Healthy dinner and snack ideas for my extremely picky 15month old please?

Question

He does not like sweet potatoes, potatoes, spaghetti, any pasta, omelettes, crackers, most meat except meat balls and absolutely no pureed stuff and so many more things... I am almost going insane, I need other ideas. The only things he seems to like is canned ravioli (not the ones I make at home) those canned ones are not that good because they are too high in sodium and he also likes fruits. Although fruits are good for him, it's not good enough to get all his nutritions. His doc started giving him supplements because he stopped growing since a while back, but still I want to keep trying to feed him other things or re-introduce the foods he hates by giving them different flavors and shapes. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Ants on a Log
Fill celery sticks with cream cheese or peanut butter and sprinkle with raisons.

Answer 2

Try sneaking some of the stuff he doesn't like into the stuff he does. For example, shred some carrots, cook them until they are very soft and mix a teaspoon in the ravioli sauce. You really can't taste them, and he will still get the vitamins.

You can also mix a tiny bit of mashed potatoes or brocolli cooked soft into his meat balls. Use low fat hamburger, and whole wheat bread to make the meatballs if possible.

Answer 3

spread some peanut butter on a cracker. Then maybe he'd like the cracker.
Also...my mom used to run a daycare and some of the kids were so picky, but if you drisseled some ranch dressing on some veggies they'd eat it right up.
Try making him stir fried tofu. The pure protien is excellent.
Try preparing things differenty...maybe he doesn't like the kinda sauce you are using on your speghetti.
Yogurt is good and healthy. Try mixing some yogurt with some oatmeal or hot cereal and then he can get some protien and iron.
Beans are another good source of protien if he is picky about meat.
How about making him some lentil soup or stew.
If he likes cheese, try melting it on top of his veggies.

Answer 4

I have recently got this one from my mother in law for my 19 month old. Italian Green beans in the can, drain the water all out put them in the frying pan, sprinkle with pepper and salt, with a smidgen of butter and cook on medium heat until they get solid for easily handling (somewhat dried out) about 20 minutes. Try making cheesy mashed potatoes and grits. There is also instant oatmeal with all the different flavors. My son loves waffles with cinnamon. Mine is getting at that age where he prefers to feed himself so me and her are always thinking of the things we can make into finger foods. Oh, Chicken Pot Pies are good too.
Hope it helps. Sara

Answer 5

From experience: do not stress over this issue. The child is still alive and kicking, is he not? As you try new or different foods, take it easy and love him into it. The last thing that you want to do is to make a big deal of it in his presence. That will turn his little tummy into knots and no good will ever come of it.

What is my experience? I was the super picky eater. I remained that way no matter how much my father berated me, insulted me, etcetera. I was a child, not a soldier.

Eventually, I was loved into trying new foods by caring women whom I courted. Eventually, I came to learn to love many foods... but I still don't eat my vegetables... or fruits... but I am still alive and kickin' and 52 years old. I'm not perfect but I'm okay.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

you say he likes meatballs, my kids love burgers, which I make myself, I put loads of veg in processor with meat and make in to burgers, they love them, you could try this with the meatballs.

does he sit in an highchair, if so have you tried lots of finger foods for him to try.

I think you can get tinned ravioli with reduced salt,

does he eat yoghurt, if so you could chop fruit up and put it in to give it texture, as he does not like puree type food

My now 16 year old went through this at 18 months old, he would only eat tinned spaghetti on toast, he now eats anything. it took a few months to get him to eat other things, but I kept on just introducing other foods.

does he feed himself, this might help.

hope he starts eating better for you soon, children worry us so much, just when we give up hope they surprise us!

Answer 8

Firstly consider going back to formula, or if you have recently weaned and it is possible go back to breastfeeding. Also not gaining weight isn't a huge deal unless he is underweight for his height. My son hasn't gained weight in a LONG time. He was 20lbs at 4 months, 26 lbs at 8 months, and he is now 19 months and weighs 27lbs *lol*. He is starting to be a little towards skinny but still a chunky baby he is growing taller and meeting milestones though.

You are really going to have to just keep trying things. And don't necessarily skip spices. Studies show breastfed babies drink more milk after mom consumes garlic -it works for broccoli too.

But here are some other ideas:
*Does he like pickles? Try pickled beets very nutritious.
*You can puree cooked lentils and put them in baked goods such as muffins for added protein and fiber. There are of course grains that are higher in nutrition and protein than wheat. Look for some recipes. Also don't forget you can grate carrots, zucchini, apples into baked goods.
*Look outside North American cuisine. There are so many other cuisines out there that tend to be healthier. Indian foods are very high in veggies but they are hidden in colourful and flavourful sauces -but still generally low in fat. Asian foods are also high in vegetables. African, mexican etc (tomatoes are so healthy)
*Try things wrapped in things: spring rolls, fresh rolls (thai rice paper wrapped veggies), samosas can hide meat or veg)
*Dips are always good. Hummus, tahini (extremely high in calcium), salsa, guacamole, yogurt (flavoured -even chocolate). You can even make a *relatively* healthy caramel sauce by boiling condensed milk in the can (*lol* seriously).

Answer 9

Children will never starve themselves to death so take a deep breath. Try making him a plate with a variety of foods. Have him watch and help if he can. if he does not want it leave it on the table, watch, he will come back later when you are not looking.

Answer 10

anytime you let a little kid get picky about the food they eat your seting your self up for a big problem.
If the kid dose not eat what you give it dont give it anything else.
In a day or 2 theyll figure it out and eat .