Picky Eaters

Ziegeficker · November 2013

I'm at my wit's end with LO's picky eating habits. He seems to change what he likes from one day to the next, and when he decides he doesn't want to eat something, he just throws it on the floor. I'm reading all the wonderful foods you've managed to get your LOs to eat, and it's making me jealous -- He won't eat eggs, he doesn't like cheese, he rarely eats what I cook (I'm a decent cook, damnit!), and fruits are always hit or miss (mostly miss). Don't even get me started on vegetables....He seems to eat pretty well at daycare, so I think this must be something I'm doing wrong.

The only thing this baby wants is baby food from a jar, but I'm tired of buying it and tired of spoon-feeding him his nutrition. Aside from that, the only other things he'll reliably eat are starches like crackers and Cheerios...but I obviously don't want to feed him those exclusively for every meal (or even one meal). He likes my homemade apple sauce, but it has sugar in it.

Is anyone else in a similar situation? How do you ladies handle your LO throwing food on the floor or otherwise refusing to eat what you've got for them? It's a little too early to send them to bed without dinner and all of that, but I cannot for the life of me figure this out.

DuckieMom5 · November 2013

Following. Food is a constant battle here. I offer and offer and most of it ends up on the floor. This shouldn't be so hard.

Ziegeficker · November 2013

I'm glad I'm not alone. It's so frustrating!!! I obviously want him to eat, but I only have so much food in the house that is "baby friendly," so when I've run through all of those, I don't know what to do...

If they were starving, they wouldn't throw their food on the floor, right? ....right?

Ziegeficker · November 2013

BeaF12 said:

They will not starve themselves. And what are you considering baby friendly? LO loves ribs, spicy rub, BBQ sauce and still on the bone please. I've also made him salmon salad: canned salmon, mayo and spicy pickles, he loves it. I only don't give dairy d/t MPI and am trying to stay out of the chicken nugget rut my older kids got into. Chicken pot pie, shepherds pie, meatloaf, just like we have. But he does well w/ most meat and an occasional braut or bacon is not gonna hurt. I struggle getting protein and fat in him at breakfast but I guess if I'm still nursing in the AM, I can stop worrying.

I am using the term "baby-friendly" to loosely apply to things that are relatively low in sodium and not processed. Things that have a modicum of nutrition. Stuff like that. Henry isn't terribly excited about bold flavors (whose baby is this?!?!), but I always try offering it away.

Funny you mentioned chicken nuggets, because DH picked up some decent ones from the store for Henry to eat. Some days he likes them, and some days they get fed to the dogs. I seriously can't figure this child out sometimes.

LaurenBullock · November 2013

DD is a texture type kid. She will refuse things and throw them on the floor. I have found seasoning REALLY helps. (My DD LOVES spicy food) I am also jealous that y'all's kids will eggs. DD looks at me like I have three heads when I put them in front of her. She loves a good steak though

CnAnA · November 2013

Another for seasoning here! Plain eggs, she turns up her nose. Throw some veggies and cheese in and she shovels it in.

Also, she likes to feed herself, dangit! I will try to feed her and she crawls away. But if I stick her plate in the floor and ignore it, she will go right to it and start eating.

Ziegeficker · November 2013

mrs.ike said:

Another for seasoning here! Plain eggs, she turns up her nose. Throw some veggies and cheese in and she shovels it in. Also, she likes to feed herself, dangit! I will try to feed her and she crawls away. But if I stick her plate in the floor and ignore it, she will go right to it and start eating.

I think I'm going to try mini baked egg baskets with veggies this weekend. Because I'm super sad that DS won't eat eggs. They are probably the easiest breakfast to throw together in the morning, and they are really good for you, too.

hilsy85 · November 2013

I think it's normal for kids to love one thing one day and hate it the next...my LO does that and I wouldn't call him a "picky" eater. Here is what our pedi said to do:

- offer him 3 or so choices each meal. If he doesn't want any of them, you end the meal. He can have some fruit.

- offer the rest of his meal at the next snack; if he still doesn't want it, offer fruit.

- she said it can take up to 15 tries for a kid to like/accept a new food, so try not to get discouraged!

sometimes I find that leo eats better if I leave him alone and stop staring at him while he eats. Also, sometimes he won't eat a piece of shredded chicken, but will take a piece off a fork, or will accept a big hunk of chicken that he can bite from himself. Also, if there IS something your LO likes--like if he likes yogurt, or oatmeal, or pureed stuff--go with it! Mix small pieces of meat in a veggie puree, or mix pieces of fruit in yogurt or oatmeal. It's SO frustrating though when they just throw everything on the floor--I often have to walk away from the table and take a breath.v

pb_bride · November 2013

@ziegeficker - do we have the same baby? Seriously, I thought you were describing my son! HE used to be a very good eater up until 9-10 months, but lately it's awful!

He's a fickle eater too - what he likes or dislikes changes from day to day. I also can't get him to eat eggs (tried all sorts of cooking methods and flavoring), and once in a blue moon I can get him to eat cheese. He used to eat oatmeal (mixed with yogurt) daily for months; all of a sudden he started refusing it, picking the chunks of oatmeal from his mouth. The only thing he still eats is yogurt.

He likes fruits okay, some better than others. Veggies most no except carrots. He used to like rotini pasta or tortellini but lately he turned his nose up on them too.

I thought he'd eat if he's hungry, but there are days when he wouldn't touch a thing on the plate. Then I give in and let him have yogurt, and he'd eat a lot of it, which says to me that he IS hungry.

I try not to let it bother me too much (and not to take it personally since I cook all his food). I'm hoping that once I weaned him more from BFing, he might start to eat more???

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