Eating Habits of My Almost 15 Month Old

I think any sauce that is good for him on veggies is great. Some teriaki can be loaded with MSG, so be careful about that. I was never a fan of the clean plate club so I would disguise things...V-8 Juice in Spaghetti. Don't all kids love spaghetti? Bananas in a milkshake, frozen peas in a cup as a walk-around snack that isn't messy, have him "help" you snap the fresh green beans before cooking. Kids also LOVE to dip things...fruit dipped in yogurt, carrots dipped in peanut butter or ranch dressing. There are so many ways to get that good food into your toddler other than forcing the issue. Keep offering and make it FUN!

when my son was about that age I used to give him his food in stages...I knew if I gave him everything on one plate he would just eat what he thought he liked and not try everything...so I would put out what I thought he would least like first and then after he ate enough I would add the other stuff and he always got fruit/cheese or whatever I knew was his favorite last...that seemed to work for us...but honestly he has always liked vegetables but will just get "full" on the other stuff if you don't have him eat them first.

Don't feel mean for making them eat the meal they were given, when my son doesn't eat his meal I also put it in the fridge so later when he's hungry, guess what, that's what he gets again :) he is nearly 4 now and he understands that he gets what he gets or is hungry...that's life, I'm not a short order cook and won't make a seperate meal for just him....but maybe if he eats his food well I will whip him up a treat of his liking in that case...

Eating a variety of fruits and veggetables is so important all their life but especially when they are growing...my son went through phases, when he was still eating baby food he wouldn't eat any orange baby food (strange I know) so I just mixed it with some other baby foods or applesauce and got it in him that way...when he was older he went through an "I dont' want anything green" phase...so I hid some veggies in things he liked for awhile until he got over that (but I always continued offering him the real thing just in case, after awhile he started eating it all again).

Mac-n-cheese will hide a whole mess of veggies ;) and I've gotten many a veggie down my kid on homemade pizza or in spaghetti sauce...

also, he might be a little young, but sometimes if they are able to help prepare the meal they are more excited about eating it...

and I think at around 1 or just after my husband and I had to look super excited about our own vegetables sometimes to get him to try them hahah (lots of oooh my goodness this is so good!! can I have yours?!!) :)

My son loves to dip in sauces too...I let him have a little ranch to dip his grean beans in (he calls them green fries haha)...I say whatever works, as long as they're not just using the green bean as a spoon for the ranch (which happens sometimes :)

Good luck!

Don't stress about this, it is never easy to train a child to eat veggies, but its so worth it, and yes starting sooner is definitely BETTER!

No don't feel the need to drown vegetables in ketchup, terrioki sauce or ranch dressing. Yes it tastes better, but these sauces are full of calories and kids need to learn to eat without them, so don't start down that path. Obviously if you're eating a stir fry that contains terrioki sauce like you explained earlier, it doesn't hurt, but just don't feel the need to ADD it.

One thing I did with my daughter was give her one thing to eat at a time, small amounts, and she didn't get the next item until the first was gone. Her problem was that she'd eat all the stuff she like and then start playing with, throwing, smearing, smashing... the rest on her plate. Such a mess!!! So with one at a time she had to eat it, and the things she liked were the reward for finishing her plate. I'm a force feeder (until about 2 1/2), so they know they have to FINISH their plate or Mommy will feed them. But after they're older putting it in the fridge and going hungry is a good option as well. My husband was raised that way and had the same things for about 3-4 meals on occasion. My parents set timers and we had to eat it all before the timer went off, if it did we were spanked and then had to eat it anyway. My 3 year old like the timer idea, sometimes she requests it, make it seem fun for her...

Bottom line. Don't give him stuff to eat like cheese, meats etc, until vegetables and fruit are eaten. The above things are very high in calories and filling, so he won't feel the need to eat if those are eaten first (cheese can stay in the stomach for 10 hours digesting). Avoid snacky foods like crackers, and do things like whole grain pasta, brown rice, ww bread instead. These have lots of vitamins in them that processed foods lack (even the fortified ones).

Best wishes, you're not a MEAN Mommy, but a NICE one, for training your kids to eat healthy, its one of the best gifts a parent can give their child!

I wouldn't stress about it. Toddlers are weird about food. Just keep offering, putting it on his plate. Even if you just put 2 or 3 pieces (that way you don't feel so bad if he doesn't eat it!) You could also try serving his meal in "courses" veggies first then Protein then starches (FWIW my 5yr old does not like the texture of potatoes at all...and my 3yr old will only eat them mashed)

I personally don't agree with forcing a kid to eat one meal before having anything else. BUT, they don't get anything between meals except healthier stuff if they are having trouble eating meals. So if they don't eat their meal, they don't get a treat, but if they are hungry 1-2 hours later, I will offer carrots, apples, banana, etc. My personal theory is that the mom gets to pick what she eats, because she makes it. But then the kid is forced to eat it. Hard to explain without seeming like my kids walk all over me. They really don't. I try to still offer them a well-rounded meal, and get them to at least taste it.

My 5 year old has told me on numerous occasions that he doesn't like potatoes or cooked carrots (he likes them raw). I don't try to force him to eat them. But I still put them on his plate. But if he doesn't eat his veggies, he doesn't get a dessert. But he can go to bed hungry, and in the morning he can have breakfast - I wouldn't save his beef and veggies from the night before just to teach him to eat anything I give him.

