Asking for Recipes and Tips

stop giving so much "bottles"
start small and offer the "Milk" in a cup instead of a bottle
if you have access to "healthy stores" like whole foods, they have many good things for kids, even pretzels that have a good amount of protein...maybe some vitamin supplements that she could chew (eliminates the need for the liquid stuff she is drinking and teaches her to chew)

could it be that by now she has a food aversion?
could it be that she is not able to chew/swallow correctly?
I know this sounds odd, but I would get her checked out by a Speech Pathologist who specializes in Feeding (I say it sounds odd because we usually think of a Speech Pathologist as dealing with speech & language- they also deal w/ swallowing and eating...)

at the same time i would work on introducing foods...
you'll probably have to make it slow...
I would also work on cutting out the pediasure. I would start by adding milk little by little to the bottles so that eventually you're not giving pediasure anymore. at the same time I would try feeding milk smoothies instead?
little by little making a bottle thicker and thicker so that you can spoon feed it...then take the smoothie (use yogurt and fresh and frozen fruits, even add peanut butter or almond butter for protein) and add crushed graham cracker to it- a tiny bit a t first and keep adding it to increase thickness/crunch. eventually this will lead to eating things with texture...
my guess is that it took this long to get to where you are and that it will not be a quick fix to undo all of it...

please get help :-)

keep us posted!

Hi M.,

I have two children with special food diets so cooking creatively is my specialty! Plus I am fortunate (not soliciting but it has been a blessing) to be an Independent Advanced Director for Pampered Chef so I have access to tons of recipes. We had a kids cookbook that was retired last year but the great thing about it was the recipes were "fun looking" so really peeked kids interest. Your two year is definately old enough to help put some meals together too which may encourage her to eat it because of the pride in helping prepare it. I will dig around to see if I have a second copy of the book and if not and you want to contact me directly, we can go through the recipes and you can let me know which ones you want to try first and I'll email them to you.
Cooking three meals a night due to everyone's needs I'm all about quick and easy! I hope I can help!

1)cut down on the pediasure (I know, it can be hard, but it will be worth it.) 2) check out a book called "Sugar Free Toddlers" -or "What to Expect-the Toddler Years' Here is a sample recipe from Sugar Free Toddlers

Whole Grain Banana mini-muffins
1 cup sifted, unbleached flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 c. wheat germ
1pinch salt
3 tsp. low aluminum baking powder
1 egg 1/4c apple juice concentrate,thawed
1 cup milk 3 tsp melted margarine
1/2 c. mashed ripe banana 1/4 c. raisins (fold in last)

Preheat oven to 400 F. in a mixing bowl,combine dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine moist ingredients. Add moist ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Fold in raisins,being careful not to overmix.
Either spray muffin cups with cooking spray,or use muffin cups. Fill cups 2/3 full, bake 10 - 15 minutes, just until done (they will bounce back when touched if done) You can find the mini muffin tins from a friend who sells Pampered Chef- I think they are available other places as well.

Stop thinking in terms of making her eat. Think instead of offering her good choices. Things she can snack on throughout the day. She shouldn't be doing anything according to any arbitrary schedule. Just make sure she has the option to eat healthy food when she wants to. Fruit, cheese, crackers, yogurt, applesauce, etc., etc. -- let go of the idea of cooking and think about healthy small items that can be on hand and require little or no prep.

N.

Stop giving her all those bottles!!!!
She will never be hungry enough to eat if you are filling her up with liquid. It sounds like its just easier for you to make her bottles of milk and pedialite then make something simple for her to eat. This is going to cause some major eating issues later on. I don't want to sound rude but I think that you are doing whats easy. Get a book! Kid food is so simple! you can give her, tofu/real chicken nuggets, soybeans, mac and cheese, grilled cheese, yourgert, rice, tuna fish and noodles, quesidillas with tofu/meat and cheese, pb&J. My daughter eats what we eat (american, mexican, italian, indian) because she has no choice, it wasn't always easy but you are the parent and should know whats best. Not her. Please talk to your pediatrition about this. you are going to also mess up her teeth and gums forever if you keep giving her all those bottles. Try just giving her 3 a day but 1/2's morning, nap, and bed. Then give when you sometimes give her the pedialite do it in a cup! That stuff is not supposed to be for everyday because you choose not to make her eat. She will not starve herself, eventually she will eat but you have to make the decision to stay strong.
E

I just got a book that was recommended to me by several other mthers and I love it!! It is Super Baby Foods. I ordered it pretty cheap on Amazon.
http://www.superbabyfood.com/
Also, Dr. Sears has great information about children's diets including recipes. http://www.askdrsears.com/

Hope that helps!

First off, there should be no reason for her to be drinking during the night. You say she is drinking "while she is sleeping" - does she take a baby bottle full with it with her to bed? If so, you are going to have problems with cavities later on, because the sugars of the drink are staying on her teeth and will corrode her enamel. So it is really important to break that habit. You may have to start watering it down, do 3/4 pediasure 1/4 water for a few nights, then progress to more water less pediasure until she loses interest in the bottle. I agree with the others, the pediasure just doesn't provide enough of the nutrients she needs, so it shouldn't be the only thing you rely on for nutrition. Don't worry if she doesn't eat during the day. A child will not let themselves starve. There have been many nights when my children don't eat their dinner (I refuse to be a short order cook so they get the same meal my husband and I eat). If they don't like it, there is no other option, if they are hungry, believe me, they will eat. I have had many nights where my son will say "I don't like steak (or chicken)" and not eat then other nights when he is truly hungry, wolf it all down. Right now, the main things I know my kids will definitely eat are chicken nuggets (Tyson has "Dino" nuggets which have no transfats and are real chicken vs byproducts), peanut butter and jelly, beefaroni, salami or other cold cut sandwiches, grilled cheese, whole wheat waffles and pancakes, egg and cheese omelet, cereal (cheerios, honey nut cheerios). Fruit, lots and lots of fruit and I try to get a wide variety of fruit.
Just keep remembering, kids will not let themselves starve! They will eat when they are hungry. If you follow that mantra, figuring out what to feed her will be less stressful (though I can't promise you that mealtime won't be less stressful!) Just hang in there!!

