My son is 26 months old. He has gotten to where he won't eat anything, but always acts like he wants to eat. He is the pickiest kid ever. He will eat pizza sometimes, and the cheese bread sticks you get with pizza. He used to at least eat chicken nuggets, and mac n cheese. Now the only thing he will eat is snack foods, and some dry cereals. He will also eat stage 2 baby food carrots, peas, and fruits, but I don't think that will fill his stomach at this age. He gets excited when he thinks it's time to eat, but then he won't eat what I give him, even if I have let him go until he's very hungry. He doesn't even eat peanut butter and jelly, or grilled cheese anymore. I bought some Pediasure to help with the vitamins, but obviously that isn't going to fill his stomach either. Any suggestions? I've never dealt with a picky eater before.
Hi kathy,
my baby is 17 months old and all is like s is junk food to she used to be a veggie kid but now all she does is pic on junk im at my wits end too
does he still like to drink? I have gotten to the point where the only thing my daughter will eat at times is light turkey sausage (the taste of meat changes the least when little ones have colds - that is when she started her pickiness) and smoothies. I can make them with fruit or veggies and since she can drink them through a straw she loves them and I know she is getting nutrients until she starts eating again...I also put out a small variety like the other poster said...she then picks what she wants (when no one is looking - I wonder if it is an attention thing too) and eventually I know she has eaten enough for the day.
hope that helps
T.
Thank God I am not alone! My 23 month old just had spaghetti-o's and a fruit roll-up for dinner :( All he wants to eat is cake - yesterday was daddy's bday and that is all he would eat!
It is driving me nuts!
The only thing I keep telling myself is that my 2 oldest went through it as well and it will pass. I will just continue to offer good stuff, or let him pick his own (like tonight) and hope for the best.
So my advice would be not to drive yourself crazy. Cook as you normally would and he'll eat when he is hungry. The pediasure is a good idea, also make sure he gets his multi-vitamin too! Good luck.
A.
Picky eaters can be challenging. The good news is that your kids cannot get in the car and go buy these foods by themselves! You have the full authority to limit what foods come into your house. Cut back on the snack foods, the cheese, the pizza. Make sure the peanut butter is of high quality ( no hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup)
Pediasure is just corn syrup with some synthetic vitamins ( which are petroleum derivatives).
It's also possible that your toddler might have some wheat or dairy sensitivities.
As a parent of 3, I've had more than my share of experience with picky eaters. I now do classes and have Ebooks on how to deal with this challenging aspect of parenthood. Feel free to contact me for more details.
Good luck!
Susan :)
You can't go wrong with feeding him all the vegatables he'll eat. Believe it or not there is protein in certain vegatables. My kids go through spurts when they'll eat everything like crazy and then go through times they eat next to nothing. I believe they know their tummies better than I do. My kids have texture differences.
Some food ideas: pancakes, eggs, beef or turkey-dogs with or without the bun, cheese quesidillas, kidney beans, black beans, oatmeal w/jelly mixed in, celery & apples with peanut butter, whole-grain pasta (no cheese). And Ranch Dressing, Sour Cream, and/or ketchup for dipping.
I'm sure lots of other moms will have good ideas, Good luck!
I have a picky eater, he is now 9, the middle child. To get him to eat when he was small was a nightmare as well. I learned that if i chose 2 or 3 different healthy things and left them for him to chose, he would pick one of them. Also I also learned they will eat before they starve. When hungry enough they will eat. sometimes it is a texture dislike, sometimes its a taste. I would put out cheese and crackers, fruit and a vegetable. after about a week, he would eat 2 of the three. Now at 9 almost everything I make he will at least try. I hope this idea helps. Good luck
P.S. My hubby is also deployed again. We are on #4. I know where you are coming from. Thank him for his service
Just remember, YOU ARE THE PARENT! If all your son wants is pizza, DON'T BUY PIZZA ANYMORE! Your son will not starve. He will not waste away in two or three days. Offer him only food that is healthy. Eventually, he will eat. Do not give alternatives, do not offer treats as rewards. "This is dinner, and you will eat it, or you will not eat." My 4 year old nephew would only eat pizza, plain burgers (no bun), chicken nuggets, and vanilla ice cream, absolutely no frits or vegetables, until he spent a summer with my parents. Now 7, he will willingly try anything and willingly eat almost anything, all because my parents offered no alternatives (and because his mother wasn't there). Be strong, and get any bad foods out of the house - this should be way easier since your husband is deployed : ). If you are tempted to offer him unhealthy foods (dry cereal, too) just to placate him, remember, you are enabling an addict. You do him no favors by allowing him to have an utterly unhealthy diet. Whole foods, whole grain breads, vegetables, fruit, milk, water, all things that would do us moms a world of good, too. Give it a few days, and regain control and sanity. Blessings!
My daughter is 27 months, I will list off what she eats:
Chicken Nugget
Chicken breast cutlets disguised as ckn nuggets
Fish Stick
Hot Dog
Taco Dip
Spaghetti
raw carrots/cucumbers with dip
canned carrots, green beans, and corn.
Those little snack packs with Apples and Yogurt
Snack packs of Jello with fruit in it
Bananas
Mandarin or regular oranges
Yogurt with teddy grahms mixed in or sprinkles
Danimals Smooties
Grilled Cheese
Pizza
Tuna Casserole
Broccoli Alfredo
Peaches
Preas
Apricot
Apples
Grapes
Peanuts
Eggs
Toast
Hope you can find something on here he will try!
