Hello!
My little angel is giving me trouble with trying new food. She eats bread, dry cereal, peanut butter, eggs, mashed potatoes, cheese and apple sauce. I've just recently gotten her to try (and like) bananas. She does not like to try anything. If she picks something up and doesn't like to way it feels or looks (which is most of the time), she will not eat it. I've tried to give her things like soup, all kinds of fruits and veggies, meats, pasta. She just won't budge! She looks at the food and just says "no" in a matter of fact tone. If her tone weren't so cute, I'd scream (you all know what I'm talking about). Can anyone tell me how to get her try things? She doesn't have to like the food, just try it.
Thanks so much for your input!
It can take up to 12 times of offering foods before a toddler tries it... and that doesnt mean she'll like it!!! however if you are consistant and try not to push it, just offer it to her... hopefully this will help!!! just hang in there
L., My son is 2&1/2 and has sensory intergration there are 7 different types of SI one of them being food aversion. By no means am I a therapist that can make any type of diagnosis but from what you describe it's not just stubbornness it's a texture issue. I would suggest you ask your pediatrician for a referal for an SI evaluation. I know All Childrens has a feeding program if you child qualifies. I have seen kids that won't eat anything but applesauce eat a multitude of things after the program. Your situation may not be this severe but if it is I just wanted you to know there is help out there.
I think as long as she is eating it's good! Talk to your doctor. I had a problem with my son for awhile not eating his veggies and meat and my dr. told me just give him what he wants. As long as they eat and drink there milk it should be fine. Sometimes not eating has to do with teething but some babies develop and taste I think and when they don't like something they let ya know!
my oldest daughter (now 24) does the same thing to this day. She smells everything before she even considers eating it or using it (all new foods, toothbrush, shampoo, toothpaste).
Somewhere along the line in all of the reading I have done, i remember reading that this is related to a sensory issue. I don't remember where I read it (I am looking).
I don't know what worked to get her to eat new foods when she was younger (i got her at 14) but when I got her, I would suggest that she try it and she would at least smelled it before she refused.
She smells everything - soap, clothes, just everything whether it really has a noticable smell or not - and if she does not like the smell, she will not eat it or use it or wear it.
I would ask the pediatrician about the sensory issue. I will continue to check and see if I can find what i read.
What's worked with my daughter is to add her favorite food to whatever I am trying to get her to eat. I add cheese which she loves to broccoli or a bagel and she will eat it right away. Also if she gets really fussy and I know she will love it if she just tries it I will rub the food on her lips (which makes her mad) but when she licks her lips and discovers she likes it she will eat the whole thing, it has worked everytime of course I only do it with stuff I know she will like. I would try being creative. I got my daughter to eat apples by first giving her apples with carmel on them, now she eats them plan. Sometimes you have to add stuff even not so healthy stuff to get them to try it. My daughter is only 17 mths old but if yours is older then you could try telling her if she tries this…. then you will give her that… For my daughter what always works is telling her I will take her outside or we will go for a bike ride. If it is the look of something that bothers your daughter there are many fun kids recipe books that have stuff decorated and done in an attractive way for children with lots of colors and stuff. Good luck!
A couple of things that worked (or didn't!) with both of my picky eaters...
Keep on trying! Even if they refused or hated it the first 10 times, the 11th try may be the charm
The good, old-fashioned game of airplane or choo-choo train. Get her excited about playing the game, she may forget she's supposed to be refusing food!
Mix a like with a dislike... chicken in the applesauce, cheese and a noodle together.
Also be aware of the things she continually refuses. Lots of kids naturally avoid foods they are allergic to, particularly peanut butter and eggs which you said she eats both of so allergy is obviously not the case with those two foods. But it may be the case with the others.
Good luck and best wishes!
Keep trying to give her new things, but it seems like there's a good balance of the pyramid foods so as long as she's getting the recommended servings and gaining weight, I wouldn't make a big deal about it. She'll come around.
My youngest is incredibly picky too. He won't try much of anything unless he's really hungry. Then half the time he still won't try it. But it's so cute how he says "I don't want that".
One thing is just try not to make it a big deal. Eating problems get their start very early on and if you make a big deal out of what she isn't eating, or is, that will carry over into the rest of her life. So offer her new foods, but also offer the foods you know she'll eat and just don't make a fuss or seem disappointed or angry if she doesn't try the new ones.
Every night I fix my picky one a plate of whatever we're having. Most nights it doesn't get touched and when we're about done, he'll want yogurt or melon or crackers. There are nights where he will try it though. And when he does try it, he will usually eat the whole thing.
She will grow out of this and you'll be able to talk her into trying things more readily. If she does try and still refuses, just drop the issue completely. It's an annoying little time period, but it does change fairly quickly.
L., I am about to give you what sounds like cruel advice. But trust me, it is done lovingly and not as cruel as it sounds. I had the same problem with my second child. He would eat next to nothing and try even less. Finally after doing all that I could, I resorted to...oh gosh, should I say it?... I would squish his little cheeks together so that his little mouth would open just enough to stick a piece in. And I would say, "you have to try one bite." He usually would spit it out just because I made him eat it, but then once he realized he liked it he would pick it up and start eating it. If he did not like it, he would shake his head no and I would not make him eat it. Now he eats a lot more, and I know for sure the things he does not like. Sometimes I still have to use the little "make him try it" technique (with lots of love:) ), but he does so much better now. Hope this helps!
Like Bridget, I found that sometimes getting some on his lips works for the same reason. My son will not eat something, just by looking at it. But if he licks his lips and likes it, then you can't stop him! This is something you don't want to do all the time though, it can make them mad. I have had the best luck just making him what he wants, sitting down with him with what I want him to try in front of me. I don't offer it to him, I just act like I plan on eating it all. He sees this, and starts fussing and pointing at it, that he wants some. This is how I got him to eat cheese crumbles and a bunch of other things. I also really wouldn't worry too much about it. What you listed is healthy and as they get older, they will expand the menu on there own. Actlike you don't care and make it her idea, that is what worked best for me! Happy eating!
