Very Picky Eater...

My advice would be to praise him for the good choices he makes and to keep offering new foods but don't make it an issue. Most 2-3 year olds are picky and he does like one vegetable! :)

I was also a very picky eater, so was my son, My dr. told my mother not to worry(all I would eat was P.B.& J., spigette, and french fries!) I grew out of it and so did my son. Offer new foods, but don't push it, sometimes it is the taste , sometimes the texture or even just the smell. Your doing really good with the chicken and carrots! Chicken is much better for him than beef, pork or sausage! and carrots don't usually appeal to kids , lots of beta carotene, vit.A. etc. dark and bright veggies are better than lightly colored ones. The gag, is usually not a show! and forcing this issue only makes things worse.I would say be happy that the food choices he has made although limited are healthy ones. best of luck, be patient and things will get better.

Dear G.,
I am a mother of 4 kids. Three in college and one going into high school this year. I also work with 3's in a preschool. Your child no different from any other kids. The only advise I can give you is that "don't worry". You are doing good by introducing new foods. Ever taken a look at a children's cookbook? (The public library carries them, too) You can get some cute ideas that you and your kids can make together. Oh, and I remember a wonderful pediatric nurse we had as my kids were growing up tell me "mom, your child will be fine as long as you don't see his ribs sticking out". If your child is eating and drinking when he is hungry then he will be fine. Pick up some vitamins and call the doctor if you feel he is starving. G., my kids eating habits have changed over the years and they are healthy eaters! (Yours will too.)
I hope this helps! V.

Hi G.,
I like Kristi's advise. I noticed with my toddlers that what they won't eat and what they will eat changes like over night. Therefore another issue is them forgetting what they do like. I would fall into this rutt when I'd concentrate on getting them to like new things it may would be a month till I fixed something that they do like then they'd turn their nose up at that too, like they had forgot. This age is hard, like Kristi said keep at it though because if you don't you'll have this problem still when there teenagers. So what helped my kids is that I wouldn't let them leave the table till they at least took three bites of everything. Its hard but they grew up to be really good eaters. Okay except for the youngest. We split up when he was 2, I had to work more hours and the kids dad who seemed to help me in this area became like a friend to the kids instead so he doesnt make him eat what he doesn't want to. When I would be at work my oldest two kids or my mom wont make him eat what he doesnt. It causes a big problem. He's twelve now and I'm just now being able to get a hold of this, because now I want let him leave till he tryes it. Now mind you this three bite thing is not so bad, you can actually see what really is an act or if it is something they really can't stomach. You'll learn the difference. Trust me though you do want to get a hold of this now. I have had problems with my youngest being somewhere and not eat for being so picky. Like one time he went to a lock in at the church and he would not eat. Anyway now that he has just finished 6th grade and he has learned alot about food in health class he has gotten alot better. You don't want it to go this for. I read in Prevention magazine an article from some man who said him and his wife had that same rule at least try, I don't remember how many bites but he said his kids are grown now and they go all over the world and try all kinds of cuisine because he started them young on eating a little bit of everything on your plate. It also will keep you from being upset and embarrassed later on when you are eating with guest or invited somewhere. I have to have a talk with my kid before he leaves now when your are a guest you just eat what they serve. Stressful. Yes do yourself a favor and nip it now.
Good luck

Dear G.
The "three's" to me are much, much more difficult than the so-called "terrible two's".
I would make faces out of every plate of food you make for him - you will be amazed what you can create.
Make meal times fun times and try not to let him see that you feel anxious about his eating or are trying to push him.
To ensure that he has enough nutrition whilst going through this awkward phase, give him a good vitamin and mineral supplement, vitamin C and even a meal-replacement drink such as Ensure - but the type for small children.
Good luck
Jewel.

Hi, i am a 27 yr old stay at home mom. I have a 2 year old daughter, and an 8 month old son. My daughter does eat a large range of foods, but i still sneak extra veggies in her food every chance i get. I think there is a book by jerry seinfelds wife about this type of cooking(though i've been doing this for years with relatives children)...puree vegetables and put it in almost anything. Cauliflower can be pureed and used in batter to make chicken strips. Squash or any othe yellow or orange veggie can be used in macaroni n' cheese if he'll eat that. You can use pureed spinach in brownie mix and never know it's there. What about zuccini bread or bananna nut bread if he likes BREAD. Be creative and think out of the box and the possibilities are endless! I hope this will help.

Mine wouldn't eat meat for a long time because of the texture. Now he won't eat veggies. He's 20 so I really can't do much about it!!

I agree with a lot of what has been said.....just keep trying. Kids sort of get into a routine with their food. It is a comfort thing. At 3 he is experiencing a lot of changes and independence so the same old reliable food is a security of sorts. As he gets older his tastes will change and he'll get braver about trying other things.

One word of caution.....I used to babysit a little boy who ate nothing but carrots & sweet potatoes.....he turned orange!!

I understand your pain. I've noticed that if I regularly put a piece of brocolli on the kids' plate, that they sometimes forget to not eat it. I also do the "Take one bit of this, and you can have the rest of your food" routine.

It might just be a "phase." It's not unusual for kids to do that at his age. My son went from only liking veggies and a few fruits to only liking meats and fruits but no veggies. I've known many parents who say similar things. There are plenty of good resources out there for enticing a picky eater, and I think some of them have already been listed.

