Is this bad?

tina623 · August 2009

Well it's not good but I'm hoping someone else has had this issue and can help..

My girls will only eat pasta so I've been giving it to them every night for dinner, along with a veggie and a protein. I found those wagon wheels (noodles that look like wagon wheels ) that have tomato and spinach noodles mixed in and they like those but this is literally all they will eat so It's all that I give them. Last night, I got them to eat peroigies (sp?) and those aren't that healthy either (they were potato and cheese). This morning, I was cooking spag for their dinner tonight and Karly wanted them for breakfast and since she wasn't eating her waffles, I gave them to her and she ate them

Is this a phase? Did you keep offering the foods they weren't eating? I hate throwing away all that food but I want to keep giving it so I don't know what to do.

Karly is actually the worst eater but she was three teeth coming in, could this be why? TIA

BoxTer · August 2009

N is a terrible eater. I try to start her off with veggies or other healthy, substantial foods and she'll often toss them on the floor or pound them into the table. Then I give in and give her yogurt or hummus or something else she'll always eat. I was talking to her dr this morning and she told me to stop doing this, that it's my job to decide what and when she'll eat and it's her job to eat it. If she doesn't, she doesn't and she'll just have to be hungry. It's going to be tough, but I know she's right and I can't keep giving in to what she wants.

ela81 · August 2009

I would guess it's a phase. DD is really picky with her veggies, pretty much every veggie/meat she eats has sweet potato in it. I would give them what they will eat and maybe every several days or once a week try to get them to eat something different, if they don't take it, o well try again later. I gave dd chicken and apples (jar food) last night and she eat it! Normally she will make her self throw up if she does not like what you put in her mouth, then she will not open her mouth for you anymore. I don't think it's that bad and I would be willing to bet it wont last forever.

soccerwife · August 2009

My son was picky s a baby, and I gave in to him ALL the time by allowing him to eat only the foods he liked - pasta, pizza, and any type of fruit/veggie - he's big on those. Now, at almost 5 - he is the worst eater ever. All he eats is pasta. Every night. Pasta - plain.

DD on the other hand, will eat EVERYTHING - and I keep introducing new things hoping she will turn out to a better eater than her brother. So far so good.?

pamela-matt · August 2009

Perhaps pick up the cookbook Deceptively Delicious. Great recipes that hide stuff in the food so the kids don't know.

I would stop just giving them pasta. I have a nephew that would only eat Mac & Cheese and spag until he was like 10 years old. Everyone catered to him. Holiday family dinners and they made a separate dish for him. I grew up eating what was put on my plate and had to clean my plate. I did not always like it but I ate it if I was hungry. I am more hard-lined on this. I know you are dealing with weight issues with one of yours so that is certainly something to consider and talk to pedi about as well. Good luck.

One thing I have done sometimes when DS won't eat something is throw a very little bit of ranch dressing on it and he eats it. Perhaps try a little dab of some condiment...ketchup, BBQ, Ranch, Jam

tina623 · August 2009

I know in my head I have to just keep giving them other foods and that's it but then I start worrying. I think that when I start back full time, I won't have time to make an extra meal for them like I do now (I make foods they like in the morning and keep it for when they don't eat what dh gives them) so they will have no choice but to eat what I make for dinner.

I just hope it works..thanks

Mrs.Reem · August 2009

Since she seems to like "sketti" so much, how about baking up a few spaghetti squashes and freeze the leftovers so they're easy to pull out? You can use the spaghetti squash in sweet or savory dishes. I often puree carrots, broccoli, or sweet potatoes with a little milk as the sauce for the squash.

Smudges*Mom · August 2009

Good question, Tina! I learned a lot in this thread. . . granted, my LO is no where near ready for table food, but this is very helpful info to have. Thanks to everyone who shared.

Tina, good luck with getting the girls to eat. I can understand why this is hard. I hope that it gets easier!!!!!!!!!

DavezWife · August 2009

I kinda grew up with parents that said "I am not a short order cook, you eat what we eat" and both my dad and brother are chefs. So we EAT things other than plain noodles. Same has kinda gone for Ava. If she does not like it, well, sorry.

If she's had a whole day of that I might shove in a few bites of cottage cheese or something I know she needs, but I try not to cave. I also do the "sauce thing" and make a HUGE deal out of putting the tiny little drop of "salsa" (everything is salsa, I'm not going to split hairs with a 1 yr old) and she'll eat anything if she thinks it's special. I sneak veggies into everything, I always have, even with Davez, and make "crab cake" type things out of left over veggies, just kinda wing it like you would make crab cakes or meatloaf, just use veggies, cheese and make into toddler bites. yum.

One year olds are MUCH more manipulative (right word? smart?) than I think we give them street cred for. They know how to hold out for the carbs by now. I'm sure of it! ;-)

tina623 · August 2009

They like veggies in a pureed form, so maybe I will start doing that again.

skoorbnibor · August 2009

I agree with most of the pps. But I wanted to add 1 thing that I have a hard time remembering myself! : )

When looking at a toddler's food intake, we tend to look at what they ate that day... but it is much better to look at what they eat in a week. For example, Ethan will eat peas and carrots at every meal, if I let him. This week's dinner foods below: *this isn't what I offered him, just what he ate!

Sun: 1/4 c Peas, 1/2 c carrots, 1/2 mini bagel, about 1/2 oz grilled chicken, 2 pineapple slices

Mon: 5 macaroni noodles, 1/2 c peas, 1/2 cup carrots, 1/8 peach

Tues: peanut butter on 1/2 mini bagel, 1/2 cup peas, 1/2 cup raisins, 1/4 banana

Weds: 4 oz meatloaf with spinach baked in, 1/4 cup carrots, 1 slice whole grain bread with 1 tsp hummus.

Tonight I will offer: grilled chicken, black beans, peas, pasta and a fruit.

When I look at Mon, there is NO protein and very little carbs, it was all about the veggies, but when I look at the entire week so far, it feels pretty balanced to me!

And btw, lest you think I am nuts, we are keeping a food log for the allergist and the GI doc, to figure out what is causing his rash and also his slow weight gain. I am not obsessed, I am feeling good about his size and development!

tina623 · August 2009

Skoor, I don't think your obsessed. I think it's a great thing to monitor what they are eating. I wish dh would do that for dinner (I am at work until 7 so I don't see what they eat after 4) and when I ask him, all it get is 'they didn't eat so I gave them ..." it's frustrating but I'll be home for dinner come sept. They eat okay during the day (well katie does, karly is a hit or miss).

dundasgirl · August 2009

Reed is an excellent eater, but I have a friend who has a very difficult time feeding her daughter. She is very fussy and will go like a week only wanting peanut butter and jam sandwiches.

I don't have any advice just wanted to say that I know it is very frustrating and stressful. Hang in there Tina. I hope it gets easier. And as usual it is probably much harder with two!!

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