My Son Does Not like to Eat.

Hi K. ~ one thing that works with a lot of kids including my own (6, 4, and 2) is this: in the morning take a cupcake pan and fill it with very colorful healthy snacks. For example, in one hole, put green grapes, in another put carrots, in another put red ones...leave it out somewhere he can reach it. When he gets hungry enough, he will think it is cool he can reach for his own snack. It may take a couple days, but it works like a charm. Even more so if he sees you and his dad snacking from this pan. Try and put colored cupcakes holders in their as well. Makes it even more appetizing...as for the fruit snacks, try and make those a dessert. Main ingredient is sugar and corn syrup. No surrpise there is no real fruit in them....if you have any other questions, let me know as i do wellness presentations for kids and parents.

Hi K.,

My name is T. Hall and I am not a mom, but a registered dietitian who has worked with children on healthy eating. I am also currently working on a program to help families like yours to improve healthy eating habits. First question is how is your own eating habits including your older son and your husband's? The reason is kids do what you do, not what you say. Also some of the foods he's eating are ok, just put some vegetable in the mac and cheese. Be creative and make a cheese pizza on pita bread with veggies as the eyes, nose and mouth. There is also a book out written by Sinfields wife that may be helpful. Not sure of the name of it and I have a DVD called 9 steps I could send to you with an address if your open to the info.

Step two - its simple, you don't give up you try over and over 8 to 9 times sometimes before a child will agree to eat it. In a study it was shown that children need to be introduced to foods more than what we would normally expect.

Step three - When you introduce him to foods make sure they are healthy(if you need help call me ###-###-#### or email me directly at ____@____.com) and you and the rest of the family also engage and eat the same healthy foods. try to sit down and eat some meals together.

If he refuses healthy foods like fruits and vegetable than give him nothing for a few hours. He will eventually eat something. So many parents think a child must consume meat and dairy to survive, so make sure he doesn't fill up on lots of COWS milk. It's just not so healthy and if a child isn't eating he shouldn't fill up on just milk or juice. If this isn't the problem then have patience he will eventually eat good quality healthier foods, if the rest of the family is doing it.

I have more info for you if your open to it. In the mean time to fill his nutritional gap with a product I highly recommend for everyone it's called Juice Plus.

www.jpscience.com Listen to what the doctors are saying!
It's fruits and veggies in chewable or capsule form.
I know I said the same thing"Right?" But seriuosly, I only recommend this produt because of the science behind it and I too take it. I have been on it for 7.5 years, almost 8 now.

The best thing is I pay for the children to take juice plus when the parents are taking it. Kids get it free between ages 6 and 15 and if the child is younger he can order gummies.

My own web site wwww.prohealthviews.com

Please let me know if I can send more info to you.

Some ideas might be let him help you cook. That might be interesting to him and to finally see the end result might be fun for him. Also, look for cook books for kids. I know there are plenty out there that you can do a lot of fun things with food (to make it look interesting) like mickey mouse pancakes! Get a cook book just for him and him pick out something that you can make together. Good Luck.
http://www.famousfoods.com/evkico.html

Good Luck!!
J.

It's not easy to watch your child 'not eat'. Just as other mothers here have said, they grow out of not eating. One thing I learned was that children don't starve themselves if they have food available. Hunger doesn't feel good and a child will eat. Use very small portions, a tbsp or two, of the veggies to start with. It's easier to think of eating a little bit than a plate full. Never react with irritation, anger or annoyance. Hard sometimes, but children take their cues from you. After about 20 or 30 minutes, ask him to leave the table..." since you're not hungry, you can go play, read, or..." Then don't give in with a cookie or treat or mac and cheese...lol. Four hours at the table must drive you batty and make him so frustrated and tired. Cover the plate, put it into the refrigerator, and if he comes back, heat it up. If not, he isn't hungry. Remember, often when you insist, children are most resistant. If you really want it, they don't! Always be consistent. Small, VERY small portions of the mac and cheese and small portions of the veggies. Put the plate in front of him and be calm and consistent that he will get more when he eats some of the veggies AND the mac. Then let him leave if he doesn't eat.

Have colorful choices the other mothers recommend and make it fun. Mash and blend veggies into other things and talk to him away from meal time about nutrition, vitamins, etc. Take him shopping and teach him how to make good choices. Let him choose the vegetables and fruits he wants, as long as he chooses within your budget, of course. You may have to choose when you first start. Make it an adventure. Believe me, boys will eat you out of house and home one day.

