My 15 Mos Will Only Eat One Type of Food

A., I mean this in the kindest way. You are the adult. It is not healthy for your child to eat this way and it could set her up for a lifetime of obesity. If you are firm now it will only last a day or so. When kids are hungry they eat. It is a loving thing for you to help your child eat the healthy food she is given. When my children did similar things, I would say "Are you finished with that food?" If they said yes, I would remove it (I sometimes covered it and put it in the fridge). If they were hungry later I would say "Do you want to eat your breakfast now, I saved it?" And then I would give them the same thing they had before. If it was destroyed by them (thrown on the floor), they would have to wait until the next meal. This is hard to do but you are the grown up and it is not loving to let your child develop bad habits. Just my opinion (and experience)

hi A.. how does your 3 year old eat? im assuming you are referring to your 15 month old daughter by the title of this post. can i ask... what started this whole eating fast food? i realize that in todays world, things are hectic, and an occasional trip for some take out is totally understandable. my question is how did she get on this kick of going to dunkin dounuts and mcdonalds?

i mean no disrespect. so please dont be offended. im just trying to get more information so i can better offer advice. for instance... once in a while, i will get my niece and nephew who are 5 and 7 a frosty from wendys. they love them! i will also get my 15 month old daughter the smallest size vanilla frosty and she loves it too! now im sure if i was getting that for her every day or more often though... thats all she would eventually want to eat.

the partially hydronated oils and preservatives that are placed in fast food are so bad for you! let alone the fat content. not to mention hard on a little 15 month old growing baby :o( im sure you know that though otherwise you wouldnt be seeking advice about it on here.... oh gosh.... did you ever drop a mcdonalds french fry on the floor of your car and find it months later only to see it looks exactly the same? thats all the chemicals and preservatives! its really gross when you think about it!

i would really be worried about the things your daughter "isnt" eating at this point. but more about the unhealthy fast food that she seems to only want to eat. hopefully this is just a stage for her, which im sure it will be. it must be frustrating for you to spend the time and money making good food for her at home, only to have her throw it on the floor. i feel bad for you about that and can completely relate to that aspect! my daughter is in that stage too!

this is what works for me. i dont force it. as long as she goes to the bathroom once a day, my pediatrician says she is eating enough. so i offer her food at each meal. usually a variety of choices, like for breakfast, a banana and an organic waffle. you dont even have to put butter or syrup on the waffle. just cut it up and they can feed it to themselves. maybe some cheerios or other sweet fruit that she likes. if she doesnt want any of those things, then she gets down.

in the meantime... if she throws her milk or juice on the floor, she gets it back once. if she throws it again, she doesnt get it back until next meal also as a way of trying to keep her from doing that so much.

then at lunch, she usually eats better b/c shes more hungry then. so shes eager to eat the carrots and celery, peanut butter sandwhich, or whatever it is that i make for her. almost all kids this age have tatrums when it comes to dinner time... so dont worry about your child! shes normal! but it is time consuming for you, and wears your patience thin.

this is the time i want to teach my child healthy eating habits or she will never learn them. so im trying to teach her that a donut or cookie or frosty is a 'sometime' food. not an every morning for breakfast food. and wont give her the energy and nutrients that she needs to start her day. but they are so young at this age they dont understand that, so its difficult to portray that. just encourage her to eat good foods. i think in time she will be hungry enough to give in.

if you dont get her the mcdonalds or dunkin donuts ... then she cant eat it. i know its hard b/c you want her to have something in her little belly! but im sure by the end of the afternoon or evening time, she will be happy to eat what you put in front of her. thats what worked for me anyway. it may take a few days, but i hope it will get easier on you. it works well for me with my 15 month old little girl.

please reply and let us all know what happened and what worked best for you. good luck.

Hey, A., it's T.. At least she's eating SOMETHING. Evan's doctor said when he got to be about 15 months old he would start wanting to eat the same things at every meal and not to worry (unless it got excessive). Also, she said that he might start refusing to eat and we would think he was going to starve, so, it sounds like Carly has hit her newest milestone. What does her doctor say? I would say, as long as she'll eat it, let her have it. Try to work in some healthier things.

It's prob a little bit of both. If she knows you will give in and get her McyD's if she refuses what you make, she will just continue. You have to stand firm, she will not die if she refuses to eat what you make, and eventually, she will learn, I eat what mom makes or I go hungry. As for the throwing on the floor, make her pick it back up, you deserve more respect for your love and time cooking for her. Believe me, teach it now, because if not, it gets harder and harder as they get older. They learn to walk all over you if they know you will cave. It will be hard at first, but stand firm.

With my daughter, if I'm out of chicken nuggets at home, and have no money for McyD's or just need a break from there, I give her a few choices, you want pb and j, mac and cheese or a sandwich..... it's either that or starve., lol.

