My 3 years old daughter hates healthy food. Please help.?

Question

I have a 3 year old vegetarian daughter who loves to eat chips, chocolates, candies, cheese, all junk food except fruits and vegetables. Earlier I had energy. I used to sit and feed her but now I have another 3 months old daughter so getting tough on me. Please suggest some ways that she can eat healthy food on her own with interest. I have tried everything( not giving her junk food, she will not eat the whole day, remains hungry). So please suggest me ways that she can eat. some healthy, vegetarian and quick recipes will also help.

Thanks!

Answer 1

grate up some carrot and add a tiny bit of grated cheese to it - I loved that as a kid.

also, try making the food fun, like making smily face vegie pizza, cutting up vegie sticks and fruit cubes

if you feed her macaroni cheese, add a vegie face on top.

or for a last resort, tell her she doesnt get any 'yummy' food until shes eaten her vegies

Vegetables are more important than fruit. Although both are part of a healthy diet.

Does she like sultanas??

introduce the vegies slowly, dont force her to eat a heap of them straight away, add small amounts. then slowly increase the amount (so she doesnt notice)

and I like what "watching in westminister" said, get a blender/magic bullet or something simular and finely grate up the vegies - she wont notice.

but dont just let her fill up on things like potato, as I'm sure you're aware she needs lots of green leafy foods.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I would take her to a doctor. Especially if you think that she is underweight. If she weighs less than 25 pounds she is underweight. Cutting back the milk is a good idea, but if she's not getting enough calories then you want her to get them any way she can. I would suggest replacing at least some of the milk with Pediasure. At least that way she will be getting the proper nutrients. My daughter was the same way when she was little. There really is no way to force her to eat (as I'm sure you ahve already found). My daughter stopped gaining weight when she was 2 1/2 and she eventually had to have a feeding tube. They gave her peidsure through the tube. We could not get her to drink it at all. People will tell you that kids won't starve themselves and they will eventually eat, but there is a small percentage of kids that won't and all the punishments and rewards will not change that. They were never really able to find a physical reason that my daughter didn't eat, but the doctors told us that for a small percentage of children they recognize the signs of hunger as pain and therefore they won't eat because their stomach hurts. Once we were able to get some weight on her she did start eating better and she was able to have the feeding tube removed. If you daughter will drink milk then maybe she will go for the pediasure, but I would take her to the doctor and have her checked out. In the meantime, let her eat anything that she will eat. If she'll eat toast or crackers then just let her eat it and don't worry about trying to get her to eat a variety, right now you just need to get her to eat anything. If she won't go for the pediasur then you should try to give her a vitamin supplement. The peidasure would be better though because it has calories. Good luck, I hope that she starts eating better. I know how frustrating it can be and people who have never dealt with it really just don't understand.

Answer 4

My boyfriend's son has issues with food because his mother allows him to eat whatever he pleases. (he's 2 1/2) He used to want candy all the time and pop too, but we do not give him any of these things. We give him granola, raisins (really likes yogurt covered raisins...he says they are footballs...lol), apples, and other healthy snacks. For meals, he eats whatever his father and I are eating. Usually the standard meat, potatoes and veggies type meal. Oh and he loves mac and cheese and hot dogs (what kid doesn't?).

I guess the point is that you DO NOT give the child a choice. YOU are the adult and you should not allow a 3 year old to beat you. If you let them walk all over you now, you will have big trouble when they get older.

When I was a kid, if I didn't want to eat what my dad cooked, my plate would be put in the refrigerator. If I got hungry later, I had my plate that I could re-heat. Sooner or later, I would get hungry and ask for my plate.

If she insists on not eating, you may have to take her to a doctor.

Answer 5

I personally would never "make deals" with my children in regards to eating. The 1st thing I would do is get rid of ALL junk food in the house, period. It may be difficult, especially on the adults or others around who may like it but you have to be strong! 2nd. start cooking meals that incorporate many different colors, textures and food groups. Don't let food become an issue. Children at that age want and need some sort of control and this is their way of being in control. You really should try to shift that control in a positive way! Have her help you select meals. Make a weekly menu. Let her help you shop for the items and prepare the meals. When sitting down for dinner, let her know that she does not have to eat anything, but she will not be getting anything else until breakfast unless she does eat, and then don't say anything else. Just start eating! Believe me, you may go several weeks with screaming, crying, running away from the table, etc.. but if you stay strong, you will soon see a change! I know from experience- our 1st child was one of the most pickiest eaters (our fault!) and once we had our 2nd, I tried this technique and it really worked! It is exhausting at 1st and a very long process, but you will definitely be rewarded! Just don't cave in and don't let food be the issue. Once she is eating a wide variety, then you can gradually re-introduce not so healthy foods again, but in extreme moderation! Good luck.

Answer 6

Don't forget that you are in control here. She is only three years old. You do the shopping, cooking and serving. If you offer her something that she doesn't like, and she refuses to eat it because she wants cookies and junk food, you tell her that no, honey, this is what is for lunch today. She will eat when she is hungry - even if she goes all day without eating - she WILL eat after she realizes you aren't going to cave in. This sounds like something you want to get under control before any more time goes by - it will only get harder and lead her to a lifetime of poor eating habits.
My 2 1/2 yr old son doesn't have an entirely wide vocabulary when it comes to food but he definately likes to ask for cookies. If it is snack time and he wants a snack he'll ask for a cookie. I'll tell him we are going to have a banana or pineapple, not a cookie. Once in a while he puts up a little fuss, but usually forgets about it after he starts eating his fruit - because he knows that when I say no, it's fruit - that means no, it's fruit.
Also, if you don't keep the junk food in the house, she cant eat it. Good Luck.

Answer 7

She'll eat when she's hungry. Just keep her plate at the table or in the fridge so that it's ready for her when she decides to eat. Keep healthy snacks on had such as veggie chips, peanut butter*, yogurt etc. Make sure you give her a multi vitamin every day.

* peanut butter can be put on crackers or toast or even apples.

Make "ants on a log" by spreading peanut butter on celery with raisin "ants".

Good luck...my 3 year old niece won't eat fruits or veggies. My brother and sister-in-law have to force her to try new things!

Answer 8

I agree with the people who say go ahead and put some butter or cheese on or give dip with the veggies. Which is better -- to give a few extra calories a 3 year old will burn off anyway or leave her anemic? Also cook veggies well done. Most kids just don't like cooked veggies still crunchy or hard. I used to play a game with my toddler. I would say something like "Oh nooo- don't eat that good stuff, it will make you too big and strong for me to handle!" Of coarse he would start forking the food in his mouth in just to "upset" me. Cheesy yes, but it works on kids that age.

Answer 9

try the dips and cheese and butter but bottom line is that she WILL eat when she gets hungry enough. Don't give in. . maybe she will eat very little for a few days, and thats very hard but she will eat. Give her a good meal before bed, maybe cereal, most kids like cereal, and it's pretty healthy. other than that, offer her a meal with a variety & if she doesn't eat it then she doesn't eat.

Answer 10

Pearl's answer is right. I have a three year old son who woudn't eat anything but cereals, crackers, hotdog, meatloaf, meatballs and canned foods, but despite of that, we still offer him healthy foods, veggies, fruits and meats and etc... we even let him try it once and if he doesn't like it, that's fine. That worked for us. Now he is eating veggies and fruits and he even fish. His favorite now is pumpkin pie and sweet potato casserole. He likes the broccoli cooked and soft, he doesn't like half cooked veggies. When children said they are hungry, they eat anything you give them; and when full, do not force them to finish their the foods on their plate.