Ideas on How to Get Toddler/preschooler to Eat More Table Food

I am in the same boat with my 2 yo daughter...wish I could help you out, but maybe the answers you get will help me.

Do you think it is just a preference issue? I know, for me, I've always been a natural born vegetarian and the smell of meat cooking is not very pleasant to me. Just something to consider.

I wouldn't push the meat issue right now. He's eating beans, peanut butter and cheese. That should give him enough protein to keep him healthy and strong. As he gets a little bit older, his tastebuds may change and this will be a non-issue. Since you mentioned that he won't eat the meat that you cook and puree up for him, I'm guessing this is a preference issue and not an issue of the meat being too chewy for his little mouth.

H. this helps.

I have a 2 1/2 year old boy and a infant as well, I think part of the reason might be jealousy! The new baby needs alot of attention so even though hes only 2 hes smart enough to reealize whats going on. hes eating fruit and stuff so that is really good. My older daughter didnt eat meat for a LONG time. She just didnt like it. i wouldnt worry about that part to much. But I dont think it is ok for him to be throwing food. My 21/2 year old knows what i am saying when i tell him to sit and eat..... you need to tell him mommy wants you to try this...just one bite for me and if you don't like it you dont have to have anymore, but if you throw it on the floor then you get nothing else to eat! It won't take long and he wont be throwing it on the floor after being a little hungry a few times. hes just being stuborn and trying to get your attention cause there is a younger sibling. try making a big deal when he eats something like a big boy for you....Oh what a BIG BOY I have....you know really do it up for him...it worked for my little man. Good luck

I have exactly the same problem. My 21 month old daughter is the worst eater. She will eat yoghurt, sometimes bread, sometimes pasta. Little bit of apple. She will also eat the stage 3 baby food with no problem at all. With normal food, every meal with her is a fight. You have to get upset with her before she will eat, and even then every mouth full is a mission. She willl also eat any junk food on offer, so we have stopped giving her any. If we do it is as a reward for eating well. I am just hoping this is a phase and will pass.

This is an easy one, but it will be hard on you the first few times you have to enforce it...
First, anything he throws, HE must pick up. Do not waiver on this. You may want to begin enforcing this when you've got a good block of time to spend. If it takes all day...do not let him do anything else until he picks it up. The world stops until he does as you ask. Do this a few times and any time he begins to throw food again, remind him he'll have to pick it up, and enforce it, nicely.
Second, (and I've talked to a few Dr.s about this), children will not allow themselves to starve. Give him what you want him to eat, and if he doesn't eat it after a reasonable amount of mealtime, cover it with saran wrap and put it in the fridge. When it's time to eat again, that's what he gets. Continue this everytime until he's eaten it. When he has finished that plate, then you give him the next thing you want him to eat. Do not let him sit at the table all day until he eats it... only allow a normal amount of time and take it away. I made that mistake and now my kids take forever to eat, but they do eat what I fix (or nothing at all.)
He may scream and cry and be miserable, but if you cave in, he'll only learn that you don't really mean what you say and that he can't trust you. As much as you love him, you're not helping him by letting him get away with this. Just take a few breaths and stay firm, you can and must outlast whatever he does. Right how he''s dictating your behavior, but you're the mom! You must enforce the boundaries that make him want to change his behavior.
Now is the time to nip a few key problems in the bud. You teach him responsibility and that his actions have consequences by making him pick up his mess. And no, he's not too young, this is the perfect age. If he can pick up a toy and walk around the house with it, he can pick up food and take it to the trash can!
Also, you teach him to be to be respectful of you. Mommy worked hard to make his meal and he needs to not throw it, but eat what you have decided is best for him because you love him and want him to be healthy. Once you've laid down the law and he has done what you've told him to several times, then later, you can let him have some input to choosing from 2 or 3 things to have for the meal. And as he continues to make good choices, he gets more privileges.
Do not let him keep controlling you... you are the grown up, you rule. My children went through this a bit at this age (and a plethera of other issues at 2 and 3yrs old) and this time sets the standard for how they respond to you for the rest of his life. (Sorry, no pressure there - ha.) When my kids made negative choices I picked the thing they liked the least, and did that. Whether it was taking their favorite blanket away for a while, or turning their chair around to face away from the table. You can't change their behavior for them, but you can make them want to make a better choice.
My kids are 6, 9, and 11 now and we get praise wherever we go about how well mannered they are. I make sure they hear it and understand that it's because of their good choices that we can go places and do things. But it all started at home when they were 18 months!
Good luck!

