Food Battles

AmyNicole622 · October 2012

Is anyone else stuggling to get LO to eat....anything? Our big appetite boy has turned into the worst eater. He will out right refuse a whole meal. I even offer his favorites. How do I handle this without caving and giving in to whatever he wants? I don't want to push food but eating nothing can't be an option either.

mesmom2011 · October 2012

I have to watch the snacks as my DD will sometimes fill up on snacks too close to a meal and then not want to eat. If she refuses a meal, I will often save it for later and offer it again when she starts asking for a snack. I also have meals in the freezer that I prepare ahead of time that can be used if she just really doesn't like what we are having. (I do things like pasta with spinach puree in tomato sauce and veggies that she likes or rice with spinach puree, baked chicken and veggies that she likes). I have an easy meal that she enjoys that I can offer as an alternative.

I also try to remember that there are times when she's really growing and she seems to eat constantly. Those times are often followed by days where she won't eat much. On those days, I try to make sure that what she eats is healthy and know that it will pass.

dairygirl19 · October 2012

I have a kid that likes most anything, but has days where she won't eat hardly a thing.

I honestly let it pass. She won't starve. She'll eat when she's hungry.

Like a pp said we go through phases where she can't enough and then won't eat much for a week again. I figure it all balances.

If she's happy and not whining she's hungry I figure she knows what she wants, so I don't push it.

My pedi reminded me too that toddlers only have a stomach a bit bigger than their fist at this point. So somedays 3 peas and a graham cracker is probably sufficient.

The only alternative I offer is fresh fruit. I don't want her to think that there are more options than what we're having and come to expect. That's an each their own thing though. It bothers me, doesn't bother others to do that.

This is something every kid does, something every Mom worries about. In the end all toddlers live through it.

melissa0726 · October 2012

We are also dealing with this. The worst part is, other than refusing vegetables, there is no rhyme or reason to her eating habits. What she eats one day, she'll dislike the next, but eat it the following time it is offered. For the past few weeks, I've been going nuts scrambling around the kitchen at every other meal when she doesn't like what I offer, but I'm getting tired of that.

Starting last week, I only make her one meal. If she doesn't like it, I offer some fruit, which I know she will actually eat. But I'm not making her multiple meals (i.e. eggs, and then waffles when she doesn't eat the eggs) in hope that she eats one of them. If she refuses what I've prepared, most things that I make her can be refrigerated and re-heated for a later meal, so at least the food won't go to waste. Everyone tells me that this is really normal, so I'm trying not to get too frustrated by it, which isn't always easy!

ncbelle · October 2012

Sometimes they do just skip meals - that's just how toddlers are! Heck, sometimes my almost 4 year old eats two bites of dinner and is done - he hasn't starved yet

Our policy is what's for dinner is what's for dinner. We don't make a big issue out of eating or not eating - little kids are pretty good at knowing when they are hungry. I also feel like making an issue out of it does just make it a power battle - and that's not productive for anyone. So if they don't really eat, we say ok and that's that - and no snacks later.

I do agree with the advice to watch snacks - and make sure snacks are healthy options and not just carbs.

One thing that we've also done with Callum as he got older was to start offering choices for some meals - so breakfast for example he gets to pick between a few options and the same for snacks. I think that also cuts down on the "I don't want this" power battle.

blueandgray · October 2012

DD has eaten dinner on a weeknight in the last week and a half, and its very frustrating. I think 90% of the reason is b/c she gets a snack at DC around 3pm. They used to give it closer to 2pm, so I need to talk with them about making it earlier again. If she refuses what I offer her for dinner, I try again (the same food) a half hour later. If she still doesn't eat it, then I'll just give her milk before bed.

My dr said not to worry too much. She won't let herself starve, and she eats pretty well for breakfast & lunch, and varied foods throughout the week. I don't want to become a short order cook - if she doesn't eat what's on the menu, that's it. Otherwise she'll get in the habit of refusing until I finally cave and offer her something like crackers & fruit which I know she'll never turn down.

ladyhawke25 · October 2012

I understand your frustration. All of a sudden my LO doesn't like anything including foods that were her favorites. She used to be such a good eater. I feel guilty for letting her miss a meal but have to remind myself that I can't let her be ok refusing one thing in hopes of getting something else. One trick that I sometimes use to get her to take a couple bites is I tell her that Mommy is going to put her plate away or that Mommy is going to finish her dinner. Usually I can get a few bites out of her if not the entire meal... Other times nothing.

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