I have a son that is the opposite, and our Pediatricians have me so worried about obesity. We have been seeing a dietition who recommended books by Ellyn Satter, an expert in Pediatric Nutrition. You may try to go to her website www.ellynsatter.com or check out one of her books at the library. The books are for parents of picky eaters. But there were a few chapters for heavy kids, too.

Basically, she says you can't make your kid eat. You just provide healthy options and let the kid make the decision as to how much. I found a lot of comfort in her books.

I also have been sneaking vegetables into food. The Sneaky Chef and Deceptively Delicious cookbooks are really fun. They show you how to sneak vegetables into foods kids like. Example: Spinach into brownies.

Sometimes, I wish my son was picky. I'm lucky in that he eats almost anything. He even eats raw spinach leaves, broccoli, salmon, etc.. Despite having a great diet, he still is heavy - 45 lbs, 40" tall and not yet 3 years old.

I am 43, as well, and this is my first. So, I really lost confidence because of the food issues. The dietition only confirmed that I was feeding him correctly and offered comfort. I ended up having to take him to an endocrinologist to make sure he doesn't have any metabolic problem. Remember that every kid is different, and it's not YOU. Most mothers that I know complain of picky eaters.

Hi K., I have a 4yr old that also has feeding issues. He was diagnosed with Sensory Integration Disorder and a Sensory Based Feeding Disorder. You might consider that this is an issue beyond his control. He may have a real issue with textures, smells , colors. My son has a small repotoire of food that he eats, similiar to yours. We are currently working with a speech therapist on a feeding therapy called S.O.S. It involves introducing the child to different textures,etc. Does your son have any other sensory issues; sensitive to touch, sound, flucuating energy levels, particular interest in certain behaviors (loves water play). These might be an indicator that something else is going on. If not, for now I would go along with what he will eat. You don't want to create a negative relationship. Some say they will eventually grow out of it. You could always fix what you know he likes then on a separate plate put a little of what you and the family are having so he gets used to seeing it, etc. Good luck.

Oh, this made me smile and giggle to read. I hear you, K.! I have a 12, 10 & 6 year old. The older two, when of toddler/preschool ages - were absolute scavengers! Little raccoons, those two. Anything you put before them, they'd pick down to the last crumb indiscriminately. Today they are the pickiest little eye-rollers! ERGH!

Now the little 6 year old? The "Queen"? Hahaha - for YEARS it was, "No. Want 'roni'" (macaroni)." And there was NO arguing with her. I am not lying - for so long, she subsisted on Maca-freakin-roni. NOTHING else. Then - voila! - one day, she turned up her nose to "roni" and demanded, "cereal". Only cereal. Any and every meal: COLD CEREAL. Plain ol' rice krispies, plain cornflakes.... I was starting to see a STARCH addiction with this kid! I am Asian, so between my mom and I - we freaked! We were like, "OMG, eat some bok choy! Eat an orange! You're gonna get SCURVY!"

We fought a losing battle.

When she turned 6 last summer, she became less conservative at mealtimes. She started noticing her siblings' eating habits and - more out of social motivation, I'd believe - she wanted to imitate them. She has now added Hawaiian bread, bagels, granola bars and lasagna to her repertoire (carbity, carb, carb, CARB!) She's also the one with the best "coloring", gets sick the least and is wonderfully chubby and bright eyed!

Go fish.

It only took me 6 years to pull my head out of my ***, look around and suddenly realize my beloved husband, when fending for himself in the kitchen, will reach for *ding!* a bowl of cereal or plain macaroni noodles mixed with cottage cheese (don't ask). A ritual of his since 1992. The carb doesn't fall far from the tree, apparently.

IMO? I wouldn't worry. I suppose be grateful you have one family member who won't grow up to be an adult that "just can't figure out what they're hungry for!!!!"
Good luck! :)

Hi K., I have learned over the past few years with nieces and nephews, and now my own 19-month old, that they will not starve to death.

Put the food down in front of the child...if he doesn't eat it, let him be. Try again in a few hours. By the end of the night (or could possibly go into the next day), the child will eat because he is hungry.

I make Au Gratin potatoes with green beans in them...great cheesy potato meal with veggies baked in - they can't taste them!