I am a chef and have also taken nutrition classes. It sounds like he could have a pretty complete diet on the foods that he does eat if you prepare them with whole grains, use beans for his protein, add flax or wheat germ to the pancakes etc. However I have a 2 year old son who will not eat meat on most day. It has to be just right for him to eat it. He would also eat french fries, etc if I let him. However I think in America we are so afraid for our children to be hungry. If he is of normal weight and developing normally it will not hurt him to miss a meal. It sounds like you are doing the right thing offering him a healthy variety of foods but you are in a battle of wills. Offer him what you are eating and if he doesn't eat well too bad. Don't teach him that you are going to always make something special for him or it will never stop. Offer him the same thing at the next meal time until he at least tries it. Eventually he will get hungry and eat. I do this with my son and he is fine. He also eats broccoli, brussel sprouts, frozen peas and carrots, spinach, cucumbers, and tomatoes. I promise if you keep offering food to him eventually he will eat it.

I think it sounds like he eats pretty well. There are a lot of kiddos out there that are pickier than yours. I wouldn't worry about him not eating meat. He is getting lots of protein from the yogurt, pb &j and black beans. Does he eat eggs? During meal time you could serve him what you are eating and one thing that he normally eats. That way he can make the choice and you never know....he may surprise you. My 19 month old is not a meat eater, but when we have it I always put it on his plate. Every once in a while he eats it.

Your son may be eating the baby food because you have an infant that is eating it. I have a four year old that commonly talks and acts like my 19 month old and asks me to dress her, etc because she wants to be like my son.

Well, as far as preschool goes, I wouldn't worry too much about that. My 2 1/2 year old is also in preschool and rarely eats what she's given. Her school will allow outside meals, so I started packing a 'back up lunch'. I still want her to be offered the food, but if she refuses it, then they will give her what I sent.
Besides that, if the pedi. isn't worried about it, then I would say just keep offering it to him and have the back up if you want. If not, then stick to your guns. If he gets hungry enough, he will eat. Limit the snacks so that he doesn't get filled up on it. 2 year olds are tough! Good luck!

I've had friends who forced their children to eat the foods they child detested and when they grew up, low and behold, the child had allergies to those foods. Think twice before forcing them top eat everything. It you are serving healthful foods, and he isn't eating sugary sweets constantly, then his taste buds should be a good guide for what his body needs. On the other hand, if he eats a bunch of junk food, no, his taste buds have adjusted to just wanting junk. I trust the last case is not true for you and your family. Mainly, beware of food allergies. Goggle more about them. It sounds like you have a classic case and it's better to know that up front. He might develop learning disabilities and behavioral problems when he is exposed to these foods, and without researching this, you wouldn't have any clue as to why he is acting up. Good Luck. It takes work, but it is worth it!!!
M.

