Getting the kids to eat meals as a family again

Posts: 788
4/11/11 11:48 A

We have days where my 2 year old son tells me he's hungry all day and is therefore eating snacks. Then when it comes time for dinner he isn't hungry anymore. In that case we always make him sit at the table with us with a plate in front of him as well as his milk and water. Usually he won't eat any food, but he knows he has to sit while mom and dad eat. We've told him that at meal times we all have to be together when we're home and he really likes that and cooperates. Sometimes he would rather play, but we make him sit at the table with us to show him how mealtime should be.

SparkPoints: (80,334)
Fitness Minutes: (51,403)
Posts: 5,004
4/7/11 4:23 P

they need rules that don't change. don't give in to their tantrums ,crying,whatever. Keep the rules & they'll come along fine

SparkPoints: (7,468)
Fitness Minutes: (7,371)
Posts: 224
4/7/11 10:49 A

I agree with Elizabeth. Give healthy snacks, not sugary snacks. Even if the kids won't eat, have them sit with you at meal times. Our rule was you have to take one bite of each.
I had a picky eater who would only eat sweets. The doctor told me to wait them out. Offer them the nutritious meals and if they don't eat, they don't. He assured me if I stood firm, they would eat-and before they got sick from not eating. It was hard, but it did work. Consistency is the key in just about any parental issue. You need to be the parent and responsible for teaching them healthy habits.

Posts: 442
4/6/11 2:41 P

Have you examined whether your mealtime paradigm is really the only way to go about it?

A lot of people really feel that 5 or 6 meals a day (the size of what a lot of us would call snacks, about 300 calories) is a better way to maintain health and satiety (a sense of fullness). Your kids may intuitively be picking up on this. The whole routine of going hungry for hours then loading up on calories in one or two sittings a day isn't for everybody.

However, it's very reasonable to ask your family to sit down together for one meal, whether it's a large meal or a small one. If you're feeding them sugary delicious snacks, you have to get them to stop it. Snacks are carrots, fruits, yogurt, skim string cheese, etc. If snacks taste better than meals, of course they won't want meals. Make meals delicious, full of flavor. If you can, feature one item in each meal that they love. If you can, let them help you put together the meal. Younger children especially love feeling like a part of things.

And remember that everything gets easier with practice. As a habit is established, they'll fight less.

SparkPoints: (874)
Fitness Minutes: (135)
Posts: 60
4/6/11 2:23 P

Just keep having meals at the table. Keep being consistant. They will eventually come around. It will be hard at first, but show them that you are in charge and don't give in to the whining. Good luck!

Posts: 15,379
4/6/11 12:11 P

How old are the kids?

SparkPoints: (86)
Fitness Minutes: (0)
Posts: 2
4/6/11 11:30 A

My children refuse to sit down and eat meals with us. They only want snacks. When I stopped giving them snacks, they stopped eating for three days and whined and cried the whole time. What can I do to get them to eat regular meals again?