[zebramom]

We went through some control battles with Shorty. My wise friends in this forum told me about Nutri Pals to get nutrition into her. It comes in both "milk" and bars like granola bars. I found them in the baby section at Wal-Mart.

Sounds like she's a smart cookie already and will test you. Keep a bowl of fruit or something out that she can have when she's hungry, but do not cook special meals for her. She will eat when she's hungry.

If she's not used to sitting down at meal time, explain to her what your "tradition" is and that it's part of being a family.

I'll still be happy to come up and hold babies for you.

[crick]

I don't know...she's not even 2 yet, right? She's had a lot of stress, changes and new things going on and I think at this time it would be better that she just eat. Make slow changes than try and make a lifestyle change in food since she's already had a gazilliion life changes?

So if it were me, I'd be giving her what she likes (no, I"m not saying go out and buy Mcd's, but within reason?) There are healthier versions of things out there. All beef kosher hot dogs with no nitrates, you can make lean hamburger patties. And of course you should continue to introduce some new foods and introduce her to sitting down etc.

Besides...we are talking about a not quite 2 year old, not an older child you can just explain everything too. There is time to make changes...just don't think you can pick too many battles I guess is what I'm saying, and the food battle/changes to me anyway, seems to be a lesser priority than her security and comfort.

Jmo...

[aspenhall]

I kinda agree with everything said above....perhaps you can make lunch time "comfort food" and allow corndogs etc...
for breakfast, if she'll eat scrambled eggs, then make a whole bunch up the night before, and put them in single packs in the fridge then just toss in the micro each morning...then slowly make them have less and less egg, so if she's still hungry she can have fruit/cereal etc...

My dd is PROOF that a toddler can and will starve themselves if allowed....she was 4 yrs old and only weighed 20lbs...dr said he'd give me 3 months to get her weight up or he was gonna hospitalize her...(at the first dr visit one month after placement) and she gained 10 lbs and grew 4 inches in those 3 months. She was refusing to eat, claiming to be full, so that she could get down and play...eating was a "waste of time" in her words...So No matter how little snacks I fed her to make sure she was hungry, by the next meal, she'd still only take 2-3 bites (enough to appease the hunger pains) and then claim to be full...

Finally I had to get really strict about her eating habits.. She knows now, that full or not, she eats x amount because thats what her body needs...

I say, eliminate all snacks/fluids for an hour before dinner...serve "questionable" comfort food lunches...and ready to eat eggs till she gets used to things, probably for a few months or so.

[athikers]

Well, she had her first visit today and I asked mom for a list of "healthy" foods she likes. Its pretty decent actually, not things I would normally buy, but not really "bad" stuff. So, I'm going to go tomorrow and shop for her and get some things she's used to.

Even today, as she settles in, she's eating foods she refused just a couple days ago, so she's going to be fine. But, its still difficult as she still won't eat any meat, cheese or pasta of any kind EXCEPT hotdogs (and ham went over without flying colors, but at least she ate some).

[sdiedre]

Um - I hate to even mention this, but I am the QUEEN of nuking my meals (I had to do a lot of adjusting when the kiddos came!)

Believe it or not, you can nuke eggs. Mix them up in a bowl, pop in the microwave for about 30-45 seconds and voila! Scrambled eggs!

[waited2long]

You can also hard boil a dozen eggs and just dice 'em up for breakfast. That's scrambled eggs without any additives!