My Kids Won't Eat Their Dinner tonite..ARGH!

This is what happened at least a few times a week in this house....and sometimes still does...IMO They either eat it or go to bed hungry!

Do you normally make stuff like this? Honestly it doesn't sound like something I would like. Lol. If its way off from what you normally make and they eat, then I would thank them for at least trying it, and make them something else. When I make something new, I usually make it with something else I know the kids will like (like a side dish), so if they hate it, they can at least eat the "good" part of the meal without me having to make them something special. I never wanted to be "that" mom that made my kids something different to eat than what the rest of us ate. Good luck!

In my house, they eat what I make or they go hungry. They are lucky to be served a nutritious meal when so many kids out there either have no food, or only get served junk food. It is your job to provide the food, it is their job to eat the food.

AFTER READING YOU SO WHAT HAPPENED:

Stop the giving in mama, if you don't your little kids will walk all over you and it will get worse when they are teens.

They will not die of starvation. Unless it was too spicy, give them some juice, milk or water just before bedtime and nothing more. If you or your husband think in MAY have been a bit spicy....give them a SMALL bowl of cereal and put them to bed. No desserts or treats until they finish their meals. (SMALL kid portions ONLY).

Do NOT start being a "short order cook"....children need to eat was is prepared for them. I can't tell you how I want to scream when I see parents catering to a child's opinion of what they will or will not put in their mouths. YOU mama plan the menu, do the cooking and YOU are in charge.

Blessings...

Make them something else :)

Do you continue to eat unappealing food after you've tried it and dislike it? Why would you force your children to do something you wouldn't do? Frankly I wouldn't have enjoyed the meal you made either. I would have tried it because it was a rule and to be polite, but I wouldn't have finished it, especially if you served a heaping helping.

When I cook I always try to serve something that I know the kids will like along with the new food. While I'm cooking, even something we've had multiple times, I often ask the kids if they'd like to "taste test" what we're having for supper. That's a good indicator if I'm in for a fight on anything in the meal. Then I can judge what else to add to the meal.

Let them go to bed hungry. If they are hungry, they will eat what you've served. Making them something else is a slippery slope, in my opinion. :)

They tried it, so I'd give them something else. Something plain and boring, but nutritious. That way they're are getting food they need, but not rewarded. There are many things I love to eat that my kids wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. When I feel like eating one of these dishes, I cook it just for myself (because my husband probably won't like it either!) and eat after the kids (if hubby isn't home) or have hubby cook dinner for the rest of the family while I enjoy my dinner.

ETA: I personally don't think it's ok to just offer 1 food choice (especially if it's a new dish). Did you serve other sides with it? There are plenty of foods I don't like, and I wouldn't dream of making myself go to bed hungry. I always serve 2 or 3 sides with a main course. If my kids aren't fond of the main course, I make sure the sides are something they do like. That way they are still getting exposed to the non-preferred food (even if they don't eat it) and also have something they will eat. If they don't eat the main dish, then they don't get anything else to eat and definitely no dessert. However, if it's a one-dish meal, I allow my kids to pick an alternative if they don't like it. They do have to have at least 1 bite though.

Our rule is you can have what Mom cooked, or you can have any leftovers that are in the fridge (we added that because we weren't going through the leftovers). Very rarely do I make them something else. My personal opinion on food and kids...is that you are responsible for what is available, when it's available, and making the atmosphere positive. They can choose what, if any they will eat. But that's just me :)

ETA: BTW, can I come to your house for dinner?? That sounds really good... (actually, if you have time, can you send me the recipe? we've been trying to do more beans and lentils...)

ETA: I like the idea of making a 'familiar popular dish' along with a 'new or different' dish...I'm going to keep that in mind :)

I would give them something they would likely eat with something new. Remember that kids need to experience something multiple times to really love or hate it. Giving them something known might encourage them to try something unknown. If we make pasta, DD's is without sauce. It is not big deal for me to put sauce on the side. If we have tacos, hers is "deconstructed" because somehow that's what works. It's all the same stuff, even if she eats the shell alone.

We allow substitutes if they try something and if it's a "like" item. You can trade peas for a salad (or salad for peas) but green jello doesn't count. I was forced to eat overdone canned spinach as a kid so I ask DD to try it, but don't force her to eat it if she really hates it. It wasn't til I was an adult that I realized spinach didn't have to be that gross.

