Desperate Mom Looking for Ideas

Have you tried bread other than white or a bagel - whole wheat, rolls, multigrain? Maybe he'll eat cinamon swirl or rasin bread

For fruit - does he eat melon - cantelope, watermellon? What about canned fruit - peaches or fruit cocktail?

Can you send spaghetti or macaroni and cheese to be heated up?

Does he eat chicken nuggets? If you can get the Perdue Whole Grain Chicken Nuggets - they could be heated up. My picky son will eat those (with ketchup).

My daughter is picky as well... I do what the others have said... I make what I make and if she is hungry enough, she'll eat. She ends up skipping dinner a couple times a week, but she is healthy weight....

Anyway, a quick lunch suggestion. They make raviolis in the frozen food section that have spinach in them. I boil them and put a little red sauce on them. That is the only veggie she eats at all (because she has no idea it's in there). Try that.

Sorry. I'm no help. I subscribe to the policy: This is what we are eating. If you are hungry, eat. If not, perhaps you'll be hungry at the next meal. My children are adults noow and eat anything.

J.,
Take this advise from a mom of 5, give your son whatever he likes now. If that means he only eats raisin bagels with cream cheese then let him eat only that, this faze may not last long and then he will go onto liking/disliking something else. I had one who refused to eat anything green for a year so I would feed him corn, cauliflower, potatoes, etc. Another went through eating only peanut butter and jelly for a month and then switched to chicken nuggets but not just any chicken nuggets as they had to be the ones I made and had to be made fresh. Oh here is a good one, my 2nd son was and still is addicted to pasta and I had to make it from scratch. What I would do is add pureed vegetables to the dough and called them colored pasta. That lasted for about 2 weeks then it was back to plain homemade pasta; thank God I am Italian. LOL So as you can see kids go through all kinds of fazes but eventually it settles down. My kids now range from 26 down to 10, I have 2 that don't eat fish, 2 that eats odd things and everything I cook, and another who refuses to eat cranberry sauce and only eats zucchini if it is batter dipped and fried. Hope this helps.
Hugs,
T.

Hi J.,

When I was pregnant with my daughter I was looking to find books on baby food and I found Annabel Karmel's books. She also has a wonderful website where you can find easy and nutricious (free) recipies for your son. I would go on her website to try out a few of the recipies and I would try them out before buying the books.

I have tried a few of her recipies, and I have a couple of her books, and my daughter likes the what I make her. the recipies are definitelly easy to make especially since I don't really cook. I hope this helps you out.

Here's the website, good luck!

http://www.annabelkarmel.com/

Do you have dinner items that he likes that you can put in a thermos to eat warm at daycare? Does he like soup? My son always liked that. It sounds like the things you have been trying are processed and not so healthy. It may take him exposure to whole foods for a while before he develops a taste for them, but now is actually a good time to do that. Simple foods that are made at home are best. Other ideas:
-hard boiled egg
-yo-baby yogurt with some carrots and whole grain crackers
-Unsweetened apple sauce with cut up fruit to dip in, cheese sticks and a few carrots
- home made muffins with whole grain flour and natural sweetener
- salami slices, a banana and some peas
- apple slices or banana with sun butter for dipping (made from sunflower seeds - found in health food stores and usually ok in daycare settings)
- whole grain crackers (the fewer ingerdients the better - try rye vita, wasa or triscuits) with cheese and fruit.
- celery boats with cream cheese and raisins or dried apples or strawberries in them (celery is full of water that holds the pesticides from farms so organic is best)
- brown rice with soy sauce and peas and carrots in the thermos
- granola with milk
- whole grain pancakes with butter and jelly. You could make fun shapes. (you could make fun shapes out of sandwiches too)
- hummus with carrots for dipping and some dried apples

I had many many problems getting my oldest son to eat and I persevered with healthy food. Transitioning from processed foods, white bread and white sugar to more natural foods requires a change of mindset and some patience -- but it is a gift that he will keep with him in good health for life. My son is now 9 and has a great appetite for really healthy foods. Good luck to you and keep up the good work! It sounds like you are on the right path!

Are we sharing a son? My 15 month old is very similar, and it drives us bananas!!!

Here's what works for us:

-smoothies in the morning (bananas, frozen strawberries, plain or vanilla yogurt, and oj all blended together)

-watermelon!

