Picky Eater Did So Well and Now ...

The timing is about right. I always laugh when parents of toddlers talk about how their kids will eat just about anything. That's because they're toddlers. Wait until they are 3 or 4 yo and see what they eat then. That's when they get really picky.

Don't give up. Keep providing different foods. Keep it simple. As a kid, I didn't like any sauces (didn't really even eat much ketchup). My kids now eat most everything plain, especially veggies. We pretty much just steam them and maybe add salt. Chances are if he is still eating broccoli, he will probably continue.

You did a great job getting him over the hump of eating. Now he has a real opinion, and you do have to respect it a bit.

However, you don't want his health to suffer, so I think that you should use several means of getting through this.

Jerry Seinfeld's wife wrote a book about making food that kids like to eat by putting veggies in the foods that the kids didn't know about. Many people think that this shouldn't have to be done, but I think it's okay as a gap between when they are little and when they are older. Take a look at that and see if you can use those recipes.

It is perfectly fine to withhold something if he is not willing to eat a few bites of a food. You can say to him "Well, you don't have to eat the green beans, but if you don't, there are no strawberries for you at the end of the meal. Say it once and don't show the strawberries at the table. It is then HIS choice whether to eat two bites of green beans, or give up having strrawberries. NEVER give in and give to him what you have said he cannot have if you tell him this, though.

I would not expect him to eat sauces and condiments, mom. Most kids don't. As far as lettuce goes, try making a really cool salad. Put things he likes in it. Grapes, nuts, whatever. Put it on YOUR plate. If he says he wants something that's in it, tell him fine, but he has to eat the lettuce too, or he can't have it. In other words, he is not allowed to pick the good stuff out. My own son wouldn't eat salad unless it was on MY plate. Then he would want to pick at my salad. I used reverse psychology on him and acted like I didn't want him eating MY food. He loves salad as a teenager now...

You can also get a bit sneaky and only cook green pasta for a couple of months. Of course, it tastes no different from the other pasta. But he will finally want to eat pasta and when he does taste it, he will "get" that green doesn't mean bad. There are "wagon wheel" pastas that are multi-colored. I'd try that too.

If you start making more dishes that have all kinds of color in them, he will eventually eat them. You have a lot of time, too. And lots of kids finally get more refined palates when they are older - like mushrooms, that kind of thing.

Good luck!

My daughter is not a sauce person either. It's pasta and cheese for my girl. I just serve up her pasta first before I add the sauce, no big deal. She's also not a fan of cooked veggies. Raw veg she'll nom, but if it's cooked and squishy, nope. No big, as I'm cutting the veggies I leave a bit raw for her.

The few examples you gave are easy to get around, just give the boy a burger pattie without the extra. Get his pasta from the big pot first before you add the mushrooms/spinach.

If I make something that can't easily be portioned out for her liking and I know she'll fuss, we have a rule. She must take 6 good bites of it before she can leave the table (she is 6 now, at 7 the number of bites will go up as well). If she eats all of it she can have a dessert/treat.

Good luck.

Just keep offering him the foods you want him to eat. My guy was picky as a baby, and has slowly grown into better eating habits. I make his chicken nuggets or tenders, sweet potato fries, make yummy cheese sauce for his veggies, give him dip with his raw veggies or blend them into smoothies, (spinach and kale work well) and ask that he take two bites of everything. Desserts are mostly fruit. He hated bananas as a baby and toddler, started trying them at preschool and will eat them slowly now, he hates the texture. He dislikes apple peel for the same reason, or applesauce, but will happily eat a peeled apple, seeds and all tonight...

Be patient, don't make too big a fuss, be matter of fact. "This is what's for dinner" never, "What would you like?" ;) And as he gets older involve him in helping fix meals, for some reason time invested in preparation increases desire to partake. My guy is 4 and has surprised me by eating, or at least trying, something he helped with, if even just placing it in a bowl was all he did.

And do check this out, on feeding a picky child - there's recipes on the site, too, I've used it many times :)
http://www.wholesometoddlerfood.com/pickyeater.htm

Hang in there!

