Seeking suggestions on how to get a 4 year old fussy eater to eat more fruit and vegetables.?

Question

He has a daily vitamin supplement and fish oil capsules. He won't eat fruit smoothies, dried fruit or fresh fruit with the exception of a handful of sultanas each week. We puree vegetables and add them to tomato based sauces eg spaghetti bolognese. We have tried making him eat foods he doesn't want to eat by giving him a spoon of food before and after it of something he does like eg. a spoon of mince with vegies, followed by baked beans or a spoon of apple puree followed by a spoon of custard. The dietician, paediatrician and community health nurses suggestions have all failed. I don't know what to do from here?? Any suggestions of things that worked for you or recipes I could try. He loves fish, chicken, eggs, bacon, baked beans, bread, pasta, cous cous, apple juice and an occasional milk drink. Help!

Answer 1

First, let me ask you if there are any PARENTS in this house, Second let me tell you a little story my Daddy told me years ago. His Daddy had a **** dog that he raised on Collard Greens, one day somebody called him a lier and said that **** dogs won't eat Collard Greens. He replied " After about two weeks they will". Why don't you let Jr get hungry for once in his life, then give him what you want him to eat. If he doesn't eat it, put it in the refrigerator and when he wants something else, give it to him again. Believe me, this works...#######

Answer 2

I would start off with saying no food at friends' houses until she can eat properly at home. Tell the parents it's for health reasons (which is true, if she won't eat any fruit or veg at all), and pick her up before they eat. And no junk food at your house either. I don't mean "oh, just one biscuit" or "oh, just a packet of crisps to keep you going". None. Nothing. Nada. Maybe it's the texture, if she gags. Will she eat soup? Homemade soup is drop dead simple to make, good for all of you, and you can put any vegetables in it. You are the parent here. Why does she not like anything but junk food? Is that what you weaned her onto? I doubt it very much. You need to take control back. I'm sure you remember what her favourites were when she was tiny. Let her choose between some of them, but it HAS to be a healthy meal. No more pizza! Sitting and staring at the food is simply a control issue. Don't tell her she has to eat it. Just tell her it's all there is. That or nothing (or plain bread and butter - just as healthy as endless junk). And the same tomorrow, and the next day, and the next...

Answer 3

Try some finely chopped celery and corn in a Tuna Mornay.
We do cous cous with zucchini and chicken.
We do a savoury vegetable pie similar to quiche with five or more vegetables.
Have you considered homemade potato chips or baked potatos with bacon and cheese?
Try a fruit salad with ice-cream. My toddler likes tinned pie apple. I wish you well. Email me if you'd like any recipes.

Answer 4

I will assume here that he will eat what you eat. If he sees you eating and enjoying veggies and fruits, he may as well.

The key to getting your child/children to eat healthy starts off when they are infants. Children are not preprogrammed to like or dislike anything. They learn this. As soon as infants are ready to eat baby food. You should start off with veggies and then occassionally fruit based baby food. This way you teach them to like veggies just as much as fruits.

When they get a bit older, do not give them a choice. Choices are earned with age. You should feed them two veggies, preferably fresh. Fresher is better but you too must have the same at every meal.

If a child grows up watching his/her parents eating non-healthy food, then they will learn not to like healthy foods. Believe me, it will be difficult to override all the bad habits that the little one may have already developed but as the previous poster stated, try a garden. I think that's a wonderful idea and this will allow more bonding between you both. Good luck!

Answer 5

i have a 7 year old who is a very pick eater he has tactile issues in his mouth . that is were different food textures will make him gag. i listen to all the experts and i tried what they said then i did it my way. i put a teaspoon of veggies on his plate first and told him to eat them before he could get any thing else then i told him he could do what ever he needed to do to eat them. (putting ranch or ketcup on them) and some times i had to help him but he eat them then i went up to a tablespoon,now he will eat with a little protest a kids size veggie. and i am happy. oh yeah we go down the veggie and fruit isle and i tell my kids to pick out there veggie and fruit that they want for the week and i pick out mine and one new one to try. then they each get a day to eat the one they want , and that day is easier then the others.

Answer 6

At 4, your child is old enough to try new things and be able to reason with. He doesn't need the bribe of something he likes before or after. Give him a piece of broccoli and tell him he gets nothing until that broccoli is finished. If he won't eat it for breakfast, that's what he gets for snacks. If he won't eat it for that, he gets it for lunch, etc. I can guarantee he'll eat it eventually, you just can't back down. Just be prepared to make him a HUGE plate of chicken nuggets at the snap of a finger! It takes 60 consistent tries for kids to like new foods. Don't back down and make him eat the stuff. At this point, it's not even a matter of him not liking things, as not wanting to try them.

Answer 7

You can throw a jar of baby-food sweet potatoes or butternut squash into just about anything. I put a jar in every homemade dessert, stew, casserole, soup, chili, just about anything including apple cake, brownies, oatmeal cookies... Nobody notices and you add fiber and vitamins. And see if he'll eat plain salad without the dressing - my son was very picky but he'll devour raw vegetables if I just leave them alone.

Answer 8

be careful if you go with the top answer. my step mum tried the same trick with me as a kid, cause i was an extremely fussy eater as well, but i absolutely refused to eat it. she told me, you dont get anything else until you eat this. i was so stubborn, i didnt eat for the entire weekend i was at their house, and at the end of sunday i passed out from hunger and fell over, hitting my head, and i needed to get stitches. needless to say, if you have a stubborn one, this wont necessarily work!!!

what got me to try new things was helping my mum prepare the dinner. that got me more interested. also, try getting him to do some gardening with you - it fascinates them that they can grow the food and then eat it when it is ready.

Answer 9

Have you tried Spinach Quiche?
How about stuffed mushrooms with some bacon crumbles?
Omelets with mushrooms or peppers?
Does he eat applesauce?
How about black beans with peppers?
Have you tried wraps and/or burritos, where you wrap (ie "hide") the food in the middle?
How about in stews? Casseroles?

Do you let him cook with you? Some kids take such pride in cooking that they then eat the results.

PS: I also agree with the poster above me. That's what my mom did with us! And any kid who eats cous cous should be able to eat some corn!

Answer 10

get vitamins and make surehe takes them every day. just dont' make him eat stuff he does not liek. eventaully he will eat stuff you jsut have to take it one day at a time. some kids will eat and try everything and some won't it is not a fight for supper or whatever its houdl be pleasatn and they do grow up and work out stuff themselves. you just try and spread their tasts but if they dont' just try and go on that is all i would suggest.