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KASSIANRYBOLT
8/10/06 7:00 P
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| I know that there are foods that I have not tried but they are things that I would prefer that he didn't eat like sweets and fast foods and things that most kids will eat when served but I don't want him to have. He also only has his front four teeth and I know that alot of the foods that are available are going to be foods that he will not be able to eat due to the inability to chew them up. I know that for the most part they are really good with gumming foods up, but all the foods that he can gum are the foods he wont eat. I have been told that I am over thinking it and that he will start eating when he really gets hungry, but when he starts to loose weight like he has I cant help but to worry.
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METAPHIZIKAL
8/10/06 6:54 P
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| Just keep trying is the advice I have gotten. When she turned 11 months old out of the blue she started throwing up food that she had eaten for months before with no problem. They said it was reflux, but I was never satisfied with that. We are to the point now where she is seeing a gastrointestional specialist and peds allergy specialist also. I know deep down there is something that causes her not to want to eat. I just can't figure out what. And I have let go of the need to feed her only the healthiest stuff in the universe. She loves french fries, I bake them in the oven, no salt and she eats them. Basically if she's eating, I'm not complaining. Are there any foods you haven't tried with him? It takes a lot of outside the box thinking, and sometimes I have to tell that mom voice that says f.fries are bad to just relax. LOL
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KASSIANRYBOLT
8/10/06 6:43 P
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| My has completly fallen off the growth chart as of this week since he is 13 months old and now down to about 19 lbs. I talked to my doctor about it and of course they really didn't have anything to say except stop giving him juice and milk. I guess they think that the 2 or 3 ounces of juice and milk that he has per day are filling him up to the point that he does not want to eat. I hear that girls are usually less weight and generally smaller naturaly than boys are is that the case? Has your doctor given you any ideas for your daughter and how to get her to eat, even if it is just a little bit?
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METAPHIZIKAL
8/10/06 6:37 P
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| I feel your pain. My daughter, Micah, is in the 20% for her weight. She is only 20lbs @ 19 months old. This is due to her pickiness and lack of interest in food. I know we all each have our own eating habits and bodies are different with the amount of fuel they need, but as a mom it drives me nuts! I am still breastfeeding because I'm so afraid of her not getting her nutrional needs. She doesn't eat and the little bit she does is very limited. I wish I had more encouraging words. But you are not alone!
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KASSIANRYBOLT
8/10/06 6:27 P
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| Well I have a situation with my 13 month old that is a little bit different. He is not pcky and not really unhappy with the foods that I am giving to him. He seems to be fine with all of it. And he really liked everything that I am giving him now about a month ago, but all of a sudden he has just stopped eating. He will not eat anything. He wont eat fruit, vegis, ceareal, bread or meat and I really just dont want to give him any sugars even though he might just eat that. I have come to the end of my rope. My son will not eat anything from me, and I have tried my mother, husband, mother-in-law and the daycare. Everyone is having the same results, he just wont eat. I have no idea what to do in this situation. This would not bother me as much as it does if it were not for the fact that now he is starting to loose weight after almost a week of not eating more than a bite of food each day.
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HEATHER43232
8/7/06 10:51 P
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| You could add fruit to the oatmeal, either very small chunks or puree it. The puree she'll never even notice and it will make the oatmeal taste sweet. Good way to get in a serving a fruit.
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Meta,
Wow...that's rough! Toddlers are tough enough..but so many allergies? I wish I had a good solution for you...good luck!
However, I do have a suggestion about the allergies. Make up little cards that list all of the things she's allergic to and carry them around with you. That way, if she's with a sitter, at day care, with your in-laws, a play date, etc, every person around her can have a copy of the card so there is no question what they can not/should not give to her. Food allergies, as you know, can be very serious.
Good luck!
Mandy
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Toddlers are pure evil. :-)
Experts say it takes about 10 times of being served a new food for a toddler to start to become accustomed to it and try it. The worst thing I did with my daughter (who is now 6) was to cater to her eating whims. She's still a very picky eater and it's hard to get her to try new things.
