So my 19 month old basically eats toast, yogurt, spaghetti, pancakes, french toast and loves mac and cheese. Dinners are so stressful...i feel like such a bad mom when she eats mac and chesse a few times a week for dinner. She eats a really good breakfest and not much of a lunch but i need some good ideas for dinner. My hubby works 6am-6pm so the days he works i make her dinner since she goes to bed a 7. Any ideas on what your kid likes would be much appreciated. I have tried grilled cheese and chicken nuggets and she just doesn't eat it. She is a great kid but she doesn't like to eat...grrrr
Re: what to feed a picky eater.....
Don't beat yourself up over it. As long as you're doing your best - heck, who cares if she gets mac and cheese a few times a week?
Has your pedi suggested a multi-vitamin at all? Ours did, and while I am not super -religious with it, I always make sure DD gets it if she hasn't been eating well.
As with most things in life, I agre with Kateysomething on this. ;-)
I was worrying myself SICK a few months ago over Tallen's eating habits. However, once I learned that he is a willful toddler with a mind of his own and that he will NOT starve himself, my life became much easier. Also, at some point, they give in! I kept offering whatever I made for dinner and sooner or later (usually later) he ate it because he was hungry.
We still have our rough days and there are times I give in and make him something I know he loves b/c he is teething or whatever, but it does get better, I promise. We also do a multi-vitamin and Vitamin D drops and this makes me feel much better.
GL!
My Reagan is a cyclical picky eater - what she likes today, she hates tomorrow.
I have found that food can become a serious battle of the wills if you let it.
With that said, I serve her a variety of foods at each meal. And if she does not eat it, oh well.
And from that, I have learned that it really does take 3 to 4 tries before she likes new foods.
I have also learned that she will not starve.
I will always provide a small serving of a fruit or veggie that I know she will eat (her poop is always green from the amount of peas she eats), but not enough to fulfill her hunger - that is what the main part of the meal is for.
And I DO supplement with pediasure to ensure she gets her vitamins/iron.
The big thing though - I NEVER EVER LET HER SEE ME SWEAT. Even at 14 months, she can read the weaknesses (god I love her for that). So if she doesn't eat that meal, I don't make a big deal.
And enivitably, by the 2nd meal, she is hungry enough to eat what is put in front of her.
I have learned that DD loves what I eat. So, if I were to eat a bowl of cereal, suddenly, it is the coolest thing in the world. So, this is how most of our lunches go.
When I return from my trip next week, I am going to start making a few of the weelicious recipes that were posted by fellow bumpies to see if she starts to eat a little better.