Ultimate picky eaters?

Question

I have a whole family of picky eaters. My husband almost always eats fast food. I don't get fast food regularly for the kids but their 4 food groups seem to consist of cereal, PB&J, pizza, and McD's. BTW the kids are 4, 6, 8, and 15. The 15 and 8yr olds will at least try it before deciding. The 6yr old will cry as soon as she sees it isn't one of the 4 food groups and the 4yr old takes his cue from her. I have stopped making more than 1 meal and told them if you dont eat said meal you dont eat. My family isn't fat but I worry if they are getting the right nutrients. I have gotten them to increase their fresh fruit intake since its summer but what do I do after this? I am a good cook but in any given meal on any given day someone doesn't like something and won't eat. This includes chicken, beef, sauce, potatoes, pasta, hot dogs, the type of jelly on the PB&J or the toppings on the pizza. Nothing seems to be a favorite for too long. Any ideas?

I make it a point to cook healthy meals for my family. I do not fry anything. I always put vegetables on their plates. I don't load anything with butter or gravy. I listed those foods to give you an idea of what I am dealing with. I have been told by my children's pediatrician that they ARE healthy but could stand to put on a few pounds. I am not in denial about their eating habits. I manage to get a multi-vit in them on a regular basis. I am by no means a stupid mom. I am a nurse so I do have a clue about what is healthy and what isn't. I know the way my husband eats will kill him and I tell him so. And I am trying not to let him further influence my kids which is why he can't eat fast food at home and if he does it is after they go to bed.

Answer 1

I think you are on the right track with the rule about what you make- but they are taking their cues from Daddy.

I am a picky eater...I only like my veggies raw, and only certain ones- but I love salad stuff. My son is the same way. I am hoping to change things with our daughter.

What do I do? I pre-cut veggies and put our ranch dressing- they can dip. Same with fruits.

I don't buy junk foods- at all. I actually don't like it and don't buy it.

Our son has to try something first- and then we offer those things again later.

Apples you can pick up all year.

I would have a family meeting- Now- discussing the rules. I had to do that with my husband because he is a junk food junkie.

There are foods I will absolutely not eat- lima beans, peas, liver, Italian beans/peas, veal, garbanzo beans, etc. (to name a few) I don't expect them to eat it either but I do encourage them.

I keep it positive...this is what you will eat and give them a bit. They do eat it when they know it's not a choice- and that it's not that they don't like it- it's that they don't like the way it LOOKS. Big difference- huge.

That said, as a kid, I spent hours at the dinner table- hours. I designed ways to get rid of my food- from the vent next to the table, to the teapot for the liver and onions my mom loved to make. Not cool when I forgot to empty it and the next day my dad made tea. That served no purpose for me other than to give me anxiety about meals as a kid and to despise these foods as an adult.

So, it's a long process, but make it positive, have them help you to cook, design meal plans together- this worked great for me.

Good luck!

Answer 2

For the little kids, its pretty common for them to only want to eat a few things. It is good that your older kids will try things. Since they get a multi-vitamin I wouldn't worry as much about their nutrients at this point as I would about their future eating habits. Start with enforcing the veggie rule: everyone will eat one small spoonful of veggies or no dessert. Dessert is a great incentive, so long as you understand that one cookie can be dessert, you don't have to make a big deal out of sweets. Another thing to try is take them to the farmers market or produce stand and let them pick out something to try. They are a lot more apt to eat something if they have a bit of control over the matter. My kids would rather have raw veggies instead of cooked ones, so experiment and see what goes down the best. Give them choices: there isn't as much of a fight if you say you may have this veggie or this one but you HAVE to choose one. Stick to your guns. If a temper tantrum will make you back down once, they will try it every time. I know I'll probably be booed for saying so, but once or twice leaving the table without their dinner may cure them of the crying fits as well. Another tip: make the things they do like more healthy: serve whole wheat pasta and lean beef. Make homemade mini pizzas where everyone chooses their toppings BUT MUST choose one veggie. They'll eat it because it was fun! Also, get kosher hot dogs because they are all top quality beef with no by-products, and limit McD's to a once a month thing (and insist they get apples instead of french fries.) When you are firm that they must eat a veggie, but still give them some freedom of choice, in the long run you will be encouraging them to sample lots of different foods, and although it will be a struggle at first, in the long run it will make mealtimes more enjoyable for everyone.

Answer 3

First thing is that you are not a short order cook. What you put down for dinner is dinner. They have to try at least one bite of everything. If they don't like it, don't force them to eat it, but there will be no other meals given. If they want a snack before dinner, make sure it is a fresh fruit of vegetable. There may be some complaints, but you've just got to ignore them. They will not starve to death by missing one meal.

Try hiding healthy foods in things they like. I've had to grind up carrots and zucchini into my meatloaf. I puree eggplants into their spaghetti sauce. It's a bit of a pain, but they still eat it.

Make the dinner entertaining. Make meatloaf cupcakes with mashed sweet potato "frosting". Make some peas and cut up some carrots for decoration. Have breakfast for dinner. Make pancakes or French toast with applesauce or another fruit sauce instead of syrup.

Your husband does have to jump on board, though. I made my husband start eating all of his veggies after my son asked "Why doesn't daddy have to eat his beans?" They see it and follow his lead. He is their role model.

Try getting a kids' cookbook. Look through it and see what your kids might want to help you cook. They might be more willing to try something if they helped cook it.

Answer 4

Wow- just because they might not be overly obviously fat (I can't imagine that they aren't, have you actually heard that from a health professional?), they are NOT healthy. There is a huge lack of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains going on at your house. Please do better for your kids, it sounds like you'll be the only one around much longer if your husband only eats fast food... wow. From your list of foods: chicken (okay if cooked lean, but not fried of any kind...), beef (same with chicken), sauce, potatoes (lots of carbs, should only be occasional), pasta (not good unless whole wheat), hot dogs (NEVER okay, these are full of saturated and trans fats, nitrates, YUCK), the type of jelly (nothing but sugar) on the PB&J or the toppings on the pizza... (pizza can be healthy if LOADED with veggies, none of the usual fatty meats, not too much cheese...) it still sounds like the meals you cook aren't all that much better than fast food. Check out the Cooking & Recipes section on here, there are always people getting healthy, easy, recipes for families on there.

Check out this link for what you and the rest of your family SHOULD be eating...

http://www.mypyramid.gov/

Answer 5

It may be time to get creative, and even more fun - Sneaky!
Have you ever thought of hiding some well cooked carrots or peas right in with the mashed potatoes? Also try something unusual they've never seen before like spaghetti squash. It tastes good, especially with plenty of butter, and their curiosity may get the better of them. Try apples and sweet potatoes cooked together with cinnamon and brown sugar on top. Broccoli with cheese sauce will get um every time. I put whole corn in my pancakes, delicious! In other words you just have to constantly be thinking of creative ways to sneak the fruits and veggies in. It also used to help when I played with my son at mealtime. I would say don't eat those veggies! You'll grow up strong like your dad and I won't be able to handle you anymore! He would giggle and swallow veggies while I said No no no!

Answer 6

Paleo diet its a diet based around eating real food unprocessed

Answer 7

Sounds like they are spoiled. I can only suggest you insist that they eat what you make or go hungry.

Answer 8

put your foot down
If they don't like you made eat or the don't eat dinner