Fighting a picky eater?????

booboo1414 · August 2012

And good reference material you ladies recommend. I need a new approach to the picky eating. I always give him 2 choices. Then when he does choose, he takes one bit and spits it out and won't eat. He does get a daily pediasure (per pediatrician) and survives on puree packets and crackers. He will eat occasionally.

Is there something I am missing.

RnMom2Be · August 2012

I don't fight my picky eater because it makes the battle worse (if that makes sense.) Food becomes something for him to control. Sooooo...I have him try new foods all of the time, but don't force him to eat something he does not like. Once in awhile he likes something he tries.....

SortaCrunchy · August 2012

I don't fight with my picky eater.

It's our jobs as parents to offer our kids healthy choices, but it's up to the kids to eat them. At mealtime, I always make sure there is *something* on his plate that I know he likes. Or if I'm really not sure he likes what I served, then I offer him one easy alternative, usually a PB sandwich. If he eats, great. If not, his plate goes back into the fridge, and that's what I offer if he complains that he's hungry an hour or two down the road. I try to make snacks as nutritious as possible-- especially if he hasn't eaten a decent meal. As insurance, he gets a daily multivitamin.

One of my mantras is, "A healthy kid is not going to starve himself." Very useful to remember on those days when I swear he's living off sunshine and the occasional Goldfish. Wink

wawa84 · August 2012

We have a rule at or house where we have to try everything on the plate. DS may not spit it out. He has to chew & swallow at least one bite. He has a tendency to claim he doesn't like something, take a bite, then spit it out, but he really does like it. This may sound harsh, but if he spits it out, he has to eat it all. Also, I don't fix multiple things for dinner. He gets what I fix. If he chooses not to easy it that's fine, but he doesn't get anything else. That is what was for dinner. Now mind you, I'm not fixing chicken livers or anything. It's normal food like chicken. That works for DS.

KathrynMD · August 2012

I've always been told/read that you should just provide healthy foods in small quantiies to kids and the how much (including none) is up to them. We don't really have many rules at meals. If she doesn't eat it, she doesn't it, there's no pleading or demanding DD to eat anything. I try to let her pick some parts of her meal - do you want grapes or carrots, etc. and try to have her help me at the grocery store - can you find bananas, can you find squash, green beans, etc.

ali0608 · August 2012

booboo1414:

And good reference material you ladies recommend. I need a new approach to the picky eating. I always give him 2 choices. Then when he does choose, he takes one bit and spits it out and won't eat. He does get a daily pediasure (per pediatrician) and survives on puree packets and crackers. He will eat occasionally.

Is there something I am missing.

If this is literal and not exaggerating, you may have more than a picky eater. My DS has severe texture issues and started out only eating foods that melt in your mouth (purees, crackers, cookies).

He's been in speech for over a year for help with this. We're working on Food Chaining (it's a book you can read, if you're interested). I've also read "Just Take a Bite."

If he eats a variety of textures, then listen to everyone else's advice. They know better than I do. I just thought I would offer another perspective.

etude de la vie · August 2012

ali0608:
booboo1414:

And good reference material you ladies recommend. I need a new approach to the picky eating. I always give him 2 choices. Then when he does choose, he takes one bit and spits it out and won't eat. He does get a daily pediasure (per pediatrician) and survives on puree packets and crackers. He will eat occasionally.

Is there something I am missing.

If this is literal and not exaggerating, you may have more than a picky eater. My DS has severe texture issues and started out only eating foods that melt in your mouth (purees, crackers, cookies).

He's been in speech for over a year for help with this. We're working on Food Chaining (it's a book you can read, if you're interested). I've also read "Just Take a Bite."

If he eats a variety of textures, then listen to everyone else's advice. They know better than I do. I just thought I would offer another perspective.

I agree with the pp. My DD had texture issues and lived on puree pouches and crackers. The sight of "regular" food (even if it wasn't for her) sent her into a panic attack so the ped suggested occupational therapy. She would literally vomit at new textures touching her lips (like oatmeal....or even baby oatmeal) They did a variety of activities and got her to now eat and try just about everything. The experience was priceless and taught me so much about how to push through a picky eater (what choices you give them and when) and all the activities they did before hand to prepare her for eating new foods. She is still sensory-seeking but it isn't focused on food

I would definitely talk to your ped or call an occupational therapy center to at least get an evaluation.

greenwin · August 2012

https://www.thekitchn.com/ice-cube-tray-b-161498

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