Everyone I know who has/has had a toddler has experienced the "Toddler Food Crisis," but I haven't heard any practical solutions, really. The problem in a nutshell? If he starts rejecting grapes (as he has rejected many other favorite foods (turkey lunchmeat, veggie burgers, cheese, etc.)), he will literally be eating nothing.
I have tried to limit his foods so he's forced to eat what is put before him on his tray, but he just throws it on the floor and remains hungry.
Help.
8 comments:
I wish I could say there IS a solution. Maybe it will give you comfort to hear that I feel you are doing exactly what you should...and he will eat when he is ready.
I would stress to no end when Jackson would not eat. It took me 5years to get here but I no longer lose sleep over Payton's lack of a healthy appetite--or any appetite at all, on some days. She is healthy, has rolls on her thighs and eats when she's good & ready. Have we formed many bad habits--like letting her take her meals on the go and into the tv room just so that some sort of nutrition can enter her body--YES. Am I proud of it--NO.
So just keep doing what you're doing. He will be fine. :)
Marah
Ah! This is the bane of my existence. My 15 month old is a decent eater, but the 3 year old is the worst, especially with dinner. What I try to do is feed them things they like for breakfast and lunch and then they are served what I make for dinner and they can choose to eat it or not, but at least I know that got food earlier.
I would suggest trying to go back to foods that he rejected before, maybe he is into them again. Try, try and try again and don't get to wrapped up in it. My ped said that they slow way down on eating after the age of 12 months or so, just not growing as fast.
Things we love at our house (just for ideas and keep in mind my 3 yo has food allergies):
Scrambled eggs with cheese
Dry cereal - Gorilla Munch, Giant Rice Crispies
Pears
Grapes
Frozen blueberries
Banana - but not cut up, they prefer them whole
Apples
Turkey lunch meat rolled up with cheese and cut in pieces
Pretzels
Teddy Grahams
Wheat Thins
Kashi Crakers
Chocolate milk - it is the only way tiny Tommy will drink it and he needs the cals
Chicken nuggets
Hot dogs
Pasta with butter
Peas - frozen and cooked
Mixed veggies
Rice
French fries
Hope some of that sparks some ideas, but sorry if I just took up too much space on your blog!
We've been dealing with food issues for quite a while now. I have a book that is only slightly ridiculous which you can borrow; its basic message is, your job is to provide the food. His job is to eat it. /scene :) It also recommends that you keep track of what he eats over a week, rather than one day. We are having moderate success by just pretending we do not care at all, though of course we care A LOT. :)
John W ate ONLY cheese, more cheese, most cheese, and white bread for almost 8 years of his life. Seriously.
He is 6 feet tall, strong, great skin, teeth, hair, and body, nice personality, good bones, and seems to have no earthshaking deformity of mind, body, or soul.
I think the secret is to keep trying, and yes, go back. Push them to take tastes. Your brother rejected broccoli until he was 10. Loves it now. Taste is acquired.
Sorry the world has evolved with peanut allergies. Peanut butter was the mainstay of protein when you kids were growing up.
Great advice above as well. Chill pill.
We're about at the same point- kind of. He still loves the same favorite foods, but he wants to feed the dog. It's nuts because he's still hungry and wants more food. We tried to keep the dog away, but he just throws the food on the floor for the imaginary dog. Sorry. It will get better...I know it will.
Okay, chill pill taken. Thanks, everyone for the suggestions/commiserations. E-Dawg, great list! I guess most of my "concern" (which, okay, this post *might* have been written in the heat of the moment) comes from the hope that he will NOT be a picky eater (like someone else in his family...not me), that he will eventually like vegetables, and that he will not be a dessertaholic (like me). I guess I have about 17 more years to work on it. :o)
something 'Auntie G' said reminded me of what my ped once told me....instead of looking at what your child ate in 24 hours--look at 48 hours. Hope that helps!
Marah
Eating does slow down, then pick up, then slow down again (repeat till you're bored.) My son's doing the same thing right now. (One of those plastic tablecloths under the highchair helps for cleanup.)
Last night I offered A 1) the same meals as we had 2) some bread and cheese and 3) a fruit cup. He ate the fruit and threw the rest. I told him that was it and put him in bed for the night. I felt terribly guilty, but he didn't starve over night.
His doctor says they eat one major meal a day & everything else is bonus.
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