My 4Yr Old Is Picky Eater!!!!

Hi G.! Keep presenting your son with veggies, he'll learn to eat them at some point. In the meantime, hide them in the things he will eat. For example, puree carrots and spinach and put them in spaghetti sauce. They don't change the flavor much (if any). Toss in some peas, carrots, and corn into jambalya; again, doesn't change the taste. Let him douse the veggies you do present with ketchup or some other "dippie" if he wants; at least he's eating them. You can gradually reduce the amount you allow him to put on after he's eating them consistently.

Also, don't let him not eat what you present and then ask for a snack later. Save his plate and tell him if he's hungry, you'll heat it up for him. This put the brakes on my almost 3 year old's antics of not eating and then asking for a snack. He prefers food the first time around, not reheated. :)

Good luck!

-V.

Take a look at thesneakychef.com web site, she has some great ideas I have used I have a 6yr old that is picky. I've learned that I have to have him more involved in the making of meals and he is starting to do better when I do that. For example we make pizza together I slipped in the beechnut carrot baby food in the sauce and he never know it. We make smoothies and milk shakes to work in fruit. I'm getting ready to try again any kind of burgers he wants them to look like crabby patties (spongebob kind) so I'm gonna get little dinner rolls and make real small patties for the grill and if that doesn't work for him I'm gonna purchase veggie burgers. I have been putting out 2-3 fruits at dinner time for my kids to help themselves to after they eat, they like the choice (flat little tooth picks help too it looks special). My son also is a chicken nugget, spaghetto and noodles child. Oh only green beans for his veggie. I've been putting a small side of salad out in a no handle tea cup for 3 1/2 months he just started eating the veggies he wants and he tells me I'm just eating what I like today. (fine with me he's trying it). I think you are doing a great job he gets a vitamin so it really does help. I sometimes get pediasure and make my son a milk shake with it for vitamins and protein for what he is missing. I wish I could get my son to take a vitamin. My doctor says my son is fine many children do this and as they grow change how they eat. (we'll see) Best of luck to you keep trying be creative.

My little girl LOVES the sweet potato veggie puffs & freeze-dried apples/strawberries. They cost a lot (to me) so they are a special treat for her.
Also, I just read something yesterday that said to offer a variety of things at dinner and let the toddler pick what to put on the plate. don't make a special dish for the little one & don't expect them to hang out for a long time at the table. Give him options and he'll find out what he likes.
It also said that you have to offer food like six times before most kids will eat it.
good luck!

There are two counterintuitive techniques that are essential to getting your child to eat fruits and veggies, and one obvious one. First for the obvious: he has to see his parents eat and enjoy fruits and vegetables.
Here's what most parents don't do: 1. Put a balanced variety of dishes on the table - it's best if you don't mix several foods together but serve them as plain whole foods, i.e. bowl of rice, bowl of peas, bowl of melon, plate of lean meat - and let him choose what he wants.
2. NEVER force him to eat anything. If you make eating a power struggle you are setting yourself up to deal with a picky eater for life. Children want to have control over their eating and studies have shown that if you let them, they may not eat a balanced diet at every meal, as they tend to want to eat one or two foods at a time, but they will eat a balanced diet over the course of a week. The most likely reason your child will eat certain foods at his child care and not at home is because child care providers never force children to eat anything nor do they convey any emotional attachment to them eating anything. They don't plead or punish.
It boils down to this. If you provide your child with healthy choices that he has control over, and model the eating habits you want him to develop, he will. If you power struggle with him, he will dig in his heels and demand PB&J and chicken nuggets for life.
My credentials - I am a registered family child care provider (Listed here on Mamasource as Loving Hands Family Child Care in Kennesaw) and mother of two children who eat vegetables of all kinds right off the grocery stand, and the daughter of the former Director of the Army's Child Care centers in Europe.

I know how you feel, my son is also 4 years old and weighs 50 pounds no fat on him at all. just solid.He does not eat any, i mean any kind of meat. Or veggies for that matter. But the doctor says he is above average on all counts height and weight is great so not to worry. My son is starting pre -k 4 year this next week and i hope he will eat some of their food. worried about that.
email me sometime to chat, would love to talk to another mom that knows what i am going through.
I am a at home mom of one 4 years old son and married 17 years.