Posts: 375
1/9/09 12:45 P

My son (18 months) is still a little too young to be a "picky eater" (I think??), but there are days where it seems like he doesn't eat much. He's too young to tell me if that's because he doesn't like what I'm serving, or if he just doesn't have much appetite. He is a little fruitaholic, so I almost always give him some fruit along with whatever else. If the fruit's still there when he lets me know he's done, I know he just wasn't that hungry. He's got plenty of energy, so even when "Mommy" me starts to worry he's not eating enough, "Common Sense" me knows better (esp. while chasing him around the house!)
My DH and I eat a pretty wide variety of foods, and also have between us several foods that one of us likes and the other does not. My hope is that my DS will see that it's okay to not like a food, but everyone has different tastes, and it's best to at least try new foods, because you never know what might become your new favorite. I do realize that "ideally" and "reality" can be two very different things, though!
As for what we'll do if he DOES become a picky eater, I really don't know - we'll cross that bridge if/when we come to it. I do know what others have said, though - I'm not a short-order cook!
This could be interesting...

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Posts: 612
12/12/08 9:00 P

I know what you mean. My husband is one of the pickiest eaters I know and if he don't like, he's not afraid to say so. I keep telling him that he needs to atleast try to set a good example because I'm afraid that Austin will see that Daddy isn't eating it and will follow him rather than eat what mommy is eating. Men are just crazy!!

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Posts: 174
12/12/08 8:47 P

Bwahahaha, that is too funny. . . *sigh*. . . and so true.

current weight: 145.0

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12/12/08 5:20 P

We have done the "save it for later" route here and it does work. Also, you have to remember that kids' tastes do change so keep offering it.

I have two picky eaters myself, but my younger one is at the point where I tell her to eat x number of bites. My older one, however, I can't do anything with. You just can't get husbands to eat anything they don't want to.

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Posts: 612
12/10/08 9:51 A

Thanks!! There are some days he eats so well, and then other days I'm lucky to get him to take one bite. It's not like I can force him to put it in his mouth, he'll just spit it out anyway. We have gotten to where if he just won't eat dinner and we are finished with ours, we let him down to play and then an hour later we try the same meal again. It has worked 2 of the 3 times we've had to try it. So maybe that'll keep working for us! I can only hope!!

current weight: 171.5

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Posts: 174
12/10/08 7:22 A

I had a picky eater at two who, although everyone said he would, never outgrew it (he's 10 now).

I tried EVERYTHING under the sun to get him to eat. We punished him (feel really awful about that now, though), we encouraged him, we bribed him, you name it.

I worry so much that he is not getting enough protein, so now the rule is, if he doesn't eat what we are eating, he is allowed to make himself a peanut butter sandwich. I don't force the issue anymore, especially since his health is more important than whatever issue causes him not to eat anything I prepare!

It seems that he has issue with meat, as he won't eat it "mixed" in with anything (like spaghetti sauce, any kind of casserole, etc.), but he loves meat loaf, plain chicken breast, plain steak or pork chops, etc. But, every time I think I have it figured out, he surprises me. SO, I refuse to be a short-order cook as well, or to reward his picky eating. I figure peanut butter is better than nothing.

I've tried the making-the-great-dessert tactic also, but for me, it just turned the whole evening into a struggle that ended up with my 10-year old throwing up the dinner he forced himself to eat to get the dessert. Wow, did I feel awful. SO, I think it works in most situations, especially when the picky eating is just a battle of wills or a matter of the child exercising control (which according to my son's doctor is what most picky eating is about), just not in mine.

In any case, I just wanted you to know you are not alone.

current weight: 145.0

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Posts: 150
11/22/08 10:55 P

You definitely want to still give him anything and everything because if you only cater to what he will eat then later he'll be less likely to try things. My kids eat whatever I make, I'm not a short order cook. If it's something I know they aren't fond of I will just give them a much smaller portion than normal but they do have to clean their plate. If I'm serving something I know they won't want, I usually make a dessert I know they'll love so they are more likely to eat all their dinner. LOL

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Posts: 2,315
10/29/08 7:40 P

My daughter is the same way all she wants to eat is chicken nuggets or spaghetti. I don't make her anything else, I wrap it up and try later and most of the time she eats it. Good Luck with your son:)

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Posts: 612
10/24/08 10:52 A

My son is becoming such a picky eater. He used to eat everything I put on his plate and now he more or less plays with it and I scramble to find him something else to eat thinking he's going to starve if I don't. If it's spaghetti or lasagna I know for sure he'll eat it and eat alot, but anything else it's hard to guess anymore. Does anyone else have this issue and if so, how do you handle it? Do you find something else or offer it again later? I don't know what else to do.

current weight: 171.5

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