Tonight I made a homemade turkey pot pie - believe it or not, my daughter at the veggies out of it and picked around the crust and the turkey!

Make mac n cheese with peas or brocoli, make some mashed cauliflower (looks just like mashed potatoes) with bacon ranch dressing.

Just throw the veggies into whatever you're making...it may take 3 or 4 or 10 tries, but eventually he will eat it. Good luck!

Hi,

Well I have had alot of success with the cookbook Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld. There are recipes for two different types of mac n cheese as well as buttered noodles and pizza. The cookbook uses fruit and veggie purees in the foods that the kids can't detect. It does recommend serving a fruit/veggie alongside it just so they have the option of eating it...as they say that it takes 10+ times of exposure at these ages to try new things. It has worked wonders, with my 3 year old and my husband!! Good Luck!

i'm having the same issue w/my 27 month old boy. Don't have the answer other than what I do is "we'll give you a bite of this if you have a bite of that" but i'm not sure that's helping the problem other than getting him to eat some things. As far as the meat issue; try different kinds of beans (we use bean dip and chips or black beans) and other foods for vegan living (if that's what you are worried about). I started the fruit leather (like fruit snacks but no sugar, kinda like a fruit roll up), make wheat pizza crust, maybe you could mix up some smash veggies in the mac and cheese? spinage noodles... hm. sorry, not many ideas.

Hi K.- I have been watching my sis go through this with her 3 1/2 yr. old son (I think it may be more a boy thing- my 3 girls are great eaters but my 1 yr old son might end up with these problems). My only suggestion is that he really won't starve himself- If you continue to offer healthy choices he willl eventually eat whar is presented (as long as you don't give in)> Also I might try 2 things-
#1 be blase' about it- if he knows it bugs you he will keep it up- I know its hard but just try to ignore all the drama
#2- The trying bite rule- with my girls if there is something they would rather not eat they still must give it a trying bite- Trying bites can lead to "Eat as many trying bites as your age."
Hope this is helpful and remember- this too shall pass and befor you know it you will be complaing about him eating you out of house and home!
Beth

Maybe he has some type of aversions to the texture of food. Have you ever had him evaluated by a speech/feeding therapist? I think it's worth a try. He might really have some issues that need some help.

My 2-year-old doesn't like to eat meat, either. He likes chicken nuggets, hot dogs and ham (and sometimes roasted chicken). I don't really have a problem with him not eating meat because he likes veggies and fruit. He'll also eat rice, potatoes and couscous. His plate always has on it what ours have on them. If he's hungry, he'll eat. If he doesn't eat his dinner, I'll usually give him a piece of whole wheat bread before bed. Otherwise, he wakes up at 3am hungry.

Just keep offering him the same foods you are eating. The more he sees them, the more likely he will taste something one of these days. Good luck!

Hey K.,

My 6 year old does this, but he will eat chicken nuggets and hot dogs, but when it comes to meats, veggies etc he doesnt like them and if i make him sit there and eat them he gets this look on his face like he is going to get sick. So what i try to do is make sure he is getting enough protein with eggs etc and make sure he eats veggies which he doesnt like either. The way i get him to eat his veggies is I sit next to him and we have a race. I only give him like a big spoonful on his plate. So what i do is say ok put 3 "peas" on your spoon and i do the same then we see who can chew and shallow to win the race. Of course he always wins. This seems to work for us. Good Luck....Ps i wouldnt force him to eat anything he doesnt want to at this point.

We used to see a behavioral/speech therapist for my daughter's food aversions. I know that they deal with these things every day. They had a big sign on a wall that said "Mealtimes are NOT supposed to be a battle!". I know they worked with lots of kids. Even in your insurance might not cover it, it might still be worth 2-3 sessions just to cover the basics- see what you're doing wrong, what you're doing right, etc.

But I do remember the basic things she went over with us on the subject.

1. I know she told us NEVER to hold the spoon or fork after age 12-18mos old. I know I still do it sometimes (daughter is 2) and it is "my bad". It somehow leaves it open to the child to create a game out of it.

2. To never ever make special food for your child. Serve them what the rest of the family is making.

3. Your child will not starve. They will eat when they are hungry. My dad grew up in post WWII Germany and his mother will vouch that she never had any of her children turn down food. If he's not eating, he's just not that hungry. All it will take is a couple meals where he goes without food and you do not give in to his whining for the food he prefers instead, and he will eat. Remember, this idea of making "kid friendly food" came about recently, and so did picky eaters because of it.

