Good eater vs picky eater?

pb_bride · January 2014

Wondering how many of you still have a good eater, eating all sorts of veggies, meats etc? How many of you have a good-eater-turned-picky-eater? Any tips or strategies on how to get through this?

I found this link to dr. Sears https://www.askdrsears.com/news/sears-family-blog/how-get-picky-eater-eat-more. Wonder if any of you use or tried the "reverse psychology" method?

DS loves fruits, still eats some veggies, but now refuses to eat meats (tried shredded chicken, BBQ pulled pork, burgers, roasted leg of lamb, turkey... He won't even touch them). He basically eats bread. If there is no bread, he barely eats anything, except for a few bites of familiar-looking veggies.

He used to eat yogurt every day but then started refusing it a month ago. I kept offering and he kept refusing. I tried putting a small spoonful next to the fruits (not touching the fruits, but on the same plate), and he refused to eat the entire plate of fruits. He also doesn't eat cheese unless it is melted on bread. He doesn't eat scrambled eggs or omelete or hard boiled eggs. He will eat quiche or frittata. I just worry about him getting enough nutrients and protein!

About 2 wks ago he was eating everything in sight and I thought my woes had come to an end. Well it must have been a growth spurt because he went back to his picky self after a few days.

If you have a good eater, do you have a specific strategy when it comes to meal times? Pile everything on the plate/tray? Offer certain foods first? What foods does your LO eat?

Just hoping I am not the only one having a picky eater.

PixelPosy · January 2014

We're in the same boat... things I know she loves she will cry when I offer. No bread can be in sight or she won't eat a thing until you hand it over. We typically put food right on her tray and the last couple nights have had better luck giving her a bowl of food and a spoon. She will always eat the pouches, but those are mostly fruit.

Ziegeficker · January 2014

My child is so damn picky :-( No veggies, only a couple fruits, and mostly cheese and bread. They get him to eat better at daycare so I don't sweat it too much, but at home it's a damn fight every meal. He usually only wants grilled cheese sandwiches.

CnAnA · January 2014

Alice goes through phases. One day she LOVES peppers, next day she throws a fit if she sees them. She doesn't like straight up meat and never really has. It has to be in a sauce or a soup or have cheese on it. I rely a lot on yogurt, cheese, and milk for protein. I just offer a variety. If she doesn't eat it today, she very well may tomorrow.

We don't do pouches anymore at all. She squeezes them out all over herself, and only likes food she can feed herself. No pouches for her. LOL

annabelle8101 · January 2014

She eats whatever is put in front of her. She is not a very particular child in any area of life.

We operate on a no stress feeding system. Basically what Satter says to do. I'm a RD and I spent 4 years doing nutrition counseling at WIC. Satter has the goods.

She is welcome to eat as much or as little of the food that is offered. I have seen kids totally manipulate parents with eating. They sense the parent's worry and run with it. Not kids as little as ours, but not too far off.

hilsy85 · January 2014

Lo is a pretty good eater, but he has his picky days too! I have heard that it's better to look at kids' eating as a weekly video rather than a daily snapshot--chances are, over the course of a week, he's getting enough variety, even though on a given day he might not.

I usually give LO two foods at each meal (so chicken and broccoli, or pasta with tomato sauce and squash). Certain things, like cheese and fruit, I have to save til the end or he won't eat anything else. I have found that tomato sauce, ketchup, and melted cheese will make a lot of things seem palatable for him! As will using lots of butter and a bit of salt. I don't offer an alternative for a meal--if he doesn't eat what I give him, I give fruit, which he gets with every meal anyway, and he always eats that. In order to get in more veggies, I use the tri colored pasta which gives a serving of veggies right there, plus vegetable tomato sauce. I would just keep trying! Maybe try with different sauces, flavorings, etc. It is so stressful when they don't eat well, so I feel you.

pb_bride · January 2014

@CK2MD, I have a copy of Fearless Eating sitting on the countertop. DH got me that for Xmas (it was on my wish list), but I have yet to crack it open. My New Year's resolution will be to stress less about DS's picky eating habits!

We don't do pouches... just never did ever. He does eat some regular veggies so it's fine. I'm more worried about his protein intake b/c he doesn't eat meat nor yogurt nor cheese. I still BF him 2x/day and he drinks 8-10oz WCM, so hopefully he's getting enough.

CnAnA · January 2014

I think every kid goes through picky eating phases. When is your next pedi appt? Maybe bring it up and see what doc says. Maybe pedasure sidekicks or one of the toddler formulas or something is a good fit for you. Or one of the kid vitamins.

I do worry about Alice's protein intake, so I plan on bringing it up when she goes in for shots on Friday.

BabyCarryingVessel · January 2014

I'm also reading Fearless Feeding and have been applying the principles. I like it so far. Lately they haven't been eating great, but I continue to place balanced meals in front of them and let them decide when they're done. Sometimes I think they must be starving, but I don't offer alternative "favorites". Amazingly, there have been times when they scarf their entire plate, so I'm just going to trust that they will eat when they're hungry.

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