrition so who cares?? If yours does not, think of some foods that you know are good for her and tell her these will be her foods, but she can pick which she has at a given meal. Don't force her to eat. If she doesn't want to choose that is fine, just choose for her but don't, I repeat do not make a production out of it. Your food related behavior towards her must be very nonchalant or you lose before you start. Make no mistake about it.... this is a power struggle and you will lose if you allow yourself to become engaged in it !! Think about it... if everyone around you is bigger and stronger, the only power you have is to have a fit or be obstinate. Toddlers are all about becoming independent and the way they do it is to be obstinate!! That is okay within guidelines you set. Like when and what she may eat .... but not IF.... she controls that and she knows it! Having said that, realize this is hardwired into all toddlers and is not something to be punished... you punish her not eating and you both lose! Provide healthy food 4 or 5 times a day where she can reach it preferably in a high chair or at your table. If she eats, fine, if not, also fine. After 5-10 minutes, if she is not eating pick up the plate and discard the food and let her go play. If at this point she begins to act like she wants to eat, you say sorry, mealtime is over, we'll eat again after while. The reason for this is that a truly superbly stubborn child will soon realize that you have drawn another line in the sand and that she can win by tugging your guilt strings. She isn't really hungry or willing to eat ... it just makes for another great way to be obstinate... you want to take the plate away so she automatically wants to keep it! Do not mention it. Do not make a big deal over it. If you must say something, simply say meal time is over, go play. Toddlers want attention and by remarking on it, other than to say meal time, you are reinforcing her negative behavior. Trust me (I've raised 6) when she gets hungry enough her hunger will overcome her stubborn and she will eat. Not eating for a day or even 2 or 3 is not going to hurt her, just be sure and make drinking water and her usual milk available. At first she will try and fill up on liquids, but it won't work for her for long. While she adjusts to your new feeding style, expect tantrums and be prepared to ignore any negative OR positive food behavior. If the acting-out gets too outrageous, simply remove the food. Once she is sampling the new foods you will be good to go! Refrain from complimenting her for eating, that just sets up another war zone! After all, this is about being obstinate so if you like her to eat, she will try not to! Also, since food is her war zone, be sure you refrain from using food as an incentive or reward for anything. A short snuggle or 5 minutes reading her favorite story can be a great reward for good behavior, as can a short tickling match, lol ! And remember, while she is pitching her fits, and they will be awesome!, even you as an adult can be stubborn. Consider the last time someone tried to make you do something you didn't want to...........??

Answer 2

It is called a "food jag" Don't give into her, that is not a good thing. Give her choices - the fruit or the veggie, do that with other things too, that is a way to encourage her to eat more and different things. Even if she tries a few bites, at least she's trying it. she will not go hungry, if she still doesn't eat, then you wrap up her meal and put it in the fridge. Do NOT let her have snacks or any treats - if she is still hungry give her her "supper" she did not eat.

Answer 3

I have a 4 yr old that does the same thing, She would not eat anything at all. I used the same rule my mom used, you eat whats on your plate or you dont eat at all. I am now not a picky eater at all. My daughter now eats more foods then she used to, becuase she knows she has to at least try it, so the next time she knows she can eat it. Some people dont belive in that, or say make em a PB and J sammich, but ive noticed then they never try anything becuase they will get wha tthey want

Answer 4

i had a picky eater too, however my son is 6yrs. he used to only like sugar, when i cames to meat, veggies, water he would cry and will sit at the table for hours w/ out eating...........however i came to the conclusion that when i open my frigde and cabinets that's all he saw, was snacks and treats... the meats and can goods were stored in the freezer or wayy back in the cabinets so he couldnt see that. so i decided to make his choice on my own on what he ate and not what he wanted, i tell him now that he will eat his dinner/ lunch then after that he can pick out his own treat. he loves it cause eating his veggies/meats and having milk/water during meal time is not so bad if he knows he can have what he wants afterwards.... try different methods it will be hard at first but you have to try and get your child to eat healthy as she is only 3 and she needs these food to help her grow and develop.....good luck!!

Answer 5

what i used to do with my nephew was i used to eat it first so he knows it not nasty.

You can try mixing the foods (a little of the things he likes along with things u wanna try to get him to eat

Give him a reward everytime he eats something new

You can always check parenting magizines...they should have good suggestions on how to feed a picky eater

Answer 6

my son has always been a picky eater. I'd hide green beans in sloppy joe so he'd eat them. give her a spoonful of different foods that you're serving for that meal. tell her she has to taste it. make sure she gets a good multivitamin every day. keep at it. you're the parent and need to set the rules.

Answer 7

Yes but consider that most people in the world don't have near the variety as the western nations you probably eat a larger variety of foods than most of the people in the world. You may be allergic to some of the foods you don't care for or have a bad memory of how they were prepared the first time you ate them.

Answer 8

I felt guilty doing it at first, but my husband had the idea. My son is 6, and he loves chicken fries. SO, one night for dinner he asked for chicken fries and tater tots and I made him fish stisks instead. He ate all that I had made him and asked for more. After he ate them all I told him what he really ate. Also, for fruits and veggies, make shakes for the kids. You can do fruits and maybe even a spinach leaf. The spinach leaves makes it look a nasty green color, but you can't taste it. Oh, he now asks for fish sticks ALL the time!

Answer 9

What i used to do with my son, was to let him feel so much hunger sometimes when it was necessary for him to eat, some veggies or anything else...maybe it was rude, but he didnt let me any other choices...

Answer 10

Check out information on sensory intergration dysfunction. Therapy for this helped my son in so many ways I hadnt even realized.

Best wishes...

Is she defensive with certain kinds of clothes also???