My 5 Year Old Is a Very Picky Eater

I know some will think this is harsh but I had a picky eater once also. I cooked a healthy meal on the first night and he refused to eat it. So that night he went without. (He will not starve in one night.) SO the next night I made a healthy meal again. He whined a lot and picked at it, but ate some. The following night Same healthy stuff. He complained a little bit but ate most of it. There was no candy junk food or anything for a week. He had no choice but to eat the good food. Within a week there was no more whining and picking at dinner. Within a month of barely any sweets or junk food, he started to ask for the healthy things. I had to get it in my head that I am the parent and I am setting the example. He can't eat the junk if I don't offer or give into him. Unless he is allergic to something I don't think he should have to much trouble adjusting to a NEW way to eat. Good luck.

My children will usually eat food they helped to prepare. Start right from the store, let him count the produce,bag it and wiegh it. After the food has been prepared,really talk it up. Tell Dad Ethan made dinner tonight isn't it great! You can even call Grammy and let him tell her. I have made food and they would not touch it,but the same food they participated in,they gobbled up! It works for me,even if it won't work at least it was great qaulity time together,besides his wife will appreciate a man who's mom was wonderful enough to show him how to get around in the kitchen!

Try fixing him a plate and if he don't eat it then tell him he can put it in the refrigerator and eat it later when he gets hungry. Later on he will get hungry and then just tell him the only thing he can have is his plate in the fridge and nothing else until he eats it. That is what works with my five year old daughter. I just refuse to make something different because she wont eat it, i just put it up and when she comes back later she will be hungry enough then to eat it,and enjoy it.I hope this helped some.....

i would suggest for things like lunch, let him pick one thing he wants to have and then you add foods from 2 other food groups. like if he picks chicken nuggets, give him apple slices and carrot sticks with ranch. make sure they are proportioned for a 5 yr. old. if he eats all the chicken nuggets and is still hungry he just might eat a few bites of the other foods. one thing with my daughter that i do is eat snacks with her, such as carrot sticks, then she sees me eating it and wants to eat it, too.
here is an easy chicken recipe for you:
2 chicken breasts, fully cooked
one can green chilis
one can diced tomatoes
one can cream of cheddar soup
half a bag of Doritos
monterey jack cheese, shredded

shred the chicken (or cut into bite-size pieces) and mix with the chilis, tomatoes and cream of cheddar soup. set mixture aside.
crush doritos and put on the bottom of a 9x9 casserole dish, pour mixture on top of Doritos
sprinkle cheese on top, cook uncovered in oven at 400 degrees for approx. 20 min. (just long enough for cheese to start to brown)

there are so many variations of this recipe you can come up with to fit your family's tastes!

My 3 1/2 year old is the same way. I just put whatever I cook on a plate and if he says he doesn't want it or doesn't like it he just doesn't eat. A lot of moms would freak out about that but trust me, your child will not him or herself go hungry. It's more of a powerstruggle than anything. Mason is really bad about wanting to fill up on milk before he eats or while he is sitting there supposed to be eating so I just take the milk away until he takes a few bites and then let him have a drink. If he decided he doesn't want it then he doesn't get his milk back either. They may fuss and whine but it's like breaking a bad habit. Eventually they will get it and see that your gonna win this battle, not them. You have to be consistant!!!

We've always rewarded our kids for being brave enough to try new foods, and they're usually good about it. Some of their favorite healthy foods are fun ones to eat. We eat edamame a lot. Snap peas are great and healthy. Carrots with their choice of dipping sauce. And we always get organic and whole grain crackers for snacks. As far as meals go, I'm a vegetarian (my husband is not), so we eat a lot of strange, healthy foods. Both my kids like soy bacon (I fix a breakfast dinner often, with eggs, toast & jelly, potatoes, etc.), soy chicken nuggets, soy corn dogs, and we use soy burger in our spaghetti sauce. I also make a wonderful chickpea stew, and just serve them the chickpeas without the stew part, cous cous, and an extra veggie. one more favorite meal is our mandarin chicken pasta salad. It has bowtie pasta, mandarin oranges, soy chicken, grapes, apples, and an OJ/garlic/olive oil sauce. I know - it sounds weird, but it's delicious. I think the important thing, is to do your best to encourage healthy eating (and eating what the grown-ups eat, as opposed to providing a separate meal for the kids) with rewards and praise. Good luck - you're not alone, and good for you for being concerned and willing to provide your kids with healthy food!

M. B

We have an approach to this at our house and it seems to work for us. At the table the kids help make thier own plates, this makes it seem like they have some control. They must take at least a small spoonful of the food they might not like but if they make any bad remarks about it or eating it then they get to take another spoon full. If it is something new to them then they just have to take a bite. If they all agree on the nasty factor, I don't make it again. I get alot of comments like, "Mom, these green beans are so nasty, do I have to get more??" If I notice that they aren't eating something i will ask the question, "What's wrong is the ____ gross?" I have had responses like "No, it's wonderful, but I just don't want you to waste it all on me!" It's kinda a fun way to have them eat things. It's also nice because they don't talk bad about your cooking unless they really like it. I wish you luck in the adventures of childhood eating fears!

