Picky Eater - APO, AE

Take a look at the book: Deceptively Delicious By Jessica Seinfeld (wife of comedian, Jerry Seinfeld). Jessica's book was mentioned on Oprah. I've tried the "chocolate shake" recipe for my 6-yr old picker eater and she loved it! I never told her the main ingredient was sweet potatoes. Amazing!!! By no means am I trying to promote the book but I found it useful for my picker eater. Good luck!

Hi, I am responding to tell you that it does get better. I spent many a night crying because I thought I was doing something wrong. I have a picky eater as well and she's almost 3 now and is just now getting into eating a meal. Cut the number of drinks in 1/2 and offer foods instead of a cup or add campbell's soup to his cup instead- for example, cream of mushroom, tomato, chicken broth, cream of chicken etc... If he eats enough, then offer a drink. Even if it's only a bite or two- that's a normal sized kid serving. Keep offering meals, even if your son won't eat them. It usually takes SEVERAL times before they'll try it. Try pureeing fresh steamed veggies in a blender and covering the noodles/rice in it- or adding a tablespoon to his milk/juice(carrots are a good one to add to juice) Add some to mashed potatoes (cauliflour is easily disquised in rice and potatoes) Stay away from greasy foods like french fries, grilled cheese & hot dogs, it might still be too heavy for his stomach to handle. Sometimes the "greasy" smell will put kids off. As for the meat, try chicken in shredded pieces. Best of luck to you!!

i am going through this now with my 2 year old twins, some days they eat some days they dont, i have learned to let it go. i will set it out for about and hour, have them sit down, if they get up, then i let them graze (monitored, or else it will be all over the place) and then i take it away. i talked to my pediatrician and she said as long as they are drinking milk, then don't worry about it. you can also supplement with pediasure, which is expensive but it works! also carnation instant breakfast has the same ingredients and its cheaper. i can't sweat it anymore because when they are hungry, the will eat. hope this helps!!

My 4 year old is a very picky eater as well. He doesn't eat meat at all either and has been that way since he was about your son's age. We struggle even getting him to eat sauce on his pasta. He does eat cheese, eggs, and peanut butter well plus he loves fruits and vegetables. None of the doctors I've talked to have been concerned at all. I have been told that sometimes for children that its a texture issue and they just don't like the texture of meat. The only thing that has worked for me is to keep offering foods to him because I never know when he might like something. Plus I try foods made in different ways. Just recently he's started eating chicken nuggets but only the dinosaur shaped ones. He tells us meat is for grown ups.

I had a similar problem with my son and the doctor said that I shouldn't worry. He will get better. As long as he is eating something. Just keep offering new foods at each meal and be sure he sees you eating those same foods. My son will sometimes try something he sees us eating, or try it off of our plate even. Once he knows he likes it, he will eat it at that setting but then we have to do it all over again at the next. Also, if you are worried about nutrition, try giving him pediasure once a day. That is what I do for my son because his food choices don't include all that he needs. He loves the pediasure because it tastes like strawberry milk. They have other flavors too. It is usually in the same aisle as the formula for babies. Good luck.

You should be happy he's not eating those foods, they're mostly horrible for him. You should be more concerned about getting him to eat fruits and veggies. But kids are often picky eaters, so as long as he is getting the essentials that he needs...

My friend's son is a picky eater and she purees all of the veggies into a sauce to pour over noodles and rice. He's never caught on to the fact that his noodles are laced with veggies like green peppers, onions and tomatoes. She just calls it "sauce" and he loves it. Seems like he'll eat it as long as he doesn't have to acutally see the vegtables. For her, it was the easiest way to get him to eat everything without the drama. Hope it helps!!

My oldest is a picky eater (we have four children). He has been diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).. sometimes also called Sensory Processing Dysfunction. If you do a Google search for SPD, you will find lots of information and advice on picky eaters. It is one of the many symptoms a child can have associated with this disorder. I AM NOT SAYING THAT YOUR CHILD MAY HAVE THAT!!!! I am just telling you where to find great ideas on introducing new foods to a picky eater!!!!
Some quick tips: let your son PLAY with his food. Just make a few adjustments to make clean up easier for yourself. NEVER punish him for not eating something. Offer him a wide variety until you find something that he likes. Even a small alteration to something he normally eats (a sprinkle of cheese on the pasta or rice ....) is a step!
If you can't find the information I suggested, post another request. I simply don't have the time to cut and paste right now.
Best of luck!

I wouldn't worry about it. Kids go through phases when it comes to eating. I have a 2yr old and for weeks she would love something and all of a sudden one day she would decide she didnt like anymore. Eventually, it will all even out.

Hey S., I have been thru this twice. The first time with my 12 year old when he was just a tot, & the 2nd time with my daughter when she was just a tot to the present. I have found that there tastebuds change every 7 years. Yes, that sounds corny but it's true. My son is no longer a picky eater. My daughter, well, she still is. The trick, I just let it go. There really has been no trick to it. They are going to eat what they want to eat. Although I do try to indtroduce something new every once and a while. Just try to make it look appetizing, it helps them "SEE" it in a different way & just might end up trying it for you.

My son is 17 months and we are sort of going through the samething. I've just started getting him to eat more different foods. Don't give up. Keep trying. Try giving him his favorites with some other choices. Maybe you'll get lucky and he will decide to eat that. Gotta give it time. Don't force feed him cause then that'll just make him hate the food. How I know this is because my husband was force fed by his parents. So he doesn't eat certain things.
Be patient. Try walking away and give him some private time. That seems to help. Gives him a chance to explore what you gave him.
Hope it all works out.

J. S.

I have 2 picky eaters as well and the best advice is dont make them it what they do not want and let them eat what they want just no sweets and so on.
It will get better you are not doing anything wrong.
Mom of 2