When my son was born I promised myself I wouldn't make the same mistakes with him, and when he started eating solids, we gave him what we were eating. Sometimes he'll eat it, sometime he'll throw it, but he won't deliberately starve himself, and he's a much less picky eater than my daughter.
What the experts say has proved true for us. The more times my kids' see something on their plate, the more accustomed to it they become and the more likely they are to eat it.
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METAPHIZIKAL
8/7/06 10:49 A
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| My 19 month old daughter is the worst when it comes to eating. She will absolutely not try anything new. I fed her only organic baby foods when she was younger. I've tried to continue a healthy theme in her life. We have recently found out she is allergic to milk, eggs, Peanut Butter and more. She also needs to see a GI Dr. She eats oatmeal, chicken and fries. Thats about it. If i even try to introduce something new she FREAKS OUT and throws a major fit and then stops eating even the stuff she does like. I've tried making homemade foods, I've tried nutritional classes. STILL NEED HELP! How can I get my babygirl with allergies to eat good food!?
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| My son is 2 and He is the best eaterr. We dont have sugar or junk food in the house. He loves brocolli and any other green vegetables he can get his hands on. He has only had sugar 3 or 4 times and that was only on birthdays etc. I feel that if they never have it they cant miss it or crave it. From day one i have always offered only good foods to him and it works.
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| My son is 2 and He is the best eaterr. We dont have sugar or junk food in the house. He loves brocolli and any other green vegetables he can get his hands on. He has only had sugar 3 or 4 times and that was only on birthdays etc. I feel that if they never have it they cant miss it or crave it. From day one i have always offered only good foods to him and it works.
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Replying to BRANDONSGIRL:" my daugher goes in spurts. shell eat cottage cheese only one day, apples the next and meat etc. should i worry? she is only 21 months and still takes formula.
- Message Posted by: BRANDONSGIRL3 - 7/28/2006"
My friend is taking classes to be a midwife, and she read that toddlers often eat that way - one type of food at a time, and that it's more important they get the well rounded food types in a week, rather than in one day. If they haven't been spoiled with sugar and treats, their little bodies know what they need to be healthy, and we could probably learn a lot about intuitive eating from them! 
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ISABELLAMIRAC
8/5/06 9:53 A
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I think the hardest thing to deal with is the diet whims my 2 year old goes through - a whole week of eating virutally nothing but brocoli, then avocado, then yogurt. Some days she eats really well, and others it's hit or miss. I don't make up "special" meals for her, I serve her what I eat, and just keep presenting all kinds of healthy foods, eventually she does eat them (even weeks of trying later). The most improtant thing for me is to honor her hunger - I never learned what full felt like, as we had to finish our food no matter what (big clean plate club complex!), and I think it's such a healthy skill, to know when you are hungry, and what is enough. She does get a multi-vit.
But it's frustrating some days, even though I know the pickies are probably just a phase!
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 I got my son to eat a friutsickle I managed to get a blender not the best doesnt have a lid but it works and I made a strawberry-peach smoothie and then pored it in icecube trays and my son ate one after I get him use to the fruit sickle's I am going to try to make one with veggies and fruit (so it has a sweet taist not a veggie taist) and see if I can get him to eat that.
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OK, another thing. (Sorry!)
Beverages. No soda or juice allowed. Skim milk (OK once they're 3 and older) whenever. Chocolate milk that I mix up (on the occasional weekend or when they have a playdate they're trying to impress!).
Water. My kids love water ever since I bought a case of those smaller water bottles that twist open & close. Most people drink and toss, but I just fill them up and put them back in the fridge. For a $4 investment, we have 24 water bottles that the kids can grab for themselves from the refrigerator whenever they want. They love their "icy cold water"!
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| I do make my own chicken nuggets and french frys (I dont do fryed foods lol and wont let him taste them) I make them in bulk then freeze them so I can make them in a hurry. He is on a multi-vitamin I want to make sure he at least gets his nutriants the Dr said that its a stage and he will grow out of it but to give him a vitamin in the mean time, I also have only whole-wheat bread in the house but I want to get him to eat fruits and veggies and a varity of healthy foods.
