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My son Ian is 22 months old and is becoming the pickiest eater on the planet! He used to eat many things and had a great appetite, not any longer. The only things he seems to eat these days are...Kraft Mac n Cheese
Clementine Oranges
Mandarin Oranges
String Cheese
Strawberries
Bologna
and the list keeps shrinking. I try giving him new things all of the time and he either won't even let it get near his mouth or he spits it out when he tastes it. Trying to sneak things into his mouth or disguise them doesn't work either. He is starving! He brings us food from the pantry and when we open it to feed it to him he refuses it! I feel like we waste so much food at our house. I think he is too young still to say "this is what is for dinner and you either eat it or go to bed hungry". I am getting the Deceptively Delicious cookbook for Christmas but I fear that he won't even try those recipes, maybe the mac n cheese one.
So my experienced mommy friends I need some help, suggestions and encouragement! Are your kids picky? What are sure fire recipes/ foods that your kids eat, hopefully ones with some nutrition. I am loosing patience and am just plain worried about Ian's nutrition.
8 comments:
Does Ian act hungry? And is he losing weight?
One thing we've learned with Parker is that he seems to go in phases. Sometimes he's a great eater and then there are weeks (or even months) when he just picks at his food and hardly eats more than a couple bites for a meal. I worried about it the first time that happened but now I realize he just must not be growing as much during those times.
And the picky part... does he refuse because he's being stubborn or because he really doesn't like the taste? Mayli can be picky, she is also a fruit and cheese girl so anything I make with cheese is usually a winner. Chicken Bundles is one both my kids really like, also any cheesy chicken recipe.
I would just keep putting new things in front of him and try your hardest to get him to at least taste it. But at least mac n cheese with a side of strawberries isn't a horrible back up!
When I was 2yrs I would only eat french fries and my dr told my mom... "well then feed her french fries!" :)
Good Luck! and sorry for the super long comment!
This is a good tricks of the trade question! I'll add it to the sidebar tomorrow as next week's Q!
Oh do I know what you are talking about! That is how my son is too! I found a little trick that might work for you too. My son is 23 months and he is just starting to eat a little more but I really had to work on him. The thing that I do is make orange juice (just something they really likes) and then before he can have more juice then he has to eat at least a bite of chicken (whatever is there). I don't know if it will work for you but good luck!
Will is also this way quiet frequently, and always has been. For like a month straight all he would eat were eggs and sausage in the mornings and nothing for pretty much the rest of the day. It seems like he goes in phases, each week is different. My dr. said to just feed him whatever he wanted (obviously not WHATEVER he wanted or all he would be eating is goldfish crackers.... but you get the point) and keep putting new and healthy food in front of him. Also, she said it is a very good idea if we ALL eat at least one meal together as a family, so that he sees us eating as well. I guess if it really has you worried, maybe you could give him vitamin drops and start looking for all the "hidden" good things. Will won't eat banans but LOVES dried "banana chips" as we call them. Ian is such a sweetheart, I'm sure he'll grow out of it, but I know it is stressful, especially when it is something you deal with everyday!! Sorry for the novel post!
Thanks for all of your comments! I know this is common but I really loved hearing how you each have dealt with this frustrating issue!
Cassi, he does seem hungry a lot and when he gets food on his plate he takes one look and pushes it away.
We just went on a one week trip to So Cal to visit my bro and see his new baby. Ian hardly ate anything! Kent thinks he lost weight on that trip but I am not sure. He is so heavy it is hard for me to tell. What is with restaurants with no kids menus and why did I go to some of those! When we got off the plane back at home we went straight to a restaurant that had mac n cheese and he ate one order and wanted more, then he ate half of the second order. He was starving! I guess it is mac n cheese for awhile at my house girls! I will try the other comments though. THANKS
If it helps, I think Kraft came out with a whole wheat mac & cheese, so you can feel a little better about it!
I'm so sorry and I hope that things start changing soon! But, if it makes you feel better, Sabrina mentioned at an enrichment about nutrition that you just have to keep having the vegetables (or other things they won't eat) offered at meals and eventually they will grow out of it, especially if mom and dad are eating them. Good luck and hang in there!
I have a love hate relationship with food! I love when my kids eat what I make and I HATE when they don't! My pediatrician told me that it is my job to provide the food and my kids job to eat it. I just have to worry about my part and they have to worry about theirs. I think kids will eat if they are starving. If Kara doesn't want to eat during the meal then it stays on the table and if she wants a snack later she is allowed to eat whatever I served that she hasn't yet eaten. I try to make it balanced enough and I try to give her options so she has some say in what she eats...so instead of what do you want tonight? I say "Do you want pears or peaches? Do you want corn or peas?" Just know you are NOT alone in this stressor!
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