I would also not make it a power struggle. We tell DD that she can be excused, but no treats, including her "if you've been good" hot chocolate that she's currently into. It is then her choice to get down or eat her dinner. Then we go on with our meal. If she gets loud, she gets to sit in her room til she's ready to join us.

If I had your meal to do-over, I'd offer a bit of the lentils and a half a PBJ and say that they needed to try the lentils and thank them for trying.

At the end of a long day, you go "maybe I could've..." but they didn't get eaten by bears (or you) and you move on. There's a new day tomorrow.

I'd let them have something else for trying and probably deciding they didn't care for it. There's things that I don't make my daughter eat either, like spicy chili and chicken curry, and I'm happy to make her an alternative. If it's something she's eaten before and been fine with and just doesn't feel like having that night (like spaghetti), she does not get to pick something else. I usually expect her to eat a certain amount (X number of bites, etc.) before getting her something different or letting her have dessert.

You did you job in making dinner and insisting they at least take a taste. Their decision to go to bed hungry is its own lesson. Leave some out on a plate and if they complain of being hungry just redirect to the plate. Don't give in and give them anything else, though, or they will know they've got you and they'll never finish anything they don't like ever again! They're old enough that you aren't being cruel. Sorry that the hungry thing is making them harder to deal with. If they keep that up they can go to bed early! ;-)

I should mention that if I make something "exotic and different/too spicy" then I make them something else but not something that takes a lot of effort on my part. If this is stuff they have liked in the past there is no excuse. If it's new I'd make an easy alternative.

It's frustrating, isn't it? You come up with these great, healthy meals and no one wants to eat. My kids rarely well at dinner unless it's pizza, chicken nuggets, or spaghetti. If they try at least 3 bites of any other food we eat, I let it go and later either make them a peanut butter & jelly on whole grain bread or yogurt.

I would make them a PB&J sandwich.

Tonight have a chat with big brother and let him know how much he influences his little brother. Ask him next time there is something new to eat, to just pretend that he likes it at least long enough for little brother to give it a fair try. Say it to him in a way that makes him feel really good about being the older brother, sort of "you hold the power" type thing.

go to bed hungry... shoulda seen my 5 year old and her fit about banana chips. She just did it like 6 minutes ago. It was as if there was some sort of evil possession. She was writhing on the floor with half chewed paste in her mouth. UGH... it was just a banana chip. Lord.

seriously I would ask them to try 5 bites, if they try with no complaint and drama then make them something they like quick. More drama and complaints... nuttin.

I probably wouldn't eat it either. Seriously, though, kids at that age usually like boring things: chicken nuggets or pieces of chicken, maybe some veggies or fruit, pasta, pb&j. I know to you this is about them not eating what they were served, but to them it was probably, "Mom, what the heck is this stuff in front of me?" If it looks weird in any way, you're lucky they even tried it.

My husband and I get board with the foods the boys like, so when we make something that we know we like but they don't, we offer leftovers or pb&j or yogurt ... It's perfectly normal for them to have no interested in the meal you prepared.

I always offered at least 1 thing I knew our daughter would eat.

Lentils and Brown rice sounds good, I probably would have also had some raw veggies like carrot sticks, celery and cucumbers.

Then our daughter would have eaten the veggies and been done.

Children this age can be leery of food they are not familiar with ..Our daughter was sensitive to the odor of spices and really did not care for casseroles or foods all mixed together in a crock pot..

And so I was careful once again to serve it to her but in small portions with 1 thing I knew she was familiar with/.

I also learned to place very small portions of the food on our daughters plate in separate spots. This way she probably would have tried the rice and then tried the lentils.. But if it was more than a few tablespoons. our daughter was a bit overwhelmed.

I love to cook and did not let it hinder it, but I also knew our daughter and what she would be willing to at least try.

when you make the something else, especially sweet stuff, then you are telling them that they are the boss, they can do whatever they want, and they never have to eat the meal you make. I would have let them go to bed hungry. They arent going to starve or suffer permanent damage from missing one meal. They wouldn't have had a snack or anything. You are the boss, you are the one making sure you are making a healthy meal for them. You need to be firm and put your foot down, stop letting them walk all over you. most parents cause their kids to be "picky" by only making them finger foods or junk like nuggets, pizza etc. our 3 sons have always eaten what we eat. we don't force it down their throats, but they dont get to decide what is for dinner. our oldes will be 3 next month and the twins are 14 months old. they eat things like 3 chees tortilinni's with pesto sauce, every vegetable they have ever seen, soups, casseroles, everything. the only thing the twins dont like is yogurt.