So, can we talk about food and toddlers?

pea-kay

I really really try not to stress about how the boys are eating. But let's face it, when they're getting to be picky, it's hard not to. I know they eat better at daycare, so I know they're getting some nutrition. I only feed them dinner during the week, so at least I don't have too much to worry about.

So here's what they will eat. At least as of yesterday. And when I say "they", I mean at least one of them. Which is where it gets frustrating. I can't make three different meals, and I never know if they're going to like hot dogs or meatballs today. Maybe they will, maybe they won't. So I'm hesitant to make anything that takes more than a few minutes to prepare, because what if it all goes to waste?

- turkey deli meat
- shredded cheddar cheese (ONLY shredded. i tried to give them cubes and they tossed them overboard)
- kix cereal
- goldfish
- ritz crackers
- applesauce
- grapes, cut in quarters
- rice dishes (not plain, but jambalaya, stuff like that)
- meatballs
- hot dogs
- corn and peas (only at daycare. you don't want to know how i know. but you know.)
- pizza
- cous cous
- oatmeal
- scrambled eggs
- cupcakes
- roasted chicken
- homemade, oven fried fish nuggets
- french fries
- sweet potatoes
- yogurt
- blueberries

(which, looks like a great list, doesn't it? but i never know if they'll hate these things on any particular day.)

here's what they won't eat
- green beans
- broccoli
- any f'ing vegetable, really
- cubed cheese
- bread (this includes toast with butter)
- almond butter
- pasta
- potatoes (possibly mashed)
- quiche
- chicken nuggets
- fish sticks

Shoot. I don't know the point of this post. I guess it's frustrating that there's nothing they consistently like, day to day. And they don't like the easy, healthy things. Forget sandwiches or toast or pasta. Or vegetables. Or most fruits.

Any ideas? Maybe I'm overlooking some foods?

Or should I just forge ahead?  It's not like they're waking up hungry ever, and they drink plenty of milk.

pea-kay

other things they won't eat (just remembered)

- grilled cheese sandwiches (WTF, kids?!?!?!)
- mozzarella cheese (i.e., string cheese)
- carrots
- ravioli (i know i said pasta already, but even fun pasta they won't eat)
- beans (unless they're in a rice dish, maybe)

MrsARC1105

I know it sucks and it irks me to no end, but I would keep offering them something that you know they like and something from the dislike list.  I HATEEEEEEEEEEEE wasting food but it is a necessity so you can help expand their like list.

Ashlyn hates grilled cheese, three days ago she loved it.  I still made grilled cheese for lunch yesterday and served it along with fruits crisps, something I know she likes.  She had a bit of grilled cheese and just chowed down on the fruit.  

You should look at how they eat on a weekly basis, not daily.  Somedays my girls barely eat but I know they are getting everything they need/want when I look at what they've eaten in a week. 

gingergrl

It's a tough age for food.  I have one pickier eater, one good eater - so then my concern becomes is she eating TOO much, or too much fattening foods.  I spend so long with the preemie mentality that i needed to fatten them up, put extra butter on things, more cheese on top, etc. that i think i did TOO good a job.  Now they love things like butter and cheese and dont like veggies and beans and healthier foods.  I have such weight issues i would hate to pass that on.

My only advice is to keep giving it to them, the stuff they dont like.  They won't starve and it really is true that one day, and it may be the 20th time you gave it to them, they suddenly will start eating the pasta/grilled cheese, whatver.  It sucks to throw away so much food but i think in the end it's worth it. 

Also, do they like to dip stuff?  I find if i give my girls somethign to dip whatever it is they don't like into they're more likely to eat it.  Such as a little salad dressing with their green beans or ketchup with their chicken.  And vice versa - i give them a few corn chips with things like taco meat (lightly seasoned) or even creamed spinach and tell them it's a dip.  Helps to get at least a little into them.

Baltibride

Anything is made better with "dippy" in my house.  Lots of things can qualify as dippy.  Last night, when I got home from work as a pre-dinner snack my girls and I ate hummus and pita chip.  The hummus was the dippy.  They love guac and whole wheat tortilla chips.  We had buffalo chicken soup for dinner the other night and the girls loved dipping whole wheat tortillas with blue cheese on them into the soup. 

I have also purchased a number of cookbooks and tried various recipes.  Last night, as a complete suprise they ate a salad that had pasta, basil, white beans and feta cheese with a olive oil,dijon mustard and vinegar dressing.  One of my girls is a pickier eater than the other...but generally when one thinks something is good, they will both eat most of it.

 

TripMomma

This makes me feel bad...I haven't been brave enough to let them try a lot of the stuff on your list. I am so scared the will choke, what we do let them have I cut up into very small pieces. When did you start letting them try this stuff and do you cut it up?

PianoPlayingSarah

I want to agree with the dippy.  It took awhile for my girls to really eat chicken fingers.  We buy the the chicken dinos and made it into a game of biting the heads off, then the legs, etc.  We also do those tator tots shaped liked letters.  Ketchup, apple sauce and yogurt for dippy.

 

mmbench

You know how I got my kids to eat green beans?  I would toss them up in the air and catch them in my mouth.  Then they would attempt the same thing.  Luckily they wouldn't toss it, but rather hold it up high over their mouth and drop it in.

cands

My girls will always eat fruit, veggies, and goldfish crackers, but try to get them to eat any sort of protein is a battle, they hate just about every type of meat we've tried.  Even chicken fingers are rarely accepted. Sarah likes string cheese, but most of the time Madeline won't eat any of that.

kyluvsaj

Have you tried to "sourthernize" your veggies?  Mine were getting picky about green beans and when my MIL came down she started serving them her way.

She would cook them for a few minutes with turkey bacon and Mrs. Dash and now they split an entire can in one meal!