-Kix or Crispix in a snack trap (the little cup with a top he has to reach through)- vitamins and iron are added to the cereal, and the sugar is reasonably low!

-CANNED green beans or carrots (gross, I know- but it's a start, and my son actually eats them!) and frozen peas

-frozen blueberries or strawberries- don't even thaw them!

-mac and cheese, with baby food sweet potatoes or carrots mixed in (Sounds terrible, doesn't it? But it works!)

-cottage cheese

-earth's best mini waffles, with yogurt to dip in (Lots of added vitamins and iron in the Earth's Best brand, and it's organic!)

-Earth's Best fruit bars (Again, lots of added vitamins and iron in this brand.) They're like Nutra Grain bars, only much healthier and no high fructose corn syrup

-Buy cheddar cheese, but in CRUMBLED form. It's the perfect size for little fingers!

-Also, melt american or cheddar cheese onto a bagel. They can toast the bagel half at daycare, and then quickly zap it in the microwave to melt the cheese.

Hope one or more of these ideas help! We've also found that our guy will eat so much more if we only give him one or two pieces/bites at a time. So we give him one frozen strawberry or 1-2 canned green beans, and we say "Ok, that's all! No more for you!" And then he hollers and begs for more. We give him another bite, and say, "Well now, that's REALLY all you're going to get!" And he wants more. Repeat, repeat, repeat. :) He'll eat an entire hot dog this way, when normally he will only eat one bite then throw all the rest on the floor! He also eats much more if we give him a fork and plate. I have to help him to "spear" the food, but then he'll put it in his mouth himself. I think they just want to be big boys now!

Seriously, I feel your pain!

J.,
here is a link to ideas for finger foods. I made the broccoli and cheddar nuggets...they store/freeze well and heat up in microwave/toaster oven perfectly.

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/babyfingerfood.htm

Also, I find that grilled cheese (rye bread or whole wheat with muenster cheese) isn't all that bad when it's a little cold. The cheese is moist/creamy enough to hold out a couple of hours...you could try at home on the weekend and heat it up in the microwave a bit. My son loves it!! Good luck!

He's eating much better than my son did at that age! I'd just go with whatever he likes, even if it's the same thing over and over. Maybe then he'll finally get tired of it and will accept new things that you offer. From the age of 14 to 19 months old, I think the only foods my son would eat were chicken nuggets, french toast, french fries, and peas! He's still alive and perfectly healthy. :) They all go through very picky phases. Just focus on what he WILL eat and try not to worry yourself about what he WON'T eat. I used to get frustrated about it but they really are getting plenty of nourishment.
Good luck!
Lynsey

I have a 3 year old daughter and a 1 year old son. Basically, in a nutshell, I agree with everyone else. Try and try again!! And, you are not a short order cook... plan a meal with a variety of healthy options, and he eats what he eats. My rule of thumb is, if you want to eat just the rice and veggies and no meat, that is fine, but I generally don't make a separate meal. (Sometimes I will if it is something my 3 year old has tried and truly doesn't like). For example, the other night I made Tuna salad (which my daughter doesn't like but loves other fish such as salmon and talapia). So, I made fish sticks and french fries for the kiddos that night- (try sweet potato fries for a healthier treat). Anyway, my one year old son tried a bite of fish stick, spit it out and threw the rest on the floor with an angry look on his face... he ate some of the sweet potato fries, but once I served the fish stick, he tossed most of the fries too. So, I said fine, you can have that or some of what we are having. So, I put some spoon fulls of tuna salad- (with onion in it)- on his high chair tray and he inhaled it! Messy, but oh well! He also generally throws his peas and carrots after eating a few... but LOVES steemed spinich.... I think with his lack teath, he still prefers softer textures, or things that dissolve. Anyway, my point is, they may love something that you wouldn't think a child would like, and turn their nose up at things that most kids like. My daughter has always prefered spinich, asparagus, edamame, tomatoes and brocolli over most fruits and now eats any veggie except corn peas and carrots (the ones that most kids will eat)! So, try everything...even things you don't like. Remember, your not alone... just persevere.
Also, some healthy favorites of my son are Yo Baby Yogurt and Earths Best Cereal Bars. Whole grain waffles, Blueberry Pancakes and French Toast are healthy and can be heated up for lunch too.
Good Luck!