Hi J., My son, fortunately, will try just about anything. Of course, that doesn't mean he actually likes it all, but he'll try it. When I was a kid my parents made such a big deal out of my trying new things I resisted whole-heartedly. So we've been really open about what our son tries, we don't make it stressful for him, just the opportunity to try it. If he doesn't like what I've prepared for dinner he can have a turkey dog or yogurt & fruit(though I won't go to any extra trouble cooking him a seperate meal). It's worked pretty well for us.

As for recipes, my very favorite recipe source is http://www.recipezaar.com/. You can search by category, nutrition information, etc & there's tons of reviews. I use it all the time. Good luck!

A.

Hunger is the best seasoning. If you withhold anacks and give him grilled chicken fingers (with seasoning) instead of fried, he will eventually get hungry enough and figure out that it's pretty good stuff. I trained mine young, and they get veggies and dip in their lunches w/no complaints. Chips and fries aren't even an option or even in the house. You're the mom. Take charge. Set a good example with what you eat. The child will follow. Don't give snacks in between meals so they are very hungry at mealtimes. Add fruits, vegetables now so it becomes the accepted way of life.

Hi J., Try this: get a muffin pan and put something different in each muffin cup. Such as, celery, carrots, peanut butter, raisens, ranch dressing, brocolli, cauliflower, strawberries, kiwi, blackberries, apple slices, caramel,......get the picture??? My kids eat it ALL GONE!!! It looks VERY colorful and inviting!!! I have three kids age seven and three (twins). I can put the same stuff on their plate at dinner next to some chicken and HA!...they will not eat it. Put it in a muffin pan and VIOLA! they love it!!! I'm like you...I need help! Part of my problem is I don't like to cook so spending more time in the kitchen than I have to makes me ache! LOL One thing I have done is: I don't buy all the junk for the pantry anymore...marshmellow pies, cookies, chips etc....GONE! This way we can all eat from better choices!! Thanks for your request. I'm glad I'm not the only one is this boat! Deborah

I agree with Alicia's idea of allowing him to choose one thing he likes and then add some healthy items along with it. Also, make some of those 'less than perfect' foods become 'special' foods. It's okay to eat a hot dog or chicken nuggets sometimes, but MOST of the time we need to make healthier choices. Finally, if you stock your pantry with junk (chips, PopTarts, cookies, sugared cereals, frozen waffles, donuts, etc.) just stop. Keep one or two treats like that in your pantry that your child can have maybe once a day (or less.) If you make a gradual change, your child is likely to follow along without much of a fuss.

Try cooking With V8 Juice I use it to get my boys to eat vegs. It work thay did not know the vegs was in it.

you should check out Annabell Karmels cookbooks for children. Also, try not to make the other food an option. Its easy to slip into the attitude that the junk food is there "just in case". I'd say dont even have it around.

I'd have to say, when he gets hungry he will eat. Stop feeding him the things he wants and start giving him the things he needs. Just keep introducing it to him, eventually when he is starving he will eat it. I had this same problem with my 3 year old and thats what I did. No more cups and no more junk food. He would get his cup with a meal and just a smal amount of water between. I strictly let him have milk or water. If he gives me a good eating day, he can have some Juicy Juice. its the only juice he can have, There are no added sugar or preservatives. Its 100% juice. 1 8oz cup acts as a full serving of fruits.

Also you can google it and look for kiddie recipes. Maybe let him help you to prepare these things. He may enjoy eating what he makes. Mini pizza is a good idea. Get a can of cheap biscuits and flatted them out just enough and put some ITALIAN tomato sauce on top with some cheese and maybe some veggies or meats and shove them in the oven or a toaster oven for a few minutes, my boy loves them!

I know this sounds mean but, give your child the food anyway. Just lay down the law and tell him that if he doesn't eat that then there isn't anything until the next meal. My sons pediatrician told me if he gets hungry enough he will eat. Plus it takes soooo many times to introduce a new food to a child before they will accept it. My son used to hate asparagus and now he loves it. Plus, are you a picky eater? If so, that is where he is learning it from. I will cook stuff for my family that I won't eat. And I never let my son see me not like something or not eating something. Otherwise, he will not like it or eat it.

My 5 year old is the same way. I just make dinner and if she is hungry she eats. There are times that she goes without eating by her own choice for a day or so. I just make her a plate of whatever I cook. If she eats fine if not I do not push her. I also do not give her the snacks she wants when she does not eat, I give her what we had for dinner or whatever meal it was.

J.,

Although much of this is personality (some kids are more willing to try things than others) the bottom line is your son is a picky eater because he can be. He is old enough to eat what everyone else eats, but young enough that he can't drive himself to McDonand's, so now is the time to act.

I used to teach school and I heard all the time from parents that their child would starve if they didn't bow to the demands. It is not true. For thousands of years children ate (and still do in poorer countries) whatever was available. Now, children turn up their noses because something else that they like better is available.