Good Luck.

Hi A. ~ I read through a couple of other posts and wanted to say that I agree completely. You eat what I make. Trust me they won't go hungry from a skipped meal or 2! Not only are you setting her up for the obesity, etc. this will spread to other areas of obedience! She will expect that if you tell her to do something that she doesn't want to do, then just throw a fit and mommy will tell her she doesn't have to do it. This behavior will just tumble weed. Stand strong, because sometimes it feels like they want to stand stronger!! Blessings ~ J.

Hello there!
yes - it's a probably a phase - and no, don't worry about it at all.
I have a son - now almost 7 - who for a few years only ate chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, pb&j and those gelatin fruit snacks... that's it. I 'confessed' to our pediatrician, who said, he's growing, he's developmentally on target and most importantly, you do NOT want food to ever be the topic-source of a battle. So - a few years later, my son is still a picky eater, but we don't battle over chicken anymore. We use Pediasure (and the off-brands) as 'special milkshakes' to add nutrition once or twice a day in addition to the fun gummi-worm vitamins he takes. Our pediatrician is fine, our son is happy and healthy and we have our sanity... what else would we want!ha! Eventually, your little one will try new foods b/c your encouragement & acceptance otherwise will always be there. That's win-win!! Keep up the positive encouragement - allowing one little corn kernal to stay on the rim of the plate the whole dinner time gets a high-five and extra treat. As she gets comfy seeing the food on her plate, one day, she may just eat it and say she likes it! Just keep up the positive rewards system and don't battle over food, ever. And congrats on your adoption - we're in the midst of one ourselves!!!
:)R.

ps - as i've read the other responses, please do NOT think you need to play 'personal chef' to your child every nite. Our pediatrician was just very firm that fighing over food can be very rough for everyone. If they go to bed hungry for not eating what you prepared - that's one thing. But if your little one truly is just picky eater and not defiant child in all areas, then this phase will pass. Give her the power to choose in the morning from 2 dinner choices you may make that night - that may get her excited and prepare her to actually eat a few bites. Allow her to help 'cook' or mix ingredients, too. But again, if the defiance is just about food, this phase will pass, keep the rewards coming (I'm a mom of an ADHD/ODD and what some experts have said is a mildly autistic child) and success will follow eventually!

If you are willing to continually give her what she wants she is always going to throw a fit until she gets her way. Think about the amount of nutrition that those take out food don't have versus what you are offering her. Do you really believe that they are equal? My daughter went through a similar phase, it's hard because you want them to eat and something is better than nothing, or at least that's our reasoning. But it's not good for her to know she can throw a fit and get what she wants every time. It's not good for her to eat fast food every day. The faster you teach her that you are the boss and what you put in front of her is what she will eat, the better for the both of you. With my daughter I had to just tell her she had to eat what I offered, when she wouldn't eat it for breakfast I saved the food and offered it to her for lunch, when she still wouldn't eat, I saved it again for dinner. She was allowed nothing to eat other than what I told her she had to, and nothing to drink except water. At dinner time she still wouldn't eat it and I made her spend the evening in her chair at the dinner table. I know that this sounds very harsh but it worked. She still didn't eat and the poor thing went to bed with her little tummy rumbling. The next morning I made a fresh batch of the offered food and she gobbled it down and we have never had a problem since. She had to learn that what I said was the rules and no matter what kind of fit she threw that it wouldn't change anything. Trust me when she gets hungry she will eat, there will be no lasting damage. It's a hard lesson but one that she can learn in just a day. Good luck!

Hi A.,
I was a very picky eater when I was little. My mom and dad took me to the doctor because I was very small and ate corn and apple sauce all the time. The doctor told my mom and dad to make what they normally make for meals. Not to worry, doc said...she'll eat when she is hungry. I guess I got hungry enough to eat what they made and while I am still small, I have a wide variety of foods I like now. It's tough but be consistant and remember, you are the adult in controll. You'll be fine.
Joanie

Give her what the rest of the family is eating. If she is hungry she will eat. I would put a stop to the throwing it on the floor, unless you like to feed your dog that way. She could develop a bad habit if you let that continue.

You probably need to stop going to McDonald's and Dunkin Donuts for a while, and then only use them for an occasional meal, and keep serving her food from home. When she gets hungry enough, she'll eat. My doctor used to say that they won't starve themselves, and he was right. This has become a control issue, and the 15 month old is winning. Try making her some nutritious things that look fun. When my children were younger, we used to call lettuce "tree stars" because she would see thought she was eating like the dinosaurs in "The Land Before Time" movie she loved.

Trust me, she won't starve herself. She will eventually eat.

You need to be firm with your daugther now or forever give into her. She is throwing her food on the floor because she now knows that she can make you do what she wants. There is no difference between dunkin donuts buttered bagels and one's from home except for yours might actuall be warm when she gets it. As far as the nuggest from Mac's...they are made by the same folks that sell them in the grocery stores. Trust me I know. You just cook them differently! Stand your ground now or be prepared for more fights about more important issues as she gets older. Trust me, I know. If she gets a bit hungry for a day, it won't hurt her. If you are in any doubt, call your doctor and talk to him about it. Good luck!

I don't normally respond to these things,however,you said,she needs some type of nutrition.Have you looked up the nutritional content of food from places like that?? The amount of fat,salt,and lack of any real nutrients is alarming.Foods from these places are okay as an occassional treat but if you give into these foods daily,she won't want to try other choices.Offer a variety of foods,the other moms who responded all had lots of great ideas and advice for you.It is likely just a phase but she won't outgrow it as quickly as you like,if you give in to these foods.Also look at the time and expense of doing this.

I hope you take the advice of the other moms and offer a variety of foods.

When both my sons hit that super picky place I started making Oatmeal Raisen Cookies. I would add in a banana too and maybe a little bit of walnuts.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Cookies! When they needed a snack I let them have all they wanted.
oatmeal
eggs
Flour/iron rich
raisens/fruit serving
banana/parital fruit serving
Nuts/additional protein to the above ing.
add in a glass of milk and you just snuck in a meal.

It did not last for ever.

Even now, my youngest in particular is still a picky eater. We have a three bite of each on plate rule and if after three bites they don't want what I made then they can have snacks later.
Snacks include organges,apples,banana, banananut bread,
pretzels, yogurt, juice, animal crackers, oyster crackers, and or salad mix dipped in dressing. Or the good ole stand by -- dry cheereo's.

good luck.

Kids tend to like things that are familiar. I'm assuming that you've offered these other foods that she's thrown a couple times. I've read articles that suggest it takes up to 14 times of seeing/refusing a food before they are willing to give it a try or accept it. It's hard to be that patient and lose that much food. So only offer a bite or two at a time - you'll have less to clean up and less wasted.

I would try to avoid those favorite places for a while. Try to help her to be extra active between meals (as best as you can when stuck inside) so she can work up an appetite. ALso, do your best to set a healthy example of minimal fast food eating yourself (she probably recognizes packaging from her fav places).

How does your daughter do with yogurt? That has always been a favorite of mine and it's a healthy option for any meal. We like the yokids squeezables (they are natural colors instead of the freightening ones in other choices) and yoplait dora/deigo/blues clues (these are lower in sugar and really thick so they stick to the spoon for little ones well). They are smooth which my kids like. To spice it up and make it extra exciting, we add a few sprinkle decorations sometimes. I find the little sets around holidays and it's always a treat and distracts them. Mine will even eat plain flavor yogurt which leads to my next suggestion....

Have you introduced dipping yet? Everything is more fun when there is dip. It's amazing the things mine will eat when they can dip it in cream cheese or plain yogurt - lettuce, carrots, celery, tomatoes, zucchini, etc. If you use a dip that has some nutritional value like my ideas or at least isn't bad, then it's worth it to help get the less exciting items in their tummies.

Along the same lines is to generally be creative - make the food fun. Use a cookie cutter to cut toast/sandwich/cheese. Or build a face or other picture on their plate or on an english muffin (draw a face on with jelly). If you make it interesting enough, she might just eat it without realizing that she forgot to fight.

She's a little young, but if you had everything out and kept it simple, you could have her help cook occasionally. Sometimes they are more willing to try something that they are proud of making. Even letting her help make a picture with prepared items on her plate. Then she's involved and gets a choice.

Hi A.!

I saw this idea on a TV special that was about getting kids to eat healthily. Considering your daughter’s young age, I think it might really work for you!! The next couple of times she eats the mcD’s nuggets, SAVE the box, the bag, napkins ANYTHING else that she would associate with the mcD’s meal. Put them somewhere she can’t find them. Then go to the store and buy some healthier chicken nuggets that look similar to the ones she’s used to (I think the Trader Joe’s ones are pretty good and look similar). Make the chicken nuggets from the store and put them in the McD packaging and serve it to her as if you had gone to McD and picked them up for her. You might need your 3 year old to help you out, distracting her while you pull your trick in the kitchen. Does she like the toy that comes with the kids meals? Maybe that’s part of the allure of the fast food. You could go to the dollar store and buy a few cheap toys and put them in the bag when you give her the “Fake” mcD’s. Good luck! I know this is a hard phase!