Hi there. Welcome to the joys of being the mother of a toddler who suddenly decides everything he used to eat he now won't. They don't make it easy on us do they?

Have you tried deli meat (sliced turkey or cheese) and cheese? As for the fruits and veggies, it's just fine if he has limited tastes. I'm sure there are plenty of parents who can't get their toddlers to eat any veggies at all and yours is eating peas and carrots. My daughter lived on peas and corn for awhile and wouldn't touch anything else. We just kept putting other veggies on her plate and now she inhales asparagus, squash, beans and carrots and saves the peas and corn for last, if at all. I would just keep putting different types of veggies and fruits on his plate with other stuff you know he likes. He may surprise you and eventually eat it. It's more than fine if he eats the same fruits and veggies most days.

Yogurt is super healthy -- and a great lunch food every day. If you add some wheatgerm to it as well it's even healthier. It mixes right in and they don't even notice it's there.

Other options -- pasta, mac and cheese, hummus (my daughter loves the spinach and artichoke one on whole wheat pita chips), spinach nuggets (if he likes chicken nuggets he'll eat those), rice and beans -- made invididually or the Goya combined packages have great flavor, tofu (sautee it in butter and tahini sauce tastes awesome and I hate tofu); we stir fry veggies in sesame oil and add it to rice and our daughter inhales it. Lentil & veggie Soup - it's easy to make and full of flavor and nutrients; eggs - if he eats those, you can add veggies to them at breakfast as well.

eggs! Eggs anytime of day if he will eat them can be a great source of protien, calcium and fiber, depending what you put in them. I add veggie crumbles(Morning Star), very fine chopped veggies such as spinach, mushrooms, peppers, onions, etc. I also add different cheeses and sometimes ham or cooked sausage. Baby food purees work too! You can scramble a batch and bake in muffin tin and freeze for convienence or just scramble in a container for day-care to microwave or cook on the stove. My daughter loves it on the stove in a small frying pan, then cut up like pizza:-)

Aonther thing is soups/stews, great way to sneak in lots of veggies, meats, etc.

Good Luck!

Hi J.,
It souds like he is healthy and eating a little of most food groups. And picky is okay- he won't starve himself. At least that is what my doc always said. Also, try adding a vitimine supplement to his diet. Ask your doc for a good rec for his age. We use Yummi Bears and Fish oils.

A couple of questions first:
What kind of snack does he get at school?! That could be having a huge impact on lunch time. sugars? processed foods? high in sodium or trans fats? or artificial ingredients? (i.e. Ritz Crackers score really high in those areas!)
Is he hungry when he comes home from day care?
Is he hungry when he wakes up?

are all these meals you have for lunch prepared, by a gerber like place? specifically, pasta pickups and graduate meals?
are the chicken nugests premade? What kind of white bread? crackers?
i'm asking because a lot of the premade foods out there are full of sugars, trans fats and salts our young children become accostomed to and as a reult avoid natural and raw foods with richer smells and tastes. (It's like those foods coat their taste buds.)Besides they are usually pretty bland.

If you have the time and the energy to prepare all the foods for your son, you can make great tasting everything, esp. vegetables for him to take to school. Carrots and peas are sweet, and if eaten raw or lightly steamed are great for his gums and digestive system because they give fiber. Grill lightly spiced chicken strips under the broiler and cut them up in small pieces. They stay juicy and give lots of protein.
Mix them in little pieces with the veggies.
You can buy nitrate free hotdogs from Applegate- in chicken turkey or beef. Again quick to heat and fun to dip.

Have you tried a boiled egg?

Have you tried frozen veggies? If you buy organic frozen veggies (trader Joe's) and steam them, would he eat them as finger food? Would he eat them frozen?
We ate frozen blueberries and strawberries for along long time. I would even mix in banana chunks and call it breakfast!

I wouldn't worry about grains like breads or crackers. Bagels - even if whole wheat are pretty bad as an eveyday food- but as a stop gap measure- once a week, it probably won't hurt.

Have you tried oatmeal? With apples or raisins, or cinnamon and honey? He can eat oatmeal twice a day. Have you tried other grains? Quinoa? Brown rice? Wild rice? Barley?
Have you tried spiral pasta, wagon wheel shaped pasta? Whole wheat pasta? You can put fun shaped pastas in for lunch. And an organic cheese stick? For dinner, I would put little veggies into the wagon wheels- at the table while we were eating and it was a game and they ate corn, carrots, peas, lima beans, and green beans that way.