Hi H.,
I know how frustrating it can be to try to accomodate a toddler. At two, your son's tastebuds are still developing, so he won't always like or dislike what he does now. Just keep offering him the food you're eating, without turning it into a power play. If he doesn't eat it, give him plenty of water and let it go. He's not going to starve himself. Sometimes toddlers go through a growth stage where they're not so hungry, and it's easier to be very finicky. Personally, I wouldn't tolerate food throwing. I can't imagine you like it! When I give my toddler something on her tray, she's been trained to just push it to the corner if she doesn't want it. From the list you gave of the foods your son does like right now (for now, anyway ; ) , you can sneak in some things that might help him nutritionally. You can puree carrots or sweet potatoes and put about 1/2 Cup into a regular batch of pancake batter. It will make the pancakes moister and sweeter, and give him more vitamin A, too. Since he likes dairy and cheese, you're fine for calcium. Have you tried making quiche with some pureed broccolli or spinach in it? If you use the same kind of cheese that you make your grilled cheese sandwiches with, and puree the veggies before you mix up the ingredients, he might like it. It seems to be a hit with all the toddlers I know. That would give him plenty of protein, from the dark green veggies and eggs. In fact, I make 2 or 3 quiches at a time, then put the slices in freezer bags and freeze them. When we're having something I know she can't eat (like really spicy food, etc.) it's so easy to just pop a slice of quiche in the microwave for a minute or two for her meal. With veggies, protien, dairy, and bread, it's a complete meal. And if your son is wild about fruit, you can place a small piece of fruit on the same forkfull as a piece of tender meat. Will he eat rice? If so, the combination of rice and black beans makes a complete protein, and has the same nutritional value as meat. As far as preschool goes, or even your own home environment, you can be sure that, even with stubborn toddler personalities, the survival instinct (to not starve) will win over the desire to be independent or dislike new things. He might get hungry first (uncomfortable but not dangerous), if you just give him what you eat at mealtimes, but before very long, hunger will improve his appetite and willingness to eat what he can get. Remember, instinct is stronger than will. That said, toddlers also need a small healthy snack between meals, so that they can get some nourishment about every 2-3 hours during the day. If you keep those snacks healthy, small portions, and eat at regular times, his appetite for good food will likely improve.

Don't try too hard to cater to his whims. Cook the food for the family, serve it, and tell him that is the dinner. If he isn't going to eat, simply (in a calm and detached manner) excuse him to go to his room until the meal is over. Part of the problem may be that he likes the attention and drama of you begging him to eat. We have a rule that you have to try everything, but you don't get dessert unless you eat ALL the food on your plate. I usually give very small portions of new foods. And we also offer ketchup if they choose (to cover the taste). The KEY to this strategy is that if you are not going to eat the meal, you don't get to stay at the table, and certainly no dessert. Ideally, he gets no second chances for that meal, and no snacks til the next meal. Pretty soon he'll figure out he's hungry and doesn't like to miss out on the social interaction of mealtime. (Don't worry... he won't starve!) Best of luck!

I had a hard time with getting my son to eat meat. He really likes applesauce so I would start putting applesauce on his meat or let him dip in in there. I buy the "Natural" applesauce so it does not have any added sugar. I also think it is a little bit healthier than things like ketchup and ranch dressing and does not stain like ketchup does. Good luck.
B

It sounds like for a 2 year old your son is doing pretty well in terms of eating. My daughter will eat meat with ketchup. Once she discovered it, it is her thing. I know it is sugar but if it allows her to eat protein, we are all for it. We grill steaks and cut them in small bites and she will eat that, nuggets, etc. She also likes fish sticks. Just try different things and I am sure he will come around. As long as he is eating fruits, yogurt etc. then you really should not worry too much. Sometimes sneaking it in can work. What about spaghetti sauce with some meat? Good luck!

I'm so glad that so many people are chiming in. One of my 23mo. old twins is the same way, but eats fewer things- and some weird ones too. I'm so glad to know that I am not the only one dealing with this problem! My picky eater is allergic to dairy and we didn't realize it until she was about 16 mo. (Dr. kept saying reflux)
She started on baby food like it was the best thing in the world. Any fruit, any veggie, any grain- all were great and she would eat a whole jar at every sitting. About halfway through the stage two foods she just stopped eating. Nothing was good enough and most of the time she wouldn't even taste it. These were the same foods she had loved from the start.
The gastroenterologist said she was not digesting the milk because her body was trying to reject it. So her stomach was full AND felt yucky. This went on so long that my best guess is that she figured all food hurt.

Anyway, now she only eats breads (cornbread, biscuits, loaf bread, pizza with whatever sauce she cant get rid of-no cheese), chips, crackers, junk food. The only veggies or fruits she eats are: dill pickles, raw onion, sauerkraut juice, pickle juice, ramps, stage three squash/zucchini mix and the very occasional bite of banana. Oh, and sometimes soy yogurt.