M.,

First thing you need to do is get her off of the pediasure. One a day is fine but anymore than that is too hard on the digestive system. I have had problems with my son in the past with pretty much the same problem and let me tell you he is a very picky eater. Stopping now will help. Try easy things right now and go from there, mac and cheese with diced ham, is something my kids really like. Taking away the pediasure will help her get hungry and offer her fruits, things like bananas or strawberry slices. Try subtle things first. Go on bettycrocker.com or even foodnetwork.com and look for kid friendly recipes. You'll find something that will work, but as someone who has been there before it becomes a real problem like it did with my son stop the pediasure now.

Good Luck.

S.
35 y/o SAHM of 3 boys 13,5 and 3

Hi M.,
From my own experience, it sounds to me like she has no interest in food since she is never hungry. I would cut down on the milk and pediasure (ask your doctor to be sure, if you like) and start with very soft foods. Did she ever eat baby food? start with soft foods. A lot of babies don't like hard textures. Don't feel challenged by not being an experienced cook. That you can learn.

It has also been my experience that kids eat better when they are sitting down to a family meal. If it is only you and her, you can still make it a special time. Sit at the table together with her whenever you can. It is a socializing experience and then make sure you are enjoying your food. She will be curious and that is one way to get her to try new foods. Good luck!

I am a horrible cook too!! But I recently found a great book that has helped me and my 2 year old. It's called "Deceptively Delicious" by Jessica Seinfield. I am a full time working mom and it has fit into my life perfectly. The recipes call for pureed vegetables and fruits so the kids don't see or taste them! I bought a vegetable steamer and I steam all my vegetables on my weekend. I puree them in the blender. The recipes are simple and delicious! My husband and I have lost weight since I started cooking from it and my daughter loves everything I have cooked from it! Good luck!

Hi M.

You must be a nervous wreck!
You have got to take control of her eating habit now before she gets too old to really fight you!
Number one: do not feed her at night. Your pediatrician will tell you that she does not need the nutrition at night.
That will make her more hungry.
Number 2: Offer her simple meals to start with: oatmeal, banana, yoghurt, cereal, soft cheese, toasts with butter and jelly. She probably refuses and throws a tantrum, right?
I had a problem with my son too. The doctor said he could go 2 days without eating but needed water (very important) so I told my son "you eat this or nothing". At the end of the day, he gave in and ate.
Do not worry, she will NOT starve herself.
You can not keep feeding her pediasure. For many reasons. Some of them:
1-she needs to learn that we all sit down 3 times a day to eat. It's part of life.
2- Does she speak properly? Does she choke on solid foods? When children learn how to eat solids, it is also a big development milestone for their speech, etc...
You have to be strong. Remember it is for her own good.
Good luck. :-)
S.

Have you gotten your pediatrician's input about the pediasure? My son would still be breastfeeding had he not weaned at 9 months so I had to supplement with formula until his first birtday and until he is 2, my pediatrician recommended that he be on whole milk. I have used pediasure, but ONLY as a treat. I do not believe it should be used the way you are using it. It should not replace meals and it should not be a substitute for milk. With that said, I would speak to your pediatrician about using the pediasure in place of milk.

As for the picky eating, I have one of those and I know how frustrating it is to find something for your baby to eat. I don't make separate meals for any of my children. They eat what we eat as a family...or they can go to sleep hungry. With my 22 month old son, he is picky. What he may gobble up today, he may turn his nose to tomorrow. It's really a hit or miss with him and I get so frustrated. Here are some suggestions that seem to work for me:
crackers with jelly, grilled cheese sandwich, macaroni and cheese, spaghettios, bread with apple butter or jelly, chopped apples, sliced bananas, french toast, pancakes, Cream of wheat, Oatmeal (unflavored,no sugar), small pieces of cheese or cheese sticks, yogurt, soup. Sometimes my baby just isn't hungry when it's our regular meal time so I'll try feeding him a little later. Another tip is to give her really small portions. It's easier to put more on her plate then to have her feel overwhelmed with heaping portions in front of her. I usually put about a teaspoon of whatever I serve on my baby's plate.

I have three daughters... the youngest is almost three. They too are somewhat picky eaters!! The good thing is that your daughter likes milk/pediasure... the bad thing is that you may be given her too much so she is not hungry for solid food. My youngest doesn't even like to drink milk much. She gets her calcium through other dairy products such as cheeses and yogurt. My best advice to you is too cut back on the pediasure (she really shouldn't be drinking out a bottle anymore either). Offer her small nutritious snacks during the day fresh fruit, small cubes of cheese, goldfish crackers, whole wheat bread with peanut butter, baby carrots, cucumbers, or yogurt are all good choices. Make the food fun!!!! Use small pieces to create a face. Use a toothpick to make small fruit and cheese cabobs. Offer her a variety of foods throughout the day and see if she likes any of them. Small amounts are good. She doesn't need to eat three big meals a day, several healthy snacks throughout the day are fine.