I steam broccoli and then saute it lightly in a little garlic and olive oil. easy to heat and yummy.

Whatever you do: don't let the day care heat anything in plastic containers!!

What kind of milk is he getting? Dairy? Breast milk? Soy? Rice? Goat?

Have you tried ham or turkey slices? ROll them up with a little cream cheese inside and cut them in slices. My kids call that their "roll-up sandwich". Now, we can add cucmbers and carrots to the roll-up.

Stonyfield makes really good yogurt if you don't want to make that yourself. Try adding a little muslei to it- there are many on the market without nuts- or you can google it and find a recepie.

The eating in our house seems to go in cycles. Since I have 2 kids, 2 years apart, I repeat some of the cycles. And others are new. One eats lettuce and nuts, the other would be happy with pasta and yogurt.
The goal is to balance fibre and protein and raw foods-
it is frustrating to cook a healthy meal and have them say yuck. But the more i experiment the more often we find great ways to get some veggies in there without them even knowing. I make a pasta sauce with fresh tomatoes, red peppers and yellow peppers. Sometimes I get a zuccini in- they don't know because I blend the sauce before I give it to them. They get a thick red sauce, and I know they are eating fresh foods.

Texture and smell are important at this age. You might want to experiment with him on a Satuday. Play the smell and taste this game with differetn foods and see what he out-right rejects or is willing to play with. Have him see you and your partner eating the foods you want him to eat. Make a picnic and sit on the kitchen floor on a blanket. Make the foods you'd like him to eat at school.

But don't worry. You sound like you're doing what you can. and as he grows he'll change. As long as you don't give up, he won't.

Good luck,
M.

I agree with Mindy 100%. It sounds like he's willing to eat some healthy things, so stick with those. If you're concerned about variety, add in one new thing each meal and cross your fingers that he'll try it. But don't get upset if he doesn't. I've found that after putting a new food on my kids' plates MANY times, I can get them to try them. And then after many, many tastes, they will start to like them. It takes time. Just remember that nearly all kids that age are picky, and they will eventually outgrow it.

Hi J., I understand your concern. Children go in and out of thier likes and dislikes with food. He will eat when he is hungry. Right now he is busy playing and interacting. Grandma Mary

the first steps to a healthier diet are getting rid of lunchables and graduates meals - they are not very healthy
replace white bread with wheat or whole grain, believe me, he will get used to it very quickly...moving on, my daughter has been in daycare since she was 3 months, we have tons of "go to" lunches:
-fresh mozzerella cheese balls with cherry tomotoes (cut in half) and pieces of prociutto or ham (no prep required,can eat with fingers!)
-each day we send differnt FRESH sliced fruit, apples, strawberries, grapes, mango, blueberries, pear, melon, watermelon etc (keep trying new ones)
-organic yogurt or drinkable yougurt
-mini rice cakes
-mac and cheese with peas and or carrots mixed in
-turkey and cheese sandwich on wheat or whole grain bread
-Dr Praegers spinach cakes or broccoli cakes (try them, my daughter loved these and its a good way to get some other veggies in)
-pasta with veggies and butter and parmesean
-rice and beans with veggies and cheese
-grilled chicken breast with peas or carrots
-baby carrots with ranch dipping sauce
-grilled salmon with mashed potatoes

hope these ideas are helpful --the best advice I have is to not give in to the idea that your child "only eats " this or that and keep offering a variety of healthy things. He cant only eat bagels if you dont only give him bagels right?

During my baby-sitting days, I had one little girl baby come to my house each day with a baggie filled cooked pasta (the spiral tri-colored ones) and small cut up chunks of cheddar cheese! That's all we could get her to eat for a while, so..... that's what her mom would bring each day. She loved it! AND..... she always ate it cold! Just went from the baggie, to her plate, to her mouth! The pasta was a good grain source and the cheese was good protein/dairy. It worked for them. Good luck.
D.

One of our dieticians at work recommended the following two books to me and they both have great healthy ideas as well as information on developing a good feeding relationship with your child (and family): How to Get Your Kid to Eat and Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family, both by Ellyn Satter. I am finding a lot of the tips work with my picky 2-year-old, and I feel a lot more relaxed about meals. He has even started to taste some of the foods he used to throw on the floor.