Studies have proven that kids have to see foods many times before wanting to try them. I think that's fine. Around that age they also like to go days without eating more than a few crackers and a banana. It's fine! They get through it and then they go on an eating spree. Like I said, I wouldn't force it, just keep trying, don't give up, and don't let him fill up on snacks in between meals. It will teach him eating habits and not take away his individuality and sense of self-choice.

Hi S.---I agree with many of the others. Just keep trying. And I also have heard the suggestion to put one thing on his 'plate' at a time, starting with the foods that you want him to eat first. Do this when he is most hungry. In fact, I might put him in his high chair while you a preparing dinner, giving him things like frozen peas or corn, edemame (young soybeans, very yummy), cubed squash or carrot pieces...it will be like his appetizer. Tell him that dinner is not ready yet, but he is more than welcome to start eating his with these items.

Be happy with one bite. I also point my wellness clients to www.AskDrSears.com for advice. I know he has an extensive column on picky eaters. I also recommend his book, The Family Nutrition book for great advice. There is a great wealth of info about kids and kid friendly food at www.eatingwell.com.

He won't starve himself. But be sure you give him choices based on what you want him to eat.

Lastly, I work with a company that puts fruit and veggie juice powders into gummies. With these, you can be confident he is at least getting nutrients into his body. In fact, Dr. Sears tells us (he works with the same company) that these whole food gummies actually create a craving in the body for whole foods, particularly those that are in the gummies. If you would like to know more, please feel free to contact me. It is my honor to help others learn how to optimize their health through diet.

About sauces. Be careful of the ingredients. There are some you just don't want anyone in the family to consume. I have lists of harmful ingredients to watch for so get back to me about that. Some biggees are partially and fully hydrogenated fats, MSG (which goes by several names in order to hide it), HFCS and anything with a number in the ingredients list (artificial colors). A little bit of healthy fat, such as in salad dressings, help the body to absorb fat soluble vitamins. Again, beware of lots of chemicals in these lists, particularly ranch dressing, as most contain MSG. Most dressings can be made easily at home. Explore and have fun searching out those that your family likes. I have found a source for dry mix for ranch that does not contain any negative ingredients.

Good luck and please feel free to contact me. I have a degree in home economics and am taking a series of classes taught by a naturopath who has her PhD in Nutrition. I will share what I am learning, giving you the resources to make your own decision as to what is best for your family.
In health, D.

I really thing the teriyaki sauce is too high in processed foods and sugar and salt.

I think kids tastes change daily. Just offer offer offer to him and he will eventually eat things. Maybe he doesn't like the texture of it. Are you pureeing them or giving him finger foods? How about letting him feed himself things like squished peas. Have you offered avocados? They are really yummy.

How about "sweetening" up the veggies with breastmilk (if you are nursing) and/or a bit of yogurt or cottage cheese.

I wouldn't stress. He's still sort of experimenting at this point. I wouldn't shoot to make every meal well-rounded, but try to have offered well-rounded items throughout the day.

I would avoid the teriyaki sauce though.

Good luck.

Keep offering! It can take a dozen or more times for your baby to accept something. Instead of dousing it in something like teriyaki, which is full of sugar and sodium, try some Mrs. Dash salt-free spice mixes. There are a bunch of combos to try. Also, a sprinkle of parmesan is usually a big hit too. Keep trying. Eventually he'll find some things he will accept. Good luck!

He is so terribly unfinished at this point, but you do not want to start food wars with him. Let him pick and choose out of what's offered. Give him a vitamin if necessary. He'll grow out of this if he doesn't feel a need to use this as arena to express his independence. Be light-hearted and cheery and mater-of-fact about food and toilet issues and they'll resolve much sooner. Of course you want to encourage healthy eating but then drop it. Don't make him try to eat it later. He'll survive!

Do you give him baby food fruits and veges or actual fruits and veges? My daughter REFUSED to eat baby food, even baby cereal.

I love potatoes, however, I have to season them up or I won't eat them, they are really bland. There is something called Simply Organic all purpose seasoning and simply organic seasoned salt; they are sold at whole foods and (some) at hillers. When I make mashed potatoes (my husband and daughter love them) I have to make them just a little lumpy ... if they are completely smooth, it looks gross and I hate the texture. I need some bumps in there. I use soy milk and soy butter because of dietary restrictions (unable to have meat and dairy in the same meal) and some of the all purpose seasoning, a little black pepper and the seasoned salt. It gives the potatoes a flavor that is oh so yummy. Another way you can make potatoes taste good is to put some butter in a non stick sauce pan, throw in some diced potatoes and add all purpose seasoning, a little kosher salt (course grained) and black pepper and fry them until they are tender.

You could also try giving him smaller portions; my son is crazy picky ... if I make something I know he isn't a big fan of, I give him three or four bites of the meat, I give him three or four bites of the vegetable and three or four bites of whatever starch we have with dinner (usually long grain and wild rice or couscous) and I also usually give a few slices of apple or a few grapes (he loves fruit). He's told he needs to at least eat three bites of everything on his plate before we will give him anything else.

You can also try some of those V8 juices that are vegetable and fruit combined, my kids LOVE the strawberry banana and peach mango.

Make spaghetti sauce and hide peppers and onion. Email me for the recipe I use; I make my sauce and pasta from scratch (saves money and is healthier, not to mention it tastes better) my son asks for spaghetti twice a week at least. Good luck!