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Oh, one more thing that really works for us - appetizers.
When my husband or I are cooking dinner, the kids are usually hanging around, asking for something to eat (or at 5 p.m. they're "starving"). Instead of saying "you'll ruin your appetite" I got smart and started serving them appetizers - a plate with cut up veges, fruit, maybe 2-3 whole wheat crackers, etc. The more colors & things on it, the better.
The food you're (mentally) begging them to eat at dinner will often be gobbled down happily as a pre-dinner treat.
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First thing I'd say is to remember that your first responsibility isn't to make your child happy, it's to make sure he's healthy.
So don't buy hot dogs. Except for birthday parties.
Bake your own chicken nuggets using whole wheat bread crumbs or crushed cornflakes.
Make your own french fries (cut thin fries out of potatoes, toss in a bowl with an egg white, some cumin, salt & pepper, maybe a touch of chili power, bake on a cookie sheet at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then broil for another 8-10 minutes - served with ketchup, everyone will think they rock!).
Only keep whole-wheat bread products in the house.
With your doctor's approval, have your child chew a multivitamin a day (good insurance, no matter what your diet).
Sometimes your child will skip a meal or two. So be it. My mom is a registered nurse at a hospital and she'll be the first to tell you that they've never admitted a child for malnutrition because they only served healthy foods at home!
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Hello All
My son is 18 months old and the most picky eatter I have ever seen the only things he wants to eat are chicken nuggets, bread products, hot dogs, and french frys. When he see's me or daddy eatting something he wants it and he puts it in his mouth then spits it out. I dont give him sweets unless its fruit but he doesnt want to eat them any suggestions?
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Six weeks ago, when my husband was diagnosed with type 2diabetes, I came home and cleared the house out of all the junk. My kids (3 & 5) used to get Little Debbie type desserts every night after dinner (probably the unhealthiest thing we did with them).
Now they get "healthy" desserts. I'll cut up a piece of fruit and let them dip it into a couple of teaspoons of chocolate syrup.
Or I'll puree frozen fruit, frozen yogurt (not the ice cream, I actually freeze containers of yogurt), frozen skim milk cubes, etc. I put the mix into a sundae cup & top with a bit of almonds and they love it as much as an ice cream sundae.
Their latest favorite (& my hubbie's) are "popsicles." I bought the form at Winco (get at most discount stores or grocery stores). I puree yogurt, milk, a touch of juice (optional) and add a bit of fruit at the end (go with peach, strawberries, blueberries, whatever) so that it's roughly chopped. Then pour into the popsicle forms and freeze. They LOVE them. I could actually give them for breakfast, they're so healthy, but I keep up the mystique of them being a special after-dinner treat.
Our family doctor spoke to my kids when my husband was diagnosed about not having cake, donuts, etc. Now we talk about "strong and healthy" foods. They still have treats once in awhile (birthdays, etc.), but they're kept to a minimum and you know what, we've all survived! :)
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I love how so many moms have said that their toddler wants to eat what they are eating. Makes me think about what example I want to set for my child... and what kind of example I am already setting.
You all also have some really great ideas and wonderful support. Thanks for adding to this thread.
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Amileegirl,
We had thought my stepdaughter was lactose intolerant because she kept getting tummy aches but I wonder if it is something more to do with acid.
I am seriously worried about her developing an ED, her mother is very "appearance oriented" and wants her to join dance and I feel like that will only make things worse with the additude she has toward food already. One thing that makes me feel a little better is if its anything she likes (chicken nuggets, french fries, white noodles, cake) she'll eat and eat and eat. I try not to push her as I know thats not good for her either but I want to teach the whole family how to eat better. My husband is a junk food eater which is where the kids' attitudes come from.