Chicken in a can (or tuna) always works for my little one as well as cheese sticks (mozz or cheddar). For fruit I usually give him grapes, blueberries, or dried plums (prunes). It's a shame about the pasta - is it just the sauce he doesn't like? meat vs meatless?
I'm pretty much of the mindset that if he's hungry, he'll eat - especially if you know that he typically likes what you've prepared that day. Much luck!

Kids will eat when they are hungry. They will eat whatever is there when they are hungry. However toddlers dont eat much, their growth has slowed down and so has their appetite. By the time they are 2 it seems like they never eat. Their tummy is the size of their fist, so use that to judge how much to feed him. Have you tried soups? I used to feed my toddlers vegetable soup without the liquid. They enjoyed picking out the different shapes and feeding themselves. Also chicken noodle was a big hit because they could suck the noodles.
However if he is healthy I would NOT make food an issue. I also would not offer him 5 different meals. That is absurd and setting yourself up to be a short order cook and him to be a fussy eater. Make him a sandwich, soup, or whatever and if he eats ok, if not ok too, but NO sweets if he doesnt eat some of his meal. He wont starve.

My daughter started being a picky eater at about the same age as your son. I think all kids go through this.
All the other mother are correct. Give him exactly what you are eating. Don't give him 5 choices. Introduce something new every day. You have to stay consistant. It will change. My daughter is 4 and still picky. It has been a long battle but I still introduce new things to her. Remember that something he may not like at all. Introduce 3 times and if he doesn't bite by the 5 he may not like it. Don't continue to force everything on him. Her doctor said as long as she is getting what she needs to grown then its ok. If your worried then you can give liquid vitamain in his juice water or milk.
Also remember baby steps is good. When I started she said no to chicken. Then she liked chicken wings, then chicken nuggets, now chicken breast. Each time it was a different kind of chicken she said she didn't like it but I kept introducing it every 3 weeks or so.
If you need any more advice send me a message. Hope this was helpful

Only make one meal for your family... he will learn from example. And since there is no need to worry about wieght... if he doesn't eat one meal-- you can bet he will eat alot better at the next meal no matter what it is... your child wil not want to starve himself and he will learn to eat/try what is given. Don't set yourself up for a lifetime fo short order cooking for a picky eater. good luck... it may be frustrating to see him so upset baout not getting a different meal prepared, but in the long run youj will love that he will eat/try anything you give him.

#1... don't give him choices at dinner at home. Go with what everyone else is eating.. he will eat if he is hungry.. don't worry. If you give in now.. it will only get worse. Since he isn't a break eater.. try small cups, one with cheerios, one with tuna fish (my kids loved it) and one with cut up fruit or a fruit cup or jello. How about cooked elbow noodles with a little butter or a little red sauce. How about a small cup of raisins.. or a chopped up apple. Try some watermelon.. or blueberries or cut up green grapes.. then some cold cuts.. like a rolled up piece of turkey or ham. good luck.. but don't give him 5 choices.. send a cup or two to lunch.. and see how it goes. also put a few things on his plate at dinner.. and that's it. try corn on the cobb at night.. laugh and say wow this is great.. if he sees you and your hubby enjoying things.. he will try them too.. but don't wait to long to introduce things.. or he will not try it later on. try also cubed cheese and cut up tomatoes and slices of cucumber. maybe even a little ranch dressing or some other type of dressing for dipping..

F U N ! Make it fun and heathly! First of all my dear you are loading up you on with many hidden calories and presertives with all that pre packaged "junk". that is all okay for an occasional treat but not for an everyday meal.There are lots of alternatives.. Yu havent said if he is allowed PEANUT BUTTER? iF SO pbj"s on wheat bread you can buy cookies cutters and make lots of cute shapes ,fun too eat. or ritz crackers make wheat version make him crackers and cheese yourself, or peanut butter on them. Homemade soups can go a long way, less sodium and preservites, add fresh or frozen veggies since he already likes peas and carrots theres a plus. of hes not into soup, make it any way and add it into mashed potatoes it soaks up all the nutrients and another lunch idea! no nuggets again all processed, make you own chicken cutlets and BAKE them not fry them and like the soup can be frzen in small quanties and pop them out of the freezer the night before. If he will eat cream chs how about putting some on a stalk of celery, again cute fun ideas. Macaroni and cheese can be dressed up with hidden veggies peas,small buts of broccoli or even purree bean Cannalli beams work well here and usually tasteless and lots of protien and fiber!!! if you need some recepies please do not hesitae to contact me. Remember make it fun and healthy!!!

