Mealtime Makes Me Crazy!! Help!

Updated on September 14, 2010
V.B. asks from Pompano Beach, FL
11 answers

Okay Mamas, I am at my wits end. I know that I've given advice before to solve this problem, but it doesn't seem to be working and I need some encouragement or some fresh ideas. It is a constant fight to get my kids to eat at mealtime. My daughter (4 1/2 years) used to do pretty well about eating what we ate until my son (2 years) started eating regular food and then it all stopped. My son is one of the pickiest eaters on the planet and I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how to get him to eat much besides chicken nuggets, crackers and peanut butter sandwiches. He will not eat a single fruit or vegetable. I give him a vitamin every day to make sure he gets some nutrients and I finally found a flavor of V8 Fusion juice that he will drink and it has a serving of fruit and a serving of vegetables in each cup. I normally give him one cup of apple juice (diluted) per day anyway,so I have substituted this instead so that he gets at least a little nutrition out of it. I guess the point of my post is that my son's pediatrician has been saying for nearly a year now that he will outgrow this and to just keep trying and he will eventually eat new things. Well, it seems to have only gotten worse. He used to eat bananas, applesauce and raisins and now he will not eat any of it. I can't force feed him and I don't want to make food a battle, but he literally refuses to take a bite of anything unless it's a chicken nugget, peanut butter sandwich or snack food of some kind. And now, my daughter really only wants to eat "kid food" too since I'm already making it for him. So, now I make 2 meals...one for them and one for hubby and I. Just now for lunch, I tried to make him a grilled cheese sandwich and he wouldn't touch it. I made him sit at the table until he at least tried one bite and he pitched a huge fit. So, I gave him until naptime to eat and he didn't, so I went ahead and put him to bed. I know he's going to be starving when he gets up, so now what? Do I just put the sandwich back in front of him and make him try it before he gets anything else? I guess I know the answer, but he's super stubborn and I'm scared he'll win! Not to mention I feel like now it's all out war over food and I'm trying to avoid that.

The problem is that I have been fighting cancer for the past 9 months and it has disrupted our family quite a bit (to say the least), but now that my chemo is over, I'm ready to get back to normal and I just can't seem to get this part fixed. I was too exhausted to worry about fighting with them over food and at the time, it was just easier to give them what they would eat. But, that's not healthy long-term and now I need to fix it and nothing seems to be working. Any thoughts on how to get my kids to start eating better again without having major fights to do it? Or, do I just let it go and keep going with the "he'll grow out of it eventually" theory? Any ideas would be helpful. And for those of you who will tell me to "hide" veggies in other foods like that one cookbook suggests....the problem with that is that he won't eat anything that I can hide it in!! Ugh!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.B.

answers from New York on

We have a very picky 2 year old too! I let him choose what he wants for breakfast and lunch (I give 2 or 3 options and he decides). Once he chooses, that is what he gets. If for some reason he doesn't want it once it is put in front of him, then he will either come back to it later or skip out on that meal. Sounds terrible, but I will not make 5 meals for him!

He gets what we eat for dinner. Again, if he doesn't eat it then he comes back to it later or skips out on that meal.

If he eats his meal then he can have a snack in between. If he doesn't eat his meal and he says he is hungry, he is offered the last meal plate. I don't keep that through the whole day though. Like, if he doesn't eat his breakfast, I won't make him eat his breakfast plate for lunch...I'll make him a new lunch plate.

My dr told me that I have to look at things on a 2 week period. If within that 2 week period he is eating balanced meals, then there is nothing to worry about.

We do the V8 fusion too!

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.V.

answers from Chicago on

One meal, eat it or starve. They eventually eat.

3 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.!.

answers from Columbus on

To be honest... stop giving in to giving him the "picky foods" and place in front of him what everyone else is eating. Eventually they will come around and eat.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.C.

answers from Dallas on

V.,

I so feel your pain with the picky eaters! I have a nine year old that to this day will only eat chicken nuggets, fries, peanut butter/jelly sandwiches, fish sticks and other than a couple of other things that's just about it! He does love cucumbers though which helps with the healthy eating. He just had his yearly check up on Friday and I "again" mentioned to the doctor how picky he is. As she has said all along...as long as he is eating something and gaining weight don't worry. She also said more than once that "He will not starve" if he misses a meal, that children WILL eat when they are hungry enough. I know this doesn't help you much but please know that you are definitely not alone! Hang in there. :)

