21 Month Yr Old Only Wants Goldfish, Crackers ...

One trick I do is to add in healthy things into the snacks. My girls love goldfish, so I put very few in a snack-size ziplock bag with raisins or the gerber dried fruit (no sugar). They'll pick out the crackers first but almost always end up eating the raisins.

I have had two of my children.... both of the boys who were like this.... don't listen to the people who tell you to let them starve until they eat what you want them to or to the ones who say to force or ENforce them to eat something they don't want. When my older son was a toddler.... now over 25 years ago.... I contacted Baylor College of Medicine with the question of what he should eat. They said you are doing well if a toddler eats all four food groups in a week.... not in one meal. It will get better.

I am a mother of two - soon to be three - and let me tell you, I have had my share of food battles. Here is what I have learned : 1. Unless you are okay with being a short order cook (which I unfortunately did for the first 3 years of my oldest childs life) you have to lay down the law now. If you give him a cracker or goldfish every time he fusses and doesn't eat the healthy food you offer then that is all he will do. 2. Offer healthy food at meal time - it is his choice to eat or not eat. Children will not starve themselves. 3. Be cautious about snacks - provide a morning snack and afternoon snack but make sure that they are healthy. 4. Remember that crackers and such are turn to sugar on their teeth and are no better than eating a cookie. Be strong. I made a lot of mistakes with my first and gave in ALL the time to his food whims. I finally decided after the birth of my second child that I could not cook 3 different meals every night. I needed to simply my life and ensure that my child is eating healthy. Good luck and know that it does get easier with time.

My oldest son was obsessed with beans when he was two. He only wanted beans. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have no idea how my daughter survived. I don't think she ate anything her entire second year. I learned that as long as the kids were getting one good meal a day, don't sweat the rest. Kids will eat when they are hungry. At this age they eat less and get obsessive. Only offer him foods that you are OK with him eating. If you want him to make healthy choices, only have healthy choices available.
Something else to consider, this might not be a food issue at all. It could be a control issue. I did let my kids have some choices of what they wanted at breakfast or lunch. I decided what was on the menu, they picked. If he wants a food (goldfish or cracker) that is not on the menu, acknowledge that. "Oh. You want goldfish. Yes. Goldfish are yummy. I like them, too. Now is not goldfish time. Let's try carrot sticks."
If he says "no", you say "OK. You don't have to eat right now." And leave it.

I hate to raise a red flag or scare you but you might want to speak to your pediatrician about it if it has been going on for a while. Could be just typical 2 year old stuff but could be something more. I have twin daughters that just turned 5. One has regressive autism. As babies they ate just about everything. As toddlers they continued to expand their pallets with table food. At roughly 2 one of my daughters started refusing to eat anything but goldfish and Cherrios. At 5 we are still struggling with her diet. She will not eat any meat and gags if she even smells it. We have been able to gradually get back to the fruit and some vegetables. I have to give her the pediatric milk and vitamen supplements to make sure she gets everything she needs. We were told it had to do with a sensory issue. She only likes things that are crispy or pureed (nothing in between).

Kids taste change as their little bodies are changing. My now 26 month old would eat banana morning, noon and night. That was her main source of food intake. But now, she won't touch them. I don't think a few crackers will destroy is diet or make you weak. Make a party mix with gold fish, raisins, yogart covered dried fruit, etc... My daughter loves to be in the kitchen with me and she usually snacks her way to dinner. She doesn't eat to much at the table that way but she tries everything when we are working, playing kitchen, together. Some things she loves and some she doesn't jsut like all of us.

Tell him the crackers are all gone and show an empty box. Offeer him lunch or supper but don't make a big deal out of it. If he is hungry he'll eat, espically if he sees the crackers are all gone. This shouldn't last over a day or two, & he should be eating something again. Later if you introduce the (fish) again, let him know it is only as a treat or snack, not at meal time, and of course the snack can't be too much or too close to a meal or he won't be hungry and there you go again.

L.,
I would suggest speaking with your pediatrician.
Mine has told me that a child will eat what is put in front of him/her when they are hungry.
Unless you want to deal with a picky eater the rest of their life then I would suggest feeding your son healthy food options and he will eat them when he is hungry. Do not give in an give him goldfish!
H.

I had the same thing happen to me. What worked for me...we moved our son to a "big boy chair" at the table. He felt more like he was involved with the family. At the same time, I toughed it out. He was given what we were eating. If he did not eat, he did not eat. He started to eat more of "our" food slowly, but surely. I only gave him milk at meal times and he could have water in between meals with a small healthy snack. He is 4 1/2 now, and still somewhat picky, but he eats at least one bite of everything offered (our rule) before he can have seconds on his favorite of the night. This works for us. Hope this helps.

Early exposure to lots of different foods is the only way to head off picky eating. I would suggest giving him all the other foods and save the crackers and goldfish for a reward if he eats his other food. Of course, he will not always like everything you put in front of him. The rule that worked best with our twins was you have to try everything and find something to fill up on that I made. So if I make steak, potatoes and green beans and they don't like steak, they taste it and then fill up on potatoes and green beans. Our kids still have things they do not like, but at 9 they are very willing to try new things put in front of them and eat more variety of foods than any other kids I know. As with everything, the younger you start the easier it will be when they get older. Hope this helps!

Children go through phases when they only want a particular type of food. My son is a very picky eater and I can make mealtime a struggle or pleasent. I choose the later. Give your son what you want him to eat along with some crackers(whole wheat is best)and let him choose what he eats. Don't get angry or fuss at him. This could only make things worse. He is way too young to understand he should eat foods that are good for him. He just wants to eat what he likes. Try some peanutbutter on those crackers or cheese. You have to be very creative with picky eaters. So, think outside the box. I think the most important thing about mealtime is giving kids the healthiest foods they will eat and then to relax and enoy your time together. It is a great time to talk with your child and teach them good manners. Good luck and don't worry!

Tough it out - I did this with our daughter and it works - A child will eat when they are hungry. Let them figure that out and don't give in. Offer him something healthy and then don't give in. If he doesn't eat - try it again the next meal - eventually he will get the picture.

it's a phase my son went through the same thing. keep trying to expose him to new food and one day he'll surprise you and actually eat something! just be patient with him it sounds like you are doing a good job keep it up he'll come around soon enough.

p.s our doctor told us they eat more when they are going through a growth spurt and eat less when they arent maybe he hasnt reached his growth spurt yet

My guess is it's a texture thing. You could always get a good cracker recipe and make it with mashed vegetables in place of the oil, add some wheat germ, use whole wheat flour. Then he's getting the texture he wants and the nutrition you want. http://www.recipesource.com/munchies/snacks/02/rec0286.html

My dd went through a phase around this age where all she would eat were goldfish, cheerios and well, I think that's about it! Honestly, it's just a phase. It's incredibly frustrating but it will pass. I think at this age kids are trying to assert their independence. I like the idea of putting a few different "snacks" into a bag, goldfish, raisins, etc.. What about things that are packaged differently? cheese sticks? gogurt? PB&J cut into different shapes-just cut with cookie cutters. The other thing that might work is give him 2 choices ie.."for lunch today you can pick mac and cheese or PB&J" these are the only choices he gets. Stay strong! He'll choose something else and then just reiterate that "i'm sorry that's not a choice...these are your choices." He'll figure out quickly that you're not going to change your mind and he'll eat. I'm also a firm believer that when in a battle of wits between an adult and a 2 year old... the 2 year old always wins. So choose your battles carefully!:-}