2 year old is chronic snacker - how to break it?

Neecy

My DS is almost 3, his eating habits are getting worse, he won't eat a meal and then 20 minutes later wants crackers or fish etc. He doesn't eat bad stuff like candy etc. Only 3 or 4 times a week he'll actually sit down and eat a meal when he is supposed to. He already is hard enough to feed, he hardly ever eats what I make, I always have to make him special meal, he only like plain items, plain noodles, plain rice,but does love vegetables.

Should I refuse him of the snacks and make him wait until next meal? how do I get him to eating his meals. For example this morning he wouldn't touch his breakfast (and its all stuff he likes) I don't want him to fill up on gold fish crackers and then not eat lunch - but I feel like its mean when he asks for food if I didn't give it to him - especially since he's not asking junk food.

Any advice - or will he just grow out of this?

Dani123

Umm if the frequent snacks bother you then I would def. withhold them.  He wont starve himself...Make your reg meals, with your snacks here and there and thats it...My mom used to say 'Life wasnt a Restaurant'...HA!

 

Sept17.05Bride

If my DS won't eat his meal, I tell him that there are no snacks at all.  He will wait until the next meal to eat.  If I were to let him snack all day, then of course he won't eat his meal.  I also limit his snacks, and won't give him any snacks after a certain point (if its getting too close to the next meal time), otherwise I have noticed that he won't eat well for his meal.  

abpdjs

ditto Dani.

if Carson doesn't want to eat what we have for dinner i will give a little fruit but i do explain, "that's what is for dinner, if you want to eat or not eat that is your choice, but that is it buddy."  i don't make special dinners for him.  he doesn't ask for snacks inbetween and makes up for it the next meal.

i would start putting down the hammer a little b/c he knows if he whines long and hard enough he will get the crackers and the special meal.

 

brightning

Could you have a little basket with preportioned snacks for the day? That way you could show him, "These are all of your snacks for the day, and when they're gone, that's it!"

I would definitely stop w/ the special meals. If you want, you could have one alternative meal - say a PBJ or something - but that's his only option.

emas

I'd spend a week or so being really, really strict about the eating/when a snack is available/how much is available.  I actually find it easier to manage if we're out and about - if I only have snack x available, and only make it available at a certain time, then there's no chance she can stand in front of the snack cupboard all morning.

LoveEeyore

I also have a snacker, but I don't mind.  I figure going to school will fix it naturally... but at meals I always a little cheese and turkey on the side so she gets protein, and doesn't have the control to demand another meal.  Our refusal for meal  has been reduced b/c we just instituted an all food at the kitchen table rule- that stopped a lot!

I like brightening's ideas.  I might alse make a menu at the beginning of the day with built in choivces and with 5 or 6 snacks listed and when she wanted a snack, show her the choices, and cross one out each time she chooses. And then when she's out, she's out.  ie:

Breakfast:  eggs    toast      juice     apple

                           bagel       milk     pear

Snacks:

crackers       crackers        apples       cheese              cheerios