4. Does he snack a lot? The therapist said snacks should be kept very small, even avoided completely if the child is a poor eater at mealtimes.

5. And dont "harp at him" to finish his food. Set a span of time he's allowed to spend on his meal, say 30 min, and then when its over take the food away. You can give him a warning that he only has 5 min left, but he'll get the point after a meal or two. Use a timer, not your voice, to get him to finish. If he says he's done, then he's done though.

I know its hard. I really have been through it, though my child was a lot younger. She didnt eat food from a spoon of any kind until a 10mos old, finger foods until MUCH older. It turned out that even at her young age, a lot of our problem was not her gag reflex but her manipulation of us, even at that tender age. My sister-in-law went through exactly what you are describing when her son was 3 y.o. It can be better. If you need more help, there is professional help for these things, good help, out there.

Best of luck! Hope some of that helped!

I know it's easier said than done but don't give in to the junk! Also, forcing a child to eat is how people end up with serious eating disorders later in life. Just offer him good food. Small portions of meals you're already making. That and potty training are all kids have control of in those early years. Just keep offering basic, good food. When he is hungry, or is growing, he will eat.

Have you tried purees? If you blend a similar colored protein smooth and "hide" it in the food that he will eat, it will sometimes do the trick. I did this alot with my older child, especially with veggies in sauces, but I have done it with chicken, turkey and tofu as well. You could try smearing some under the sauce and cheese on the pizza or adding to the mac and cheese. Butternut squash and cauliflower are good to add pureed to mac and cheese.
With my daughter we just had to put a little amount of everything that I wanted her to eat and we just had to stand our ground that there would be no seconds on her favorites until she tried the peas, the banana, the chicken, etc... It is hard when you have a stubborn one. Good luck.

My children did that around ages 3-4 also. Don't worry, it won't last. I believe that it's just a phase. My kids went through a time where all they ate was rice. I talked to my pediatrician about it and she said that as long as they're eating something, it's fine for a short while. Just make sure to try to get some fruits/veggies down him also. If you're worried about him not eating meat for the protein source, maybe make it fun and use peanut butter or eggs to make sure he gets protien.
Ride it out, it will be fine.
Good luck!!

Do not ever force a child to eat. It is a form of torture.

Give him a variety of foods in small portions and eventually he will eat something. There is nothing magic about meat; lots of people never eat it at all. If he likes mac and cheese make it with wheat pasta, which is better for him, and make sure it is thoroughly cooked so it's more the texture he's used to.

So maybe you have to put a variety of foods in smaller servings in front of him for a while - big deal. It should not be a source of stress for either of you, and my guess is that he's already controlling you a bit with this. Refuse to become upset about it and he will eventually focus on the point, which is nutrition.

My 4 yr old doesn't eat much either. I am vegan and my husband is vegetarian, but we weren't pushing it on her. She just doesn't like meat at all, so we are fine with that. Meat isn't necessary; just make sure he gets his protein from other sources and give him a multivitamin every day. Beans, lentils, dairy/soy, etc are all good sources of protein. Try sneaking these things into the foods he likes. And I am sure he will grow out of his finicky habits.

My son has been pretty picky lately. He is 3. When I ask, what do you want, he says nothing. I then just made something, and he ate it but not happily - "I said I wanted nothing!"

After a few times of this, I don't ask anymore, I just make something. Half the time I end up sitting there like an idiot feeding my 3 yo. Totally nuts in my opinion.

However, I went shopping yesterday and I did not buy ONE treat. Can you believe that?

I got apples, grapes, bananas, oranges, lunchmeat, cheese, yogurt in the tubes, etc.

The bananas are half gone and he ate dinner last night. That is what NO snacks will do to you, I guess.

I can't continue to watch him eat so poorly. I would try ridding your house of the snacks. And I would talk to your doctor. At one point I tried to give my kids that ensure (I think that is what it was called) to help with the vitamins and proteins.

We also do crackers with cheese or peanut butter and veggies with dip (I got a low fat ranch dip). They have liked that also.

For dinner I have to "tell a story" and say that the food is Homemade Gourmet. I am a distributor for them and my son won't touch the food unless it is what he calls "Homemade Go-may-go".

I hope this helps. Good Luck to you!
B.