So, my youngest is a picky eater. He is 4 years old. I know I'm not the only mom out there who has this problem with their little angel!
So, what did you guys do about this problem? Do you have any suggestions? Did it work itself out?
I'm at a loss and I spend a small fortune buying food I think he'll like or he says he'll eat.
Help! :)
If I cook something that I know my kids eat, I make them eat it. If I cook something new, I make them try it. By try it, I mean they have to take 3 normal size bites. If they don't like it, then they can make them some noodles or a something else they they know how to make. Being that you child is 4 (and I have been there too) when he gets hungry, he will eat. He knows the game mama. Funny how at such young ages they figure out how to play us parents for fools sometimes. In the mean time, cut out all snacks. It worked for me. Hope you get it all worked out.
ReplyDeleteI agree with tattoedtrailertrash - your little one will eat when he's hungry. I always make my kids try what we're having and if they don't like it, they can have something else, but I don't cook two meals. That can get exhausting. I've found with my two kids that they get into phases where they like a certain food and then all of a sudden they hate it. So I work it with that food until they burn out on it. As long as they're eating, I'm happy. If my youngest just wants turkey and fritos, I get a pound of turkey and a bag of fritos and it's turkey and fritos til he can't turkey and frito no mo. ;) Good luck Mama! :)
ReplyDeleteThe first two comments are pretty on target with my thinking. I have a 4 year old. I try to give her two choices for breakfast and lunch. I make sure she knows that those are her only choices. When it comes to dinner, I try to cook meals that we all will enjoy. If she only takes a few bites, I may offer her a PB&J sandwich to make sure she gets full. This works well for us. Kids that young should not be given a wide range of options. By giving them a couple choices, they learn decision-making skills but also they are less likely to be able to manipulate the parent into getting what they want.
ReplyDeleteYup - my son who is 3 1/2 has decided to say he doesn't like things because he doesn't want to take the time to eat it. If I know its something he should eat I leave his plate until bedtime. Funny how often I say its time for bed and he runs over and snarfs whatever is on the plate... If its something I know he probably won't like (he hates spinach and will figure out if there is spinach IN something) then I'll offer a PBJ or a couple pieces of lunch meat with sliced cheese. My daughter is almost 9 and she was the same way - if she was in a MOOD she would (and still does) say she doesn't like something just to be difficult. Funny how often they'll go ahead and eat it and later admit it was good if there is dessert or Flavor-Ice involved...
ReplyDeleteI don't make two meals either. When my daughter decides that she's not going to eat I make sure not to give her any snacks in between meals. Eventually she will be hungry enough to eat the meal I prepared. I learned that giving her snacks was allowing her to fill up before meals. Now she only gets snacks if she's eaten some of her meal. When he gets hungry he will eat.
ReplyDeleteyup! Looks like you're getting good advice. As with my 4 year old, he has to eat what I give him. If he is adamant about not having it, I offer him a banana later (he loves bananas!), but that's it!
ReplyDeleteI have that problem but mostly with my oldest who is 9. The rule in our house is you either eat what we make or you don't eat. For instance DD1 doesn't like mashed potatoes (crazy) so she doesn't have to eat that but has to eat whatever else is on the plate. Either way you eat or go hungry because I refuse to make special meals. BTW love your blog, glad I found it. :)
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