Picky Eater....

I agree with the other 2 responses. My kitchen is not a buffet line. You eat what I cook or don't eat at all. I rarely cook just one item, so fine if you don't like salad, but there is meatloaf, peas, corn and rolls to choose from. And I don't allow one person to eat all 8 rolls (I make enough for 2 servings of each item for each person at the table that way if you skip the corn you can have a double portion of peas, but you aren't eating 8 servings of peas and none for anyone else just because you don't want corn, rolls, meatloaf or salad.)My kids are 9 and 10 and they know it's eat or go hungry until the next meal.

I would stop catering to your baby, I know it seems like he won't eat anything but really they will eat what you cook if they are hungry, it is hard in the begining cause it seems like they will starve but they won't, having said that some of this is a phase, and all of mine have gone through it, one thing I do is offer one thing I know they like plus whatever is for dinner, I give them a small amount of all choices first, they almost always eat what they like first then ask for more but here is the trick I use, they can't have more of what they like until they take 2 bites of everything else, at first they throw a fit but I stand firm and give them nothing else, by the second or third day they learn I am not going to back down and will try there other foods, It does work, my kids will eat just about anything know, that doesn't mean there aren't foods they don't like but they do have good eating habits. So just keep offering foods you know he likes but also offer the other foods.

let him help choose the main course or other foods now and then. also, you can try to make healthy pizzas. raw vegis and fruit are good too.

my kids do this sometimes too. they are more likely to eat something they can identify. if i can, i separate the ingredients on their plates (ie: not mixing rice with beans, individually placed veggies with dressing for dipping rather than a salad with everything mixed together), make faces on the plate with the food, let them choose the foods, etc. it's a lot easier to do at lunch time because i can easily get something else to eat myself. but at dinner when i want to make a meal of mixed ingredients for everyone to eat, i put small portions of the main dish on their plate along with a pile of fruit, a pile of veggies, etc. so they still have identifiable choices. if they look at the main dish funny or don't start eating it, i tell them the ingredients, pointing them out if necessary, and offer a dessert if they eat it all. even juice, soda, or extra servings of fruit count as desserts for them so it usually works. good luck!

Let him get hungry. Kids brains are programed for survival...when they get hungry they will eat whatever you give them.

I recently asked our Dr about this, because my 2 yr old just doesn't eat. He told me tobuy some vitamins for her so that she is still getting some. My 4 yr old is very picky. So we have resorted to doing what my parents did and what my siblings do. Our dr seemed fine with this approach. I fix one meal. I tellthe kids, "This is your breakfast, luch, dinner. This is what you will eat. You will not get anything else to eat until you eat this or until the next meal." Then I stick to it. They get no snacks, fruit, etc. Until they take at least so 2-4 bites of everything served or until the next meal. Sometimes they do miss a meal, but if and when thy are hungary enough, they will eat it. They usually discover that it tastes good and end up liking it. There are some exceptions. Like when we have peas, the texture makes my kids vomit, they love the taste. They also do not have to eat anything that we won't eat. My siblings kids will eat almost anything now, the started out picky. We are still working on ours. My husband has a hard living by this rule, so I often have to start over. I know it sounds mean and harsh, but they do get the point. Good luck.

Hi, I have a son who is the same way. We are slowly getting him to eat more things but he will not eat mixed food. So when I make dinner before I combine the ingredients I leave them all seperate. Like with spagetti he just has plain noodles and plain bread while the rest of us have sauce. Also we have a chart and once a week he has to try a new food and if he tries it and doesn't spit it out he gets a sticker that leads to a prize. He is now six and his list of foods he eats and much longer. He also will usually try things without a fight now. It has been work but it has been worth it.

If you cook "to order" now, you will be expected to have a menu to please everyone forever! Stick to your guns- you cook one meal- they will eat or go to bed hungry! They will quickly figure out that they will eat or go hungry til the next meal.

A lot of this is a control issue I firmly believe. It is a way of manipulating you to do what he wants you to do.
You have to be the one in charge, not him. He will figure out that he actually does like these foods just fine. If not, he won't let himself starve- he will eat when he gets hungry.
Don't offer a menu, and like the other girl says "My kitchen is not a buffet line- you eat what I cook or you don't eat!"

I have picky eaters too and it can be such a stress at meal time. They get to pick what they want for breakfast and lunch (of course it needs to be healthy and they are given options) but dinner I make and that's what the need to eat. I started something last year where they must take three bites and if they still decide they don't like it then I will make them a peanut butter sandwich. Sometimes they opt for the sandwich, sometimes they like it after three bites and eat. But I've had them even frown upon the sandwich and leave the table without eating. I never force my kids to eat. My parents did that to me and I would sit at the table for hours after dinner and I remember just not wanting to eat because not only did it not look good to me but I wasn't hungry for it. If they are hungry enough they will eat. My kids always surprise me and change their minds about what they like. On occasion I make a special treat and they have to eat all their dinner--that helps too. Another thing I tried is cutting their dinner into pieces and giving them a toothpick to eat with, to poke into their chicken pieces, etc. Of course keep an eye on them but the change is fun for them and usually they eat everything. I agree that it sounds like you are doing the best you can, and giving them a multi-vitamin every day is also a great idea. Good luck!

I love the book by Ellyn Sater called Child of Mine: Feeding with Love and Good Sense. She also has a recipe book called Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family. Give those a try.

Sounds like you are doing everything right. A picky eater is normal. I have two cookbooks --- The Sneaky Chef and Deceptively Delicious. I would keep trying different things and make it fun for him. There are two approaches here: (1)Don't make it a control issue and give him choices. (2)You get what you get and don't throw a fit. Find what works for your family. Good luck. I've had the same problems with both sons. When they're young I chose option #1. Once my oldest became school age I started practicing option #2.

Rachael Ray has some great recipes for kids. You might even get him to help you prepare the food (something simple) It could intise him to want to eat more if he took part in the preparation.

C.
www.AHomeCareer.com

My daughter loves fruit, any and all, and I give her as much as she'll eat. She also loves whole wheat pancakes (Krustez mix, wheat and honey) with blueberries in them. Veggies are a little harder, but I just make sure she has a little every day and then I don't worry about it. I'm trying to get her to gain weight, so we're mostly on bologna and hot dogs, but that's my two cents.