Just in case it's not a phase, though, you may want to discuss this with your pediatrician or an occupational therapist. I had a student (five years old) with similar food "issues." He would gag and even throw up if required to eat a bite of something new. It turns out he was not being melodramatic or just picky. He had some kind of texture hypersensitity that was beyond his control. The OT had some ideas and "exercises" to help him get over it.

G. ,,
the meat i would'nt worry about ,,but he does need more fruit and veggies for a temp fix try getting him yo drink the new V8 drinks out now they have your daily devings of friut and veggies in them,,it is probly just a phase ,,,but if i goes on for long time take him to the DR but for now try the juices they come in all kinds of flavors and dont give him sweet snaks
good luck
L.

Are you sure you don't have my son part time??? ;-)

Those are exactly the things he eats. I took him to a nutritionist when he was younger because I was worried about his picky ways (my kids are also very tiny)...

She examined him and declared him healthy...she encouraged giving him whatever he will eat...to always provide him the opportunity to try new things (multiple times) and eventually he will try them but not to force the issue.

To help buff his weight (in case of illness) and to help make sure he got appropriate nutrients he might be missing she encouraged me to give him carnation instant breakfast (only because he is allergic to milk) if he wasn't she said the pediasure or ensure would be just as effective...

Also to help with veggie intake she said to give him the new V-8 fusion drinks that are 100% fruits and vegetables. He loves them cause he only tastes the fruit, it opens him up to new things and I do not have to worry about him getting enough veggies!!!

Good Luck!!

Hey there -- sounds like your little guy is one of those who likes what he likes and change is not very exciting right now. Make sure he gets a chewable multi-vitamin and don't make a big deal out of his food right now. Their (taste) palate grows with children and it won't mature until much much later! You can try when you go grocery shopping having him pick out something that he sees in the fresh produce isle he would like to try - have him pick it out, bag it. I have a friend that from the time of her birth had a problem with food texture - and would gag at almost everything - so relax and as long as he is getting some protein, a vegetable, a fruit, repeating the same old food may be comforting to him.
Just make sure you are eating a good variety of foods as well as his dad and he will eventually begin to experiment, you can at the table talk to him about nutrition and the foods that help him grow tall, strong, etc.. and that's why daddy and mommy eat those foods.

I have been dealing with the same problem with my four year old for as long as I can remember. While he gets his own dinner, we always give him some of what we are eating to try. Sometimes he has found a new food that he will eat. But it takes time. Be determined, patient, and emotionless. "Oh, you don't like that? Try this?" We read him 'Green Eggs and Ham' and will give him a geen eggs and ham food sometimes at dinner. Have you noticed what kinds of foods your son gags on? Mine used to throw up at the table until we realized that there are certin textures he cannot handle. Use what he does like a bridge to other foods. At three my son only ate bacon, fruit, rice, chicken nuggets, and PB&J. Now he eats a whole lot more. It will get better. Good Luck!

Hi G.! There is a book called The Sneaky Chef by Missy Chase Lapine. The recipes are full of vegetables that are steamed and pureed and mixed into everyday foods. Maybe trying a few recipes would sneak in a few veggies that he wouldn't eat other wise and then the taste wouldn't be a huge shocker. After you prepare the veggies sit them to the side and let your son help with the rest, most kids get excited to eat the foods they helped prepare. Hope that is helpful.

Looks like you have some good advice already. I read on here one time that a mom pureed or chopped veggies real small and mixed them in...they were introduced to them w/o knowing it! good luck!

Hi G.,

Well, if he likes carrots, then give him carrots and cucumber with a hint of lemon on them both. Give him mostly the food he likes with just a hint of the new food. Also, make it a point to praise his attempt at trying a new food. I have one child, my son who is always eager to try a new taste, but my duaghter, who sounds like your Caleb, is pretty picky. She is petite, so she gets full faster. However, every now and then, she will surprise me, so never give up trying to get them to try something new. He may surprise you!! Also, don't give in to any sweets or no-no foods before his meals. He may already feel full and it will not help in getting him to try new things, if he feels full.
Good luck!

All I can say is at least it is ffod that is good for him so if you can not figure out what to do think about it that way.. Sorry I have no advise

Hi G.-
I am a pediatric occupational therapist and sometimes work with children who have "oral aversions" in the clinic. This could be caused by him being overly sensitive to textures, smells, or tastes. You could ask your doctor for an occupational therapy evaluation to rule out these issues and/or to help you work on them. Meanwhile, there is a great book called "Just Take a Bite" (Forgot authors' names) that you could reference that has excellent ideas. It basically helps you to desensitize the kids to whatever their hypersensitivity is. This can take a long time and lots of patience to overcome sometimes!
There is also a woman named Deanna Engber who is a licensed professional counselor and occupational therapist who is really great with feeding issues like this.
I do suggest you get help for your son sooner rather than later because it's easier to handle and change at this age rather than waiting.
Good luck! Let me know if you'd like recommendations for clinics in the area.

K. Gregg

Try Deceitfully Delicious... another cook book about pureeing veggies into everyday food. Also try having him help you cook. I have found that having my kids help me make the new food makes them more willing to try it and see how they did. Hope this helps!
M.- mother of four
Independent Kitchen Consultant
____@____.com
Looking for a balanced life? Ask me how to achieve it!