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from Sacramento on

I'm sorry for what you are going through with your illness and being a busy mom but watch what advice you get with some of these posts.
I guarantee you the none of these moms have gone to bed hungry.
And re-heating things over and over???????? I hear "Mommie Dearest" and it makes me nervous, sad and scared for these kids.
Do what works for you, your child and your family meaning feed him what he will eat for now, give him a vitamin supplement and he will eventually expand his palate and eating desires/wants. Don't be mean/cruel when trying to instill a healthy lifestyle for your child. Just work with them. Believe me I know it's hard but it won't last forever. Just don't let your child go hungry or go without. Be patient, kind and loving. Hang in there and I wish you all the best in your fight to recovery! Hugs

1 mom found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

They'll eat when they are hungry. If they don't want to eat what's in front of them - fine. They can wait till next meal and try again. It won't hurt them if they go to bed hungry every once in awhile. No child ever starved themselves to death out of sheer stubbornness.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.C.

answers from Fort Wayne on

Simple fix. Either eat what's given to you, or go hungry. End of the story. Stop feeding him only the things he wants to eat. Make a meal for everyone. If they eat, great! If not, well, the leftover will be there for them at the next meal. And the next. And the next. To be honest, it's going to take awhile to get them to eat a variety of foods.
Institute "no thank you" bites. They have to take a bite for every year of their age of the foods they dont' like (so 4 bites for your daughter and 2 for your son). After they take those bites, they can say "No thank you, I don't care for green beans." We started this with my daughter when she was about 3. It works much better than I thought it would the first time I heard about it.
I don't know how well it will work for your 2 year old, but it's worth a shot!
Consistency is the absolute key! Don't waffle, even for a moment! It's going to be rough for awhile, but you know it's better for them in the long run!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.C.

answers from Columbus on

Does he like popsicles? If so, when he's not around, get out the blender and puree up some fruits (mango & peach, with OJ is yummy;blueberries & raspberries with vanilla yogurt & blueberry juice, etc. Freeze the little apple sauce cups, maybe? Our little guy actually prefers his fruits & veggies frozen... maybe the taste is less intense or something that way? And maybe you can add some of the V8 Fusion to it, or some carrot juice.

If he eats spaghetti, try pureeing spinach and adding it to the sauce. A little bit will (hopefully) go unnoticed.

I ate pretty much PB sandwiches as a kid (like for 3 to 5 dinners per week, plus it was my usual lunch), and only just recently gave up PB because my son has peanut allergies.... However, as I got older, I did try new foods and now regularly eat Indian, Mexican, and am willing to try about any food. :) So, don't give up and don't let it get to you too much--keep offering the foods and pretend like you don't care if he eats it or not, and act like you love the foods and enjoy them.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.R.

answers from Pittsburgh on

You got lots of great suggestions, I could never understand how kids come to want to only eat chicken nuggets... My suggestion on that, serve them once a week, or try making your own and adding in pureed vegies in the coating. Peanut butter sandwiches can be healthy if made with the right bread, not simple white bread (or cardboard as I refer to it). You can't make kids eat, just offer a variety of things with a sandwich, let him get down from the table when they say they are done, let them know the rest of the meal will be waiting when they are hungry or want a snack they can come back to it. Offer healthy snack options, I love the idea of making popsicles with fruit and yogurt. What about icecream with fruit toppings, very little ice cream of course.

Also, have them help shop and prepare the meals, it works well for some children to have a say in the meal planning

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.P.

answers from Boise on

I think it is the two year old phase. I keep being told to just feed my son what we eat, but he would never, and I mean never eat. We have the kid staples and periodically introduce new foods. He usually doesn't eat those, but he will eat fruits. I'm not in your situation, but I would try giving him what you plan to give him (his meal or yours - whichever way you go). That is what he gets to eat. If he doesn't eat it, his only alternative is fruits or veggies. If you are giving him what he wants (my son is on a huge grilled cheese kick right now), maybe cut down the portion and if he is still hungry, he can eat the fruits and veggies on his plate, or "your" food, which is on his plate too?

As for the 4 year old...I haven't dealt with one yet, but have you explained to her that she went through the same phase when she was little, but is now a big girl and needs to eat big girl food?

I have never liked where you keep offering the same food over and over until they eat it. I'm with you, I hate the fight over food. If they don't eat it, and you don't want to save it for a future meal, throw it away, and serve what you would for the next meal. I also don't MAKE my son try things. I ask him to, and if he tastes, he usually spits it out whether it is something he would like or not, so I let him eat nothing.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

V.,
I used to really stress out at mealtimes. My son was a could who ate everything and anything but it was WOULD he eat. It got to the point where I was miserable every day and dreading dinnertime especially. I decided I was not putting myself through it anymore. I made him a plate--gave it to him--let him even (GASP!) eat it in front of the tv if he wanted to. I stopped stressing. If he ate fine, if not, fine too. I just refuse to get wigged out every day over this.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions