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Picky Eaters

emeraldfairyemeraldfairy member
in May 2011 Moms

Help!  I try to give DS a variety of food at each meal, but he refuses to try anything that isn't a banana, grilled cheese, or a burger!  I just don't know what to do... The things I can get him to eat are scrambled eggs, banana, toast, cereal (sometimes)grilled cheese, pb&j, homemade pizza (sauce and cheese on an english muffin)... but that's about it!  He does do some snacks... yogurt, cheese, cereal bars, veggie puree pouches, toddler snacks that are puffed rice flavored with veggies... 

He used to love all sorts of fruits and veggies,... now he just tosses them and says "nana!" for banana.  I'm sure he'd love more of the things I fix if he'd just try them, but unless it's one of his "comfort foods" he just turns his head and wants nothing to do with it.  Is anyone else's LO this picky about food?  Anyone have any tips to overcome this???

 

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Re: Picky Eaters

  • kacellekacelle member
    When he rejects the food you offer, do you eventually pull out the foods he's asking for or that you know he'll eat?  That type of reinforcement just teaches toddlers that they will get their favourite foods if they whine enough.  Unless it seems like he has serious textural/sensory issues, I'd keep the foods he's rejecting in front of him for a little bit, then remove him from eating and try again later until he tries the foods.  Toddlers won't starve themselves.
    Married to my best friend 6/5/10
    BFP #1 9/7/10, EDD 5/14/11, Violet born 5/27/11.
    BFP #2 4/9/12, EDD 12/16/12, M/C Rory 4/24/12.
    BFP #3 10/6/12, EDD 6/16/12., Matilda born 6/17/13.
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  • locodogslocodogs
    imagekacelle:
    When he rejects the food you offer, do you eventually pull out the foods he's asking for or that you know he'll eat?  That type of reinforcement just teaches toddlers that they will get their favourite foods if they whine enough.  Unless it seems like he has serious textural/sensory issues, I'd keep the foods he's rejecting in front of him for a little bit, then remove him from eating and try again later until he tries the foods.  Toddlers won't starve themselves.
    This.
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  • Athena0809Athena0809 member
    Could it be a phase, or has he always been picky? I ask because DS has always been a good eater and since a month ago or so he has had some "off" days and I chalked it up to teething and a cold he had. If he is always picky I would agree with Kacelle. If he has some days off just play it by ear.
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  • kelly321kelly321 member

    imagekacelle:
    When he rejects the food you offer, do you eventually pull out the foods he's asking for or that you know he'll eat?  That type of reinforcement just teaches toddlers that they will get their favourite foods if they whine enough.  Unless it seems like he has serious textural/sensory issues, I'd keep the foods he's rejecting in front of him for a little bit, then remove him from eating and try again later until he tries the foods.  Toddlers won't starve themselves.

    I agree with this in principle. In practice, it's next to impossible in our house. First off, DD has eaten like a bird from day 1 and is still in a very low percentile for weight and height (like the 3rd or something).

    If we offer her something she doesn't want to try, she'll shake her head and wave her hands in front of her face so that any attempt to even touch it to her lips (to let her have a taste) ends with food flying everywhere. I will not pin down her arms to make her try it, as I am convinced that will cause even more eating issues. If we offer the "bad food" or nothing and let her go off and play and then come back and maybe try it again, 1 time in 10 she'll give it a try and then eat a few bites. The other 9 times, she'll start crying because she's hungry, and any attempt to get her to eat anything other than the foods she wants cause even more inconsolable crying.

    Partially because of her weight/food issues, I have a difficult relationship with her and eating and really can't stand to watch her cry because she's hungry when I know what I could give her that she would eat.

    Do you guys think I should just get a thicker skin and keep doing the "it's this or nothing"? Because, as I said, I agree in principle.


    BFP1: DD1 born April 2011 at 34w1d via unplanned c/s due to HELLP, DVT 1 week PP
    BFP2: 3/18/12, blighted ovum, natural m/c @ 7w4d
    BFP3: DD2 born Feb 2013 at 38w4d via unplanned RCS due to uterine dehiscence

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  • Athena0809Athena0809 member
    imagekelly321:

    Do you guys think I should just get a thicker skin and keep doing the "it's this or nothing"? Because, as I said, I agree in principle.

    It's a tough one. I agree with Kacelle but I understand your predicament because DS has always been on the low end of the scale for both weight and hight (around 10-15 percentile.)

    DS has been a good eater--read: adventurous palate--but eats very little amounts. And for the past couple months he's been getting all the teeth at once and has been cranky and I guess it's even painful to chew...my point is, I have been leaning toward his favorites as long as he eats kind of attitude instead of trying to raise a foody.

    My only problem with "this or nothing" is that "nothing" will later mean more nursing. So I try to pick foods that are high in calories to balance out the small intake and I offer whole milk with meals and snacks (since he only drinks about 2 oz with each meal.)

    I say do what you have to do for meals--so she gets in some food-- but maybe try offering foods in a non-meal setting? Like having a snack away from the dinning room/high chair so it's more exploratory and she might get in a bite or two. Just a thought!

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  • kelly321kelly321 member
    imageSteph&Harry08:
    imagekelly321:

    Do you guys think I should just get a thicker skin and keep doing the "it's this or nothing"? Because, as I said, I agree in principle.

    It's a tough one. I agree with Kacelle but I understand your predicament because DS has always been on the low end of the scale for both weight and hight (around 10-15 percentile.)

    DS has been a good eater--read: adventurous palate--but eats very little amounts. And for the past couple months he's been getting all the teeth at once and has been cranky and I guess it's even painful to chew...my point is, I have been leaning toward his favorites as long as he eats kind of attitude instead of trying to raise a foody.

    My only problem with "this or nothing" is that "nothing" will later mean more nursing. So I try to pick foods that are high in calories to balance out the small intake and I offer whole milk with meals and snacks (since he only drinks about 2 oz with each meal.)

    I say do what you have to do for meals--so she gets in some food-- but maybe try offering foods in a non-meal setting? Like having a snack away from the dinning room/high chair so it's more exploratory and she might get in a bite or two. Just a thought!

    She does eat more if we let her run around and just come over to us for bites as opposed to putting her in her high chair. But neither DH nor I really want to encourage that habit. We do a bit of a mix of high chair and letting her roam free right now, so we'll probably stick with that for a while.


    BFP1: DD1 born April 2011 at 34w1d via unplanned c/s due to HELLP, DVT 1 week PP
    BFP2: 3/18/12, blighted ovum, natural m/c @ 7w4d
    BFP3: DD2 born Feb 2013 at 38w4d via unplanned RCS due to uterine dehiscence

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