[onhazier]

C's doing well overall. However, we're concerned about his eating patterns and would appreciate any advice you can provide.

C's a picky eater and we've not dealt with that before. One day, he might tear into a chicken drumstick. The next day, he won't touch it. Potatoes only exist in french fry or tater tot form. Noodles only exist if they are spaghetti and then only if there's no meat in the sauce. Mac and cheese results in vomit. Cereal will only be eaten if it is brightly colored and has no milk on it.

Here are the things we know he'll eat: Cucumber, cherry tomatoes, most fruits that we offer, spaghetti with marinara, chicken nuggests, fish sticks, steak, rice, butter (curry) chicken, pizza, animal crackers and yogurt. Scrambled eggs and bacon are eaten. Some days, waffles are great. Other days, they won't be touched.

What do you suggest for introducing more foods into his daily selections? We're not forcing him to eat anything. We're putting a little on his plate and he's served the same thing we eat. He'll eat the one or two items we happen to get right that night and then turn away from the rest. There is no such thing as enticing him to taste even one bite. He'd rather go hungry. Tonight's dinner was 1/2 a cup of milk, three cherry tomatoes and 1/2 a slice of pear.

We eat a diverse collection of foods and don't rely upon convenience foods. C was fed mostly from fast food places and fruit was about the only fresh food he got on a regular basis. His food issues are well documented from before he came to us.

Anyway, I'm looking for suggestions and advice on how to encourage a picky eater to eat. Thank you.

[evillemomndad]

I've learned that picky eaters will eat better if they're involved with the prep. of the meal.

[JessicaBaker]

Sounds like he has a pretty good variety in his diet. How old is he? Is there any chance a sticker chart or something similar would work to get him to try new foods?

Personally, I think you're doing a great job handling it just the way you described. It can be frustrating dealing with a picky eater, but likely with time he will become more adventurous.

[cecegarrett]

Similar to Eville... if my kiddos help "cook" they will eat just about anything.

I must say though, at that age... sounds like his diet preferences iare about par for the course.

[OakShannon]

How old is C?

If he's old enough, I agree that having him help to prepare the food is a good idea. Also, if he's a toddler, SOME of what he's doing sounds normal. (I know - it's a matter of degree.) But the whole, I love waffles on Monday but won't touch them on Tuesday has toddler written all over it. Fortunately, there is enough variety in his go-to foods for a fairly balanced diet. Repetitious maybe, but he's not going to starve. My son is almost 2 and the number of foods he will eat has fluctuated. He went through a growth spirt over the summer and I could get him to eat almost anything. Now his weight gain has slowed and he's Mr. Picky again. Again, some of that is just pretty normal for a toddler.

One thing to keep in mind, too is that it can take 12 or more introductions of a new food before a toddler will eat it. So keep trying, even if he keeps refusing.

[onhazier]

C is 2 1/2 yrs old.

I thought about the idea of including him in prep last night. He had helped me load the carrots from the garden into the basket. I peeled and cut a small one into sticks and included it on his plate. He did take the smallest taste and declared it "Blech!"

Thanks for the reality check on a toddler being picky. We were spoiled with R, A1 and A2. Those three would eat just about everything you offered.

[OakShannon]

Originally Posted by onhazier

C is 2 1/2 yrs old.

I thought about the idea of including him in prep last night. He had helped me load the carrots from the garden into the basket. I peeled and cut a small one into sticks and included it on his plate. He did take the smallest taste and declared it "Blech!"

Thanks for the reality check on a toddler being picky. We were spoiled with R, A1 and A2. Those three would eat just about everything you offered.

LOL! My son eats steamed veggies more willingly if he gets to dip them in hummus. (And sometimes, the carrots are just a vehicle for spooning hummus into his mouth!) A lot of toddlers like the idea of dipping things. Maybe try some hummus or ranch dressing?

[arbuckle17]

We make the kiddos 'try' everything on 2-3 different occasions, before we pull it off the menu.

They need to try it in different environments because foods can taste completely different depending on how they are prepared.

Niether of our current set would eat anything green till we set this rule and now they eat all the veggies we prepare without complaint (except beats, that one just isn't going to happen). You can even hear the occasional mmmmmm slip out on occasion.

We have also found that ketchup can be a lifesaver on many things, like eggs.

If they inherently don't like it (which is usually easy to tell) then they don't have to eat it beyond the tasteing.

If they are just being finicy and won't eat then the plate goes in the fridge till the next meal (or till they say they are hungry) and they get it then.

I feel it is important to teach kids to try things. I have seen so many of my friends fall into the "he doesn't eat veggies" or making 2-3 different main course to feed the family in one sitting. That just gets to be to expensive and to big of a draw on my wife who lovingly prepares each meal (unless I am cooking and lets face it, everything I cook tastes the same, burnt).

Additionally, the ability to be open with what you eat leads into polite table manors at friends houses.

[Biblemom]

I agree with the previous posts. Unless his weight does not follow the curve of his age/height/weight (dr's form), I would just keep doing what you are doing. If you are concerned you can always add a Carnation Instant Breakfast shake to the breakfast milk.

[carlychan]

I have a 1 year old and a 2 year old. Neither are picky (although my 6 year old is and always has been). Here is what we eat on a regular basis. Hopefully, it will give you some ideas.
Breakfast:
eggs--hard boiled, scrambled, or over easy
french toast
cereal--dry
yogurt--dairy or soy, plain with pureed fruit mixed in
fruit--any kind

Lunch:
natural lunchmeat cut into tiny pieces
cheese chunks
whole grain crackers
fruit
veggies (mine don't eat well either)
cheese (and chicken or egg) quesadilla
tortillini with or without sauce
leftovers from dinner
bread with smear of peanut butter and some all fruit jelly

dinner:

whatever we are having with lots of fruit. Sometimes I will leave a little plain meat out instead of mixing it in things (example...turkey burger plain instead of in speghetti sauce). They will usually eat rice, potatoes, or noodles. Usually they will eat the meat/protein. And, of course, fruit.

That is what mine eat. Good luck!

[thelowlanders]

One book_ Deceptively Delicious Cookbook

[lovingheart]

The little guy would eat some things, would not touch others, would make himself gag on some and would hold others in his mouth forever. We would put a little of everything we were eating on his plate each time, we would offer ranch dressing or ketchup. Now a lot of the things he would not even try before are favorites. But at 2 they just as easily turn into things he hates. I often would hide veggies in other food when he did not know.

[thelowlanders]

Hehehehe! I think that's my favorite "card" I've seen children pull. The holding food in the mouth for forever bit Anything for control right? haha I've kinda trained to make myself take it all w/a sense of humor...

[chevyjewel]

Does he usually always drink milk at meals? If so he might be filling up on that first.

I've got a daycare pumpkin nearly two who's mom was still giving her bottles of milk to drink before she started here. As a result she's still used to filling up on fluids instead of actually eating food. I barter with her now, if she takes a bite she gets a drink out of a sippy, then I take it back until the next bite. If she doesn't take any bites she gets no milk, just a sippy of plain water when meal is over to make sure she keeps hydrated.

Just food for thought (pun intended ) in case you see him automatically diving for his cup the second he sits down.

[laceyc]

My sister's pediatrician told her that toddlers will not starve themselves. I think you have the right idea to cook at least 1 or 2 items you know he will eat plus a new dish. Be patient. I have a 2 1/2 year old...some night she's everything on her plate and somenights it's a battle.