My son is a picky eater as well. I find that he loves to eat soups so I pretty much put lots of veggies and meat in it so he can get lots of vitamins from it. I also put a slice of bread in his bowl of soup when I serve it, and yes that's the only way he'd eat bread. I just break it in very small pieces and let it soften in the soup. Another suggestion is congee. You boil rice in a lot of water and add a bit of garlic, ginger, chicken some veggies. You boil everything till the rice breaks down and everything else is soft. I vary the veggies and meat and he seems to love it. You can season it with a bit of soy sauce or just salt and pepper and whatever else you prefer. I've noticed my son is picky more because of the texture of the food and not necessarily the taste itself. He also eats much better if I let him feed himself. Good luck!

For the veggie intake try adding some canned soft mixed veggies like VegAll to a soup he likes. Does he like shredded cheese? If so try mixing some shredded carrot in with it. At the very least will he continue to eat a stage 3 baby veggie? Apple and Eve just introduced a juice box called Fruitables--combo of fruit and veggie in a very light juice. For fruit you can make smoothies--yogurt/milk/fruit.

I would reconsider the bagels and cream cheese--little nutritional value for the amount of calories--keep trying the whole wheat bread with an all-fruit spread or lightly melted ham and cheese and try cutting it into strips so he can pick up. Will he eat oatmeal?

2 more things to think about regarding food for the upcoming months: presentation and independence. Some foods just might go down easier if they are in a special bowl. (We play find who is hiding at the bottom of the bowl, being a picture of Snoopy or Pooh) I find myself washing out and saving yogurt cups because they have Dora on them. I then serve veggies in them and they just seem to go down better that way!

He is getting more independent in eating so a colorful fork, spoon, or crackers to dip might give him more incentive to eat what he has on his own. Or give him more things to do on his own at mealtime like add-ins or things to mix together like cheerios in one cup and yogurt in another. He may be more likely to eat something he felt he was part of the process of making.

I really don't get it. YOu say you want to feed him healthy food and you are giving him that junk, and you say you will prepare him food but you have not listed anything that you make for him. Please stop giving him that packages food. It is so high in sodium, fat, cholesterol, and preservatives! And white bread is not healthy either. I think he needs to be retrained on how to eat and since you say he is big enough to "skip a meal" without concern, I say give him things and if he does not eat he probably was not hungry. Here are my ideas...
egg salad - make it and put in a container with crakers on the side since you know he likes them. Whole grain or whole wheat crackers are good chioces with low sodium.
bumble bee salmon pouch (make salmon salad like egg salad - just add mayo) and crackers with it
Penne pasta (or another easy to grab shape) with sauce (tomato or cheese sauce or just butter or olive oil)
Yogurt
Fish sticks
cheese sticks
pizza
soy butter (like peanut butter) and jelly sandwich
veggie burger
pita and hummus
turkey breast with toast or crackers or bagel or cheese
low sodium deli ham
beans salad
hot dog (cut up) and beans
lasagne
chicken noodle soup
vegetable soup
breadsticks

That is all I can think of off the top of my head right now, I hope it helps.

Hi J.,
I would avoid preparing 5 different meals. My kids are big now - 13 and 9 - but I'll share a secret. Variety is highly over rated. So many moms think that their children must eat a huge variety of food to get their needed nutrition. This is not true. If you can find one healthy lunch that has a good balance of protein and carb, or two lunches, that's really enough. Cheese and whole wheat crackers or a whole wheat raisin bagel and fruit is not a terrible lunch. He doesn't need to eat a lot of fruits, as long as he has some daily, so let him have a daily banana and applesauce. He won't be any better nourished for eating 8 varieties. The veggies, he won't be the first toddler not to eat much of them, but one yellow orange (you've got that covered with the carrots) and one green veggie (peas don't count, sorry) is really all he needs, so try to find one he'll eat. He doesn't need 6 yellow/orange and 6 green.
I know that it makes moms crazy when their kid wants to eat the same thing over and over, but that's reassuring for a child. It might make YOU crazy to eat the same one or two breakfasts, lunches and dinners over and over, but if you find what he likes that covers the food groups, he is getting the nutrition he needs. Don't be surprised that what he eats depends on his mood, he's not an infant anymore, he knows what he wants and doesn't, he has an opinion and is exerting some control. Think of how you'd feel if you had no control over what was put in front of you every meal and were at the whim of someone else. He isn't too young to not feel like eating something.
Good luck!