Sit down and explain to your son that he is now going to be served what everyone else is. If he doesn't want to eat, that is fine. He just puts the food away when it is time to clean the table and waits for the next meal. (You have to bite your tongue and not beg, plead, nag, etc. to get him to eat. Don't say a word.) In return for you not talking to him about eating, he is not to make any sort of negative comment about the food / your cooking or he will have to __________ (apologize and leave dinner to get ready for bed works at our house.)

Don't give him extra snacks to make up for lost meals. Don't let him go into the pantry / fridge and sneak things. Get the junk food out of your house, or at least put it where he can't see or get to it. He will be upset at first, really upset, but hold your ground. After a week he will get that you are not giving in and start eating what he is given. I have seen this work with more children than I can count. It will work with yours.

Best of luck,
S.

I try to keep a bowl of fruit on my table and snacks like raisens and peanut butter or peanut butter crackers. He will eventually start eating those if they are in his reach and sight day after day. I know how you feel I have a picky eater, too. I also keep on hand pediasure and Nutripals nutritional drinks for children. Also, Trix yogurt is so good for them. They come in flavors like cotton candy and watermelon, etc. That all keeps them healthy dispite how they eat .....also, I give a multivitamin everyday. My 5 year old loves Flintstones. Take care and God bless!

Hi, I too have a picky eater. Out of my four children I only have the one so I guess I'm pretty lucky, although it can be frustrating! He is four years old and started Pre-K this year. Sometimes it's a struggle but things are getting better. I've tried many different methods to get him to eat and here are a few of the things that work in our house. First, let your child help in the kitchen. That's one of all of my children's very favorite things to do. Even if it's just stirring ingredients in a bowl or cracking an egg they LOVE to help mom and dad in the kitchen. If they help make it they usually want to eat it too. Also, I don't force my kids to clean their plates. I allow them to eat until they are full and then they may be excused from the table. I see so many people load their little ones plate with as much food as an adult would eat and force them to finish it and it makes me mad because their little tummies hold a lot less than ours do. Healthy snacks are a must in our house and an occasional junk snack. If you take away all of the sweets and only offer healthy that just makes them want the junk more. Most children need to eat snacks throughout the day because they have a higher metabolism and run it out faster than we do. It is important for them to eat more than just 3 square meals a day. They NEED the snacks in between to help keep their blood sugar leveled out. Diabetes runs in my family and my brother who is insulin dependent learned the hard way to eat balanced meals including snacks throughout the day. Grazing on healthy stuff is good for you. My little one likes carrots and dip or apple slices with peanut butter or a banana in between meals. I only let him eat a junky snack if he eats good foods throughout the day and a good evening meal. If he doesn't eat well at dinner he doesn't get a desert. Also I've found with my older kids that certain foods are an acquired taste. Certain things they wouldn't eat when they were younger are now favorite foods. I would put a small amount of the food on their plates every time I made it whether they would eat it or not. After awhile they started trying new things and now enjoy eating them. And if you want fun ideas and recipes for kid friendly meals and snacks check out Nickjr.com They have recipes and food ideas for kids among other fun games and activities. Good luck.

Deceptively Delicious is a WONDERFUL cookbook. And it is a great way to "hide" the veggies. But don't give up on the fresh veggies just yet. Put some on the plate and give them a number of bites and that's it. Eventually that will stop and they will be eating them all on their own. Hope this helps but i strongly suggest the cookbook...

When I feed my son chicken nuggets I use Morning Star. They are veggie chicken nuggets. I took a few times for him to adjust but now he loves them. I also cook chicken tenders in Italian dressing. He loves it. Good luck.
Hey on the veggies I put a little olive oil to add some appeal. Keeps his skin looking good.

Sounds like he like the finger foods. Have you tried carrot sticks in small chunks or cauliflower, or apples? You can also hide veggies in all kinds of things nowadays. Like putting grated zucchini in brownies. I have a recipe for carrot zucchini bread. One loaf has about 2 cups of veggies and you cannot tell. It is tasty.

I agree with Melissa M.

I had the same problem with my now 8 year old and she is much better but still picky. We tried ranch on everything and that got her started trying things more. We even will wrap pork chops or filets or chicken in bacon since she LOVES bacon and will eat it that way. Those are just a few tips I'd suggest. We also made mixtures together, like her favorite is sliced apples with peanut butter, chocalate syrup and whipped cream as a dip. She likes making it and eats it all up! Hope that helps some!

PS -- If I could I would also eat McDonald's every day too!!!! LOL!

Have you seen Annabel Karmel's book First Meals? It is a really great cookbook for kid food--great ideas for things that are healthy and visually appealing, fun food. She has several other cookbooks too, you can find them on Amazon.com. There might be something to tempt him in there.

There is a kid-friendly cookbook that you might want to consider. It's made for vegetarians, but you can just use some of the recipes to get you started, and throw in chicken nuggets or a hot dog on the side. It's called "Fun with Kids in the Kitchen." The premise is that if kids get involved in making the food, they'll be more likely to eat it. It's got things like animal sandwiches, and lots of other cute, kid-friendly recipes.

I'd say give it a shot. You can get it on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Fun-Kids-Kitchen-Cookbook-Kid-Teste...

Let me know what you think.

L.