Well, she may be going through a little insecurity because you recently adopted a big sister. She is trying to make sure that you still love her. So do your best to give her lots of love and maybe a little alone time, just you and her.
This does not mean that you have to put up with tyranny and throwing food. I wonder if she has gotten used to Mickey D and Dunkin Donuts from watching too many commercials. Maybe with the spring you can get outside more for walks and playing and less tv. But as for her insisting on fast food, it might be that you should say that you are the mommy and that you will decide what food to buy. Then give her a choice between two things that are good for her. That way, she has some control. I just recommended some books I used to read to my kids that calmed me down. Russell and Lillian Hoban wrote these great Frances Books. The one about eating is Bread and Jam for Frances.
I had luck with my kids when they would throw things by insisting that they go to their room and come back when they were ready to be a pleasant human being. I did not ever put a time limit on it. And they would generally go, although sometimes I had to carry them. The truth is, they wanted to get back in control. And it gave me some time out too, so I wouldn't lose my temper and throw soup at them.
Good luck. Just remember, this too shall pass as she hits another developmental stage.

It is most likely a phase. My daughter when through one not to long ago. She would only eat mac and cheese or chicken nuggets. I just kept offering her other foods. I made one lunch that she would eat, and the next meal was the different foods, I wanted her to eat. Now she will try almost anything (expect for veggies). It's hard, I know! Just keep offering her other foods and hopefully she will try them for you. Good Luck!

ACK! I just responded to 2 other picky eater requests and this is the worst of them all! Mc Donalds and Dunkin Donuts are ZERO nutrition. You are not helping her by giving in to her demands for them- in fact it's hurting her. The first thing you need to do is get prepared. You are setting your child up for a lifetime of bad food choices! I hope you are ready for this. Your child needs you to do this- for her! Be strong!!! You are going to have to let her get a little hungry- it will not hurt her and she won't go hungry for long. Kids will eat anything after they have been hungry for a few hours. Here's what you need to do/

Make a healthy and tasty breakfast, offer it to her. When she refuses it, let her know that you won't be going to Dunkin Donuts, she'll need to eat what you have offered. She isn't going to eat it, let her go about her business and don't give in to tantrums and whining. Ignore them the best you can- don't let her see that it bothers you or that you might give in if she keeps it up. BE STRONG! In a few hours, she'll come back to you and say she is hungry- offer her the same foods you had at breakfast. She might eat them, she might not. If she comes back again before lunch- offer a healthy snack (a banana, orange, applesauce). At this point she'll probably eat it. At lunch do the same thing- make something healthy and offer it. When she cpmplains or has a tantrum, let her know that you will not be going to MickeyD's today, she'll need to eat this good food. Just keep repeating this process. Do it again at dinner. Do not at any point give in and go to Dunkin Donuts or Mickey D's! Be STRONG. A child will not go hungry or starve themselves for more than a few hours. She will give in and eat the healthy alternative you have offered.

This will not be easy! You will have to stick to your guns and be strong! Being a parent is not about giving in to a child's every demand. It's about doing what is best for your child. What is best for her right now is breaking this habit. It is very important for you to do this for her. She is learning from you that she can get what she wants by demanding it and throwing a tantrum. When she is 16 she'll still be doing it unless you break it now. She is not in charge- you are- so don't let her overthrow you at 2 yrs old. She is also learning that Dunkin Donuts and MickeyD's are acceptable food choices- they aren't. Filling up on fast food is wasted calories and excess fat. You don't need your child to be addicted to high fat foods at 2 yrs old. America is overweight as it is- teach her that good foods are GOOD and good for you! She is NOT getting nutrition at this point- you need to break her so she CAN get it! I know you can do this. Be strong! You are an amazing capable woman- you can break this bad habit!

Picky eating is SO frusterating!! My son did the same thing a few months ago. We got through it by giving him a bite or two of something we know he likes on the plate with the food he is expected to eat (usually whatever we are eating for dinner,etc.) Sometimes he would only eat the two bites of what he likes, other times he would try the other foods. Either way, that was all the food that was offered. If he said "all done," pushed his food away, or fed it to the dog, I let him get down. Then the meal was over. When he was hungry he definitely ate more. At 18 mo he eats much more variety AND knows that mama is still in charge :) Hold strong on this one...it's really important! Good luck!

As long as she isn't loosing weight and is growing you don't have to worry too much, but maybe a healthier diet would make her feel like eating more. Here are some sites for more info:
http://www.pcrm.org/health/index.html
http://www.vegansociety.com/html/

A.,
Take control and think of other things. You can have a nutrisionist come to your home free of charge through the alliance of Pittsburgh,talk to your Peditrician. I always have a second item ready in my head if my daughter who is 25 months doesnt want to eat what I feed her.Dont let them control you. She can sit in her high chair or feed her on your lap and stick pieces of food on her month if she wont take them willingly. There are books for picky eaters with recipes,if you dont have time for that, research new ideas on the internet.Happy Eating! Hope that helped and I know its hard my daugter get funny at different times and you never know what they will or wont take sometimes,hang in there!