Your son is at the age where he will be picky with everything and it will only get worse. You have already set yourself a bad precedent by making 5 different meals for him, etc. When my kids were little I took other mom's advice and I made 1 meal - your choices were take it or leave it. They are now 21 & 16 and neither of them starved to death. He will eat when he's hungry. Just keep to a regular meal schedule and if he doesn't eat at one meal - he'll eat at the next.

Wow ... I wish my son ate peas and carrots ... so in one sense you are ahead of the game! But I don't think you should be making five different meals for your son (more on that later down.) That's just too much work!!!

Have you tasted the pasta pickups and the graduates meals yourself? My son used to like the Chef Boyardee but I think he just doesn't like the taste anymore (and for good reason!)

By the time your son is 2 or 2 1/2 ask yourself this question. What do you eat for lunch/dinner? What do you want your son to eat for lunch/dinner? What does he actually eat for lunch/dinner? For many parents the goal is to have some overlap so they are not always preparing totally different meals for themselves and their children ... In the case of daycare, is he more likely to eat easy foods (like things he can eat with his fingers?) ... is he being influenced by the other kids or the caregiver about what he should eat for lunch? ... so think about healthy easy finger food and give him those things more than half of the time but give him veggie and fruit side options.

If you are feeding him at home and there is time then make hot meals but don't stress out if he doesn't eat that much ... but give him a chance (like at 12 noon and then ask him again at 2 p.m. if he wants more pasta especially if he didn't eat anything at 12 noon... my son's daycare is pretty good about this.

You should certainly give him options and let him ask for and try things ... going shopping with him might be a fun experience from time to time and let him try a new fruit or a new yogurt or type of bagel that he picked out.

There's nothing wrong with eating bagels ... just try to put different things on the bagel or with the bagel. Make a roast beef bagel sandwich or put hummus on it or have a whole wheat bagel with cheddar cheese ... or maybe a pizza bagel with spinach or someething else. You get the idea.

Let him have fun ... don't expect that he will eat that much sometimes ...

Smoothies and yogurt are great for creative snacks and can be healthy too!

With that said, you shouldn't have to prepare three or five or six different lunches for your son ... he just seems to be testing you and he is only a baby ... by the time you prepare a new meal he probably forgot that he requested it which is probably why he doesn't want the new meal!

Assuming your meals don't take that long to make ask him what he wants, give him a choice for a hot meal BEFORE you make the meal ... have a quick backup plan of something you don't have a to cook, like a healthy snack/mini meal like fruit yogurt or salad/cheese and a bagel/salad and oranges ...in case the first hot meal choice doesn't work out ... and if he doesn't eat either meal and asks for another one tell him he can have that meal choice for another day or for another meal ... but this is the meal he has to eat this ... and you should start eating ...

my son would usually start eating once he saw that I was eating that dish... usually within 5 minutes ... even though one time he threw himself on the ground and said no no no no ... then five minutes later he was eating it and saying it was good. (This was a known meal not a new meal and certainly didn't involve peas and carrots!)

If you do have time try to avoid some of those kids pre-packaged meals and create your own ... I know this is a pretty obvious suggestion but taste some of the kid meals ... some of them taste terrible and its no wonder that the kids don't like them.

As I already mentioned, my son used to like Chef Boyardee but now he doesn't ...I think he got tired of it ... he likes the ravioli and pasta that I make ... but he has tried the Stouffers and other brands. My son does not eat coldcuts from those kid meals but he will eat coldcuts from the deli since I tend to eat them.

Sounds like you are only giving him "dry" food. Have you tried cooking for him? you can make different kinds of soups or stews, kids love those things. you can make them with rice or potatoes and different meats.
you can also give him fish.
there are some suggestions at: wholesomebabyfood.com