My kids like everything plain and separate. It bugged me, but I realized they are eating healthier. They eat no gravies, sauces, condiments, dressings, most of which are full of sugar, fat or salt. When they eat a burger it is just meat, cheese and bun. They like veggies plain, and one of them only eats them raw. They like meat plain. As for cooking I can either cook plain food without the sauces, which is healthier for my husband and I as well, or I can make a casserole, but keep some of the ingredients out for the kids.

I make sure that half of what is on their plates is stuff they like or love. I only offer one meal up to everyone every night, so if they don't eat it, they go to bed hungry. If we make something really out of the ordinary, I will offer the kids a piece of fruit, but they have fruit with dinner most nights anyway.

But my kids eat everything, and i think it's because they don't get a lot of options. My 3 year son has recently stopped eating everything in sight. I remember my daughter doing this. We don't discuss it. If you don't like something, push it aside. My daughter eats everything again. I'm sure my son will do the same thing. i think it has something to do with the bossy tendencies of 3 year olds.

Your expectations are what is causing you frustration, not his picky eating. When you stick with the thought, "I really want him to be eating everything and not be so picky." You are arguing with reality and you will lose every time. Instead, see what is - he is a picky eater - and then make your decisions from that. For example, if my kids didn't like what was for dinner they simply got a sandwich. You can eliminate sauces and be cautious about cooked vegetables and their textures when they are cooked.

He is only three. He isn't purposely doing this to annoy you or to cause problems. He really truly is having an issue that he has no real control over. Understand that his brain is not yet wired for abstract thinking and "these foods are good for you" and "you need these foods to be healthy" are abstract ideas that he cannot process.

Pick your battles. If he simply prefers simple foods what exactly is the problem? Is he healthy and strong? Does he like at least a couple of vegetables? The issue really is that he doesn't like certain flavors and textures. Forcing him to eat those things will only create major issues between you guys and between him and food.

I recommend that you get curious about what you are believing he "should" do. Question your beliefs and see if they are founded in reality or in how you wish the world really was. Arguing with reality only causes suffering.

Why does he need to eat everything on his plate? You have tastes and preferences, and he does as well - and they may not be the same as yours. You can't decide what he likes. If he's eating healthy food, you don't need to worry. Many kids don't like sauces and have textural issues. He doesn't need sauce, that's not where his nutrients are coming from. The best that you can do is make a variety of healthy foods available and let him choose what and how much to eat. Also, if my child spit anything out at the table, they would be put to bed immediately. Allow him to say, "No thank you," or "I don't care for that" but spitting isn't acceptable. Good luck

My daughter used to be like this. She was a very picky eater. But, then when she was about 2.5 or 3 (shes now 5), I started telling her that she at least had to try whatever the food was. I started doing little rewards for her if she tried, and most of the time, she found that even though she didnt like the way it looked, she liked the way it tasted. Thankfully, my son who is always 3 is not like that. He will eat anything.

I hope you find something that works for your son soon. Maybe trying a reward system if he tries the food will help.

What he's doing is perfectly normal. If he wants to eat a dry hamburger (no bun or condiments), let him. It's really not a big deal. We ask our kids each time whether or not they want a bun.

We try not to make food a battle at all, except for veggies. We usually require a certain number of bites of whatever veggies or fruit are on their plate.

I think part of this is really about control. He needs to be able to have some control over his world. He might be rejecting some of the food on his plate simply because you are trying to give him a plate and tell him he has to eat all of it - no options. I suggest allowing some wiggle room so that he feels that he has some say so in what he eats.

I kinda think it's pretty normal too. I think sometimes I get frustrated b/c I like something so much and I am just convinced that my kids will like it if they would only TRY it! :) But, alas, that isn't usually how it goes!

My 5.5 y/o will still pick bits of herbs off her pasta or veggies. It drives me nuts on the inside but I generally try and let it go. My kids also don't really like sauces very much.

I think that if you focus on him eating the basics like the meat part of the burger and veggies that he likes, then I would let him pick out the other stuff. Try and cook at least one thing every night that you know he likes and let the other stuff go. But, I do agree that you should continue offering him the other foods. He will eventually try at least one or some of them as long as you don't make it a battle of wills.

Good luck.

Just offer healthy food. If he doesn't like lettuce or condiments on his burger don't put it on.