I have a 20 month old son that eats great! Lots of veggies, whole grains, fruit, etc. However, he strongly prefers single ingredient foods (chicken by itself, broccoli by itself and so on). He won't even eat a sandwich or homemade pizza even if he likes all the ingredients. I've tried having him help me make the casserole, quiche, etc so he can see what's in it before it's cooked but that's not working. Any other advice how I can get him to eat a dish that has more than one ingredient?
I don't really have any advice. I just wanted to say that we have the opposite problem! My daughter will eat almost anything if it is all mixed together, but if I try to give the same things separate, she won't touch them. Good luck!
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How about banana bread or zucchini bread? Maybe smoothies with more than 1 fruit + yogurt. Mini-pumpkin muffins? Appeal to his sweet side. Just some ideas... My best guess is he will grow out of this, and until then get some cute kiddo divided plates so his food won't 'mix' and he can eat everything separately. Congrats on having a good-food eater! I've got some good recipes if you are interested, just e-mail me :o)
we had/have the same issue. we started with two ingredient things like rice and beans, carrots and peas, things they can see, that are very simple. we have progressed to maybe four things mixed togther, but not oo complicated! i try to think of it this way. i am so happy that they are eating such healthy things, that i don't want to push it and make it a struggle. i offer a "mixed" dinner about twice a week, and tell them that they need to try one bite to see if their tongue has grown up enough for that particular food. so that way i feel they are expericncing new tastes and textures without pressure.
The best thing you can do is just give it to him and act as though he's expected to eat it. Just smile and walk away. Also, even more important, is don't make a big deal out of it. Simply let him see you and others eating the food and talk a lot about how yummy it is. ("MMMMM. I'm so gald I'M a GOOD GIRL and eat my food! I'm so GOOD!)
Kids copy parents! Haha--My little Lucas was the same way--Now he eats what we give him, and says he's a "good girl" LOL!
...Also, important, DON'T give him other food because you're afraid he will starve. I assure you that when he gets hungry, he WILL eat what's put in front of him. Hunger is a pretty strong urge! Don't give in. Teach him to make the most with what he's given. It's a lesson that will last a lifetime ; )
Blessings,
H.
Slow down, He is only a baby The fact that he eats a balanced diet is amazing. you have many stages of eating to go thru. My son loves somethings mixed. ie lasagna but hates others. ie pot pie. currently his favorite mixed food is mashed potatoes and mac and cheese together. YUK. Just keep introducing foods and slow down. If you have to leave a little chicken out for him and put the rest in the casserole, so be it. it will take time but I assure you he will be fine. You are doing great. Childrens taste buds are the most sensitive. Many foods we love are way to strong in flavor for them. So just enjoy who he is today.
My girls love brocolli with cheese (just melted Velveeta with a little milk and butter). Ravioli, either cheese or meat, the meat is hidden so he may not notice, spagetti with the sauce mixed in, you may start with non-chunky sauce or make your own and add some V-8 for extra veggies. Whatever you serve for dinner put on his plate (they say it can take up to 10 introductions to a new food before a kid will eat it)make sure you include a veggie or two the way he likes it so he will eat some dinner. Hope this helps some, God bless!
how great your son at 20 months eats good try other foods later try tomatoes now he may love them but not at 3 broccoli now but not at 4 enjoy!!! K.
If he's eating a balanced meal without a fuss, don't push him too hard on other stuff.
Put a little bit of the casserole or whatever on his plate, along with the foods he likes and encourage him to take just a few bites. Pushing kids to eat foods they don't like is the quickest way I know of to make a good eater into a picky one, or even set the stage for an eating disorder.
When my daughter was small, she would eat just about any vegetable except for green beans. My ex thought that green beans were the most wonderful vegetable on the planet, wanted them with almost every meal, and made a big fuss about her having to eat whatever he and I ate. Even though I did not go along with his pushing to make her eat them, didn't even put them on her plate, and always made sure to fix vegetables she liked, his carping about it resulted in her refusing to eat even vegetables she liked, just to spite him. By the time she hit her teens, we were battling anorexia nervosa.