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My daughter will be 4 in September and has my sweet tooth. She loves any type of candy, sugar, or sweets! I have started talking to her about fruits and vegetables - and started talking about "junk food" and sugar. We talked about how you should only have a tiny little bit of candy each day. The funny thing was we went out to eat the other day, and she was sitting there with me - talking about what we had talked about - giving me a mini nutrition lesson. THe table next to ours was very impressed, I think she may have even taught them a thing or two. I was just happy she was actually listening to me :o)
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the first thing you need to do is take her to your family physician. Children tend to be picky eaters-when allowed to be. Be an example to your child, eat the foods that you want her to eat and dont eat the foods you dont want her to eat. If she is making herself physically sick, that may be more of a sign of psychological problems with deeper stemming roots, not just I HATE CARROTS- As you know we dont eat healthy foods because we LOVE them we eat them because we HAVE to in order to maintain our health, at that age its all about flavor- make them yummy and delicous- allow her to help with the process, cooking and the love of food is a family experience.. good luck..the only foods my daughter wont touch are papayas, mangos, and avocados (ironically- those are the foods my husband is openly disgusted by)
xoxo
renn
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SOLAREYNA
Has you stepdaughtr been tested for acid reflux?
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JTFish:
Letting her help with the food prep is a wonderful way to get her involved in purposeful and healthy eating.
However, be careful not to make mealtime a battle of wills. If she whines ignore it (no time like the present to demonstrate that whining is not going to change the situation) and don't draw undue attention to the plate and don't repeat yourself. Eating is supposed to be pleasurable. If she doesn't want to eat it, she doesn't have to but she must know that nuggets are not an available option.
This is what's for dinner. Say no more.
Do offer, however, healthy finger foods that she may want to help herself to as suggested within easy reach at the table (think of it as a salad option -- everyone can still partake -- it is not a special meal). And have reachable options throughout the day where she has easy access where she doesn't have to ask in order to have a peice of apple. She may also enjoy helping to serve herself at the table of the foods available.
I don't think you should have to bend over backward to make the food cutesy. I think it draws too much attention to the fact that you "have to make it cute so it will be edible". Don't get me wrong. Nothing wrong with a little garnish (even adults enjoy looking at a star shaped pat of butter at a fancy dinner and ooh and ahh over the radish rosettes). But if you have to make a major project out of every meal, its still bribery. I think that is sending the wrong message and far too much effort which can easily steamroll out of control and you'll be back to square one.
Edited to Add:
It /could/ also be (in addition to the battle of wills) is that some foods might give her unpleasant gas or other ill effects. A friend of mine is obsessed with her 10 month old not wanting much to do with table food yet, but its understandable since the things she's tried has given him constipation.
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| My six year old stepdaughter won't eat anything that is good for her, in fact she gets so upset she makes herself throw up or she sits there and cries. i hate forcing her to eat too but what we hve started doing (she is terribly skinny) is she has to eat half her food to watch her tv in her room that night and she has to eat everything on her plate to get dessert. It seems to help. If it is something none of the kids (we have three) want to eat, they each have to eat their age in bites. That way its fair for everyone. I really hope she'll grow out of it. before my son and I moved in with my husband and his kids, my son would eat anything. Now he turns his nose up at veggies too. (he's three now). It makes me sad because i love vegetables and I know how healthy they are. Thank goodness he still eats fruit.
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My 12-yr old son hasn't eaten a vegetable in 10 years, I kid you not. I don't know how he is able to grow. He stopped eating fruits as well, a few years ago. I gave him vitamins for a brief time, but stopped because I'm still hoping that his body will eventually give him cravings for the right stuff. I've even told him lies like, there was just a news report on TV that said eating carrots will improve your video game performance. Still no luck at all!
He never ever gets sick, either. What a mystery!
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TamieP--- My two year old was diagnosed with several food allergies about 6 months ago... We have tried so many different things to get her to eat enough calories. And what we have found is that if we are all eating it (my husband, myself and my older daughter) then she also wants it. This includes any veggies I put out. She also loves italian salad dressing and if I give her a little of this she will eat almost anything I give her. We do a lot of spinach salads with fruit cup up in it. She also loves most raw veggies. My girls also have to eat their veggies first before they can have the rest of their dinner. It really works! Veggie stir fries may be a good way to get him to eat a larger variety.
Have you tried having him help you to prepare the food? kids almost always want to eat what they have prepared!
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