Child only eat 6 certain foods, and the day care will not subsitute and we are not allowed to bring food in.?

Question

My daughter has always been a pickey eater. When she tries new things she always gag and sometimes the food come up. The only thing she eat is chicken, pizza, steak, waffles, sausage, and some fruit. I have tried to get her to try new foods but she always gag. Well I have always been worried about what will she do when she start school. She just turned 4 years old and in June I enrolled her in pre school. When she started I told her that she only eat the foods I named above. They immediatly told me that all kids are like that and once she get around the other kids and see them eating, that she will also eat. I told them that I know this is not the case because I have tried that method before. Anyways now it is October, 4 months later and they cannot believe that she will not eat noting on her plate. So she goes all day at the day care with no food because they will not substitute if it is not for allergies. Do a day care supposed to let her just not eat. What should I do?

By the way I do like the day care. I just don't like the fact that I can't bring her food and they will not substitute. I know it is not fair to the other kids if I bring her food, but it is not fair to her to watch the other kids eat every day and she sit there hungry. They tell me that she is the only one in the day care that will not eat, that's why I wish they would just substitute for her. She is very very stubborn and I knew this was going to happen when she started school

Answer 1

I agree with the fact that if she gets hungry enough she will eat. And also with the fact that maybe you have given in to easy and just let her eat few things. I know it makes you life easier trust I have one who just wants to eat cheeseburgers or grilled cheese sandwiches. But I got him to eat other things by letting him help me make the foods. Make a big deal out of it. We go through a kids cook book and he picks out the recipe and then we go to the store and by the ingredients and I give him the money and let him pay for it ( math learning). Once home we go and put on our aprons and get all of are supplies and the we measure ingredients ( again more math learning and with the kid cook books the are simple measurements) and we cook dinner. I have gotten him to eat spinach pizza, all sorts of pasta with veggies and avocado I get him to eat broccoli and I hate the stuff. But as far as the day care goes I know in the state of North Carolina they center has to make a menu and follow by it unless there is an allergy and does not have to serve a second option. And you have to realize what is going to happen to her when she goes to public school? Sounds like what she eats can get pretty expense for lech every day. Also do not cater to her at home. I know that is easier said then done but she is old enough to realize she can get her way. Again she get hungry enough she will eat. I hope some of this helps you. And wish you all the best of LUCK.

Answer 2

A lot of children are this way. I know as a child I was the same way. Try to talk to her about all these yummy foods that she is missing out on. Try cooking other things for supper not just her favorites. She will have to start eating something sometime. The day care should have her eat something at least. I don't see any problem with you supply her food for daycare. Your daughter will start eating other foods soon, it's just a stage that most go through. Good Luck!

Answer 3

It is really not healthy for your daughter to just be eating chicken, steak, pizza, sausage, and "some" fruit. She is only eating from one or two food groups! What about cheese, milk, yogurt, veggies, etc? She is not going to grow properly and get the right nutrition to fight off illnesses with this kind of diet. You need to offer her more of these foods on a consistent basis. I agree with those who said she only eats these foods because you keep providing her with them! If I could have easy access to every food I enjoyed, I would rather eat them over something else too! She will not starve herself..if she is hungry she will learn how to try new things. Try mixing sausage in like scrambled eggs or put veggies or pineapples on her pizza to help introduce new foods. Let her help you make foods and then have her try them. Maybe if she is involved in the process, she will be more willing to try. Things are not going to get any better. My kids elementary school does not allow snacks like that either. Everything is healthy eating nowadays and I think they are doing the right thing.

Answer 4

You have spoiled your daughter. You allow her to eat the things that she only likes so of course she is going to pull out the gag reflex and anything else she can do to get her way. No the day care does NOT have to induldge your child's everywhim. They do not have the time nor the faclities to make special meals just for your child. They have other children to tend to as well as your's. They do not allow parents to bring in foods because then the other parents would bring in foods and there just isn't enough space to store it all. I suggest that you stop enabling your child's attitude towards food and expect her to eat what is put in front of her. If she doesn't want to then put her to bed hungry, no snacks (even fruit) Missing a meal or two is not going to cause her to starve and it will let her know that mom is back in control rather than HER and she WILL start eating. Or you can allow her to grow up to be a spoiled and rude child who will expect everyone everywhere she goes to cater to what SHE wants to eat, at family gatherings the hostess is going to resent that fact. Stop spoiling her.

Answer 5

She should not go all day without eating. I would have tried their suggestion for a week or two but then it ends there. My daughter is tooooo picky also. It is frustrating enough at home. Then to send her to day care and have that.... It's ridiculous. She should be able to bring something in. Leave an ultimatum... She either eats what is brought or she doesn't come anymore. It may be hard on you to move her around. On the other hand she just can't, not eat. If you decide to change her day care explain all of this upfront and see how they can accomidate your daughter better. It's not about their "rules" it's about the care of your daughter.

Answer 6

Hmm,
I have a peaky eater myself and I know there are difficulties, but my best advice is teach your daughter to eat only the few things she likes that they offer her such as fruit, bread, and any other thing she enjoys in her plate. I am sure that they don't just offer Mac n Cheese and that's it. She can get the fruit next to it. Atleast she'll have something in her tummy.
But as a once peaky eater myself, she will grow out of it but you need to help her to make that change. Start feeding her things that are a bit different from what she is use to and tell her that her eating habits need to change. I know that she is your little girl, but this is an unhealthy habit that needs to change before she is in middle school and she is still wanting you to make her lunches.

Answer 7

My daughter is 3 and is going thru the same thing. The day care I send her to always offers bread with the meal and there are many days that is all she eats. I feel bad that she is hungry, but I also feel she needs to try other foods. She is stubborn and so am I. We'll see who wins.

My advice. Keep the school and have them keep trying to get her to try. If she is hungry enough... she'll give him (I hope).

good luck.

Answer 8

If you don't like it find another daycare. But honestly, she needs some discipline. She's only being stubborn because she knows mommy will break down and give her what she wants. Give her the same things her daycare gives her and she'll eat when she's hungry. Pretty soon, she'll do the same thing at daycare and you won't have to worry.

Answer 9

so all you serve at home is chicken, pizza, steak, waffles, sausage, and some fruit? that's it! sounds like you both need to broaden your menu choices. introduce new foods at home. if you keep catering to her she expects everyone else to do the same. what are you going to do when she goes to a friend's house and refuses to eat? how embarrassing. what bad manners! you need to stand your ground. she will eat when she gets hungry. and you are right to worry about what she will do when she starts to school. get this problem under control right now. 6 foods. HONESTLY!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

I think that your daughter is getting to the age where she has to finally learn to eat new foods.. it will be a hard step but that is what happens in life.
She can't go her whole life thinking she can only eat those foods. Also you cannot let her think that the world is going to accomodate her, the daycare has the food they are going to serve and she will eventually start eating it.