Need Help with a Picky Eater

I know what you mean, my 22 month old is a terrible eater one day she loves mac'n'chez the other it's her enemy, etc... it's to the point that in 6 months she grew 3 inches but lost 3 oz. anyway, I just ask her what she wants if she says no she won't eat it, a good stand by when she's very picky is chefboyrdee, she also loves ranch so if she won't eat it plain, i'll let her dip it, etc... Good luck!

One fun way to get him to eat new foods might be to make silly faces on the plate. For example, you might use one half of a sandwich cut into a triangle shape for the mouth, apple slices (wedges) for ears, mac& cheese for hair, etc. Use your imagination...he might even want to help.
When my son began refusing to eat new foods, I had to wait it out. He will eat when he is hungry. I teach preschool and I knew that I had to prepare him for "school" at this young age so he would eat when the food was served. They can't cater to each and every child's wants in school, so why would I set him up for failure? Right? I know it is hard, but HANG IN THERE! Just be consistant. My son is 3 years old now and does well, overall. Every now and then he tries the "but I don't want to eat that" scheme, but generally he eats it. He knows that it's ok not to like something, but he has to take one bite in order to say he doesn't like it. I hope this helps. I do both- the silly faces plates and "this is what I am cooking" - and he reacts well to both. Ketchup is great for smiley faces, too. Good luck!

Well he's young and his tastes are just going to broaden as long as you really try to get him to try new things. Though my daughter (now 3) still won't eat white potatoes she eats a better variety then any other child her age we know. One of the best things to happen after having a child was making more of an effort to cook the whole family more balanced meals, we offer what I made and she usually eats it. A lot of times if we say, "aw, this is soo good" she will at least try it. Just offer a variety of fruits, veggies, meats, beans, etc. Try hummus, my daughter loves to dip veggies in it. My daughter, and most toddlers, loves the foods you mentioned too. Instead of the box of Kraft though I found if I give her Barilla plus macaronni she likes it just as much w/ cheese sauce on top, Ragu or whatever. She just hates the homemade sauce made w/ real cheese and milk. I figure at least she is getting more nutrition then the Kraft. Just don't worry, offer everything over and over again, it just takes time, good luck.

My 4 yr. old son is the same way and he was starting to pass his habits onto his younger brother who is 2. I got some advice from the local WIC division and they told me to have structured sit-down meals and let them help me make their food. I tried it and it has seemed to help. He still is very picky but I am getting him to try 1 thing at a time. I found that letting them help has been very helpful.

yes my sister has a 4 yr old son whos stioll the same way the teachers are worried cause he wont eat in preschool cause he doesnt want to try new foods and hell gag on it so the docter said its fine as long as he eating they told her to make him a plate and if he wont eat it just make him something he will eat,.so thats what she does

I would cut out those foods to begin with, no matter how much he likes them. I have read a lot on the long-term side effects of these foods (especially hot dogs which are linked with childhood leukemia) and you wouldn't believe how harmful they can be to children as they develop. I have learned with my daughter that they will eventually eat when they are hungry enough! As harsh as that sounds, my little girl now eats just about anything I give her. There is a great book you might want to read called "Super Immunity for Kids" which gives lots of great ideas for feeding your kids healthy and yummy foods. Hope this helps!

it doesnt make any sense to young children to try something new because they already know what they like, try eating something new in front of them and if they ask for a bite give it to them then offer them some of their own if they discover that they do indeed like it

Augh! I feel your pain, my 17 month old son is the same way. I try to give him a favorite (which right now is either peanut butter and honey or chicken nuggets) with something healthy. Usually I can get him to eat a few bites of the healthy food which is better than nothing at all. Good luck!!!

Please don't give up. It will get better.

I spent over a year with our 30 month old son eating only peanut butter. I would go to places and people would wonder why he wouldn't eat. He eventually had enough of the sandwiches. He would only eat them with peanut butter on one slice and folded over and tear off all crust. He maintained his weight.

Now he will eat. The other day he refused homemade mashed potatoes. So my DH took them and went to feed our 1 yr old daughter. He cried for them. DH gave them back. He eat them all and asked for more. We don't use this all the time but it works.

His favorite is gourts. He loves Scooby Doo so he eats them for Scooby. He has now even broading his horizons. Today he eat curly fries. It was great. :)

I am the mom of a 38 month old picky eater. Advice I got a while ago and didn't follow through with consistantly was to offer him a variety of foods at meal times. Have some things you know he likes and some things you'd like him to try. He can eat whatever he wants on the plate but that is all he gets. If he is still hungry he MUST eat what is offered. I spent so much time running around the kitchen and I think if I would have stuck with this advice I would have a more rounded eater!
I have recently learned that he has some sensory issues and that the different textures of food may too much for him. We are working with an OT to see how we can get him to try new things!
Hope this helps!

hi maybe if you mix like fruit together with some mash potatoes..no together as in mixing it but side to side...our kids are all finicky eaters i know my daughter is...lol well if that doesn't work than ask your pediatrician. well good luck! Take care let me know what happens.
B.

if eating from ur plate is something he likes to do(like most kids)u can put the food u want him to eat in ur plate.take a bite say mmmmmm,and go on & on about how good it is.hopefully he takes the bait.

Well this is just a thought, but i found purple couliflower at my local store and orange to for that matter. it tastes teh same and is fresh not frozen or anything and all natural ect and so on but boy do my kids love the stuff. something else that might work is give him choices. say he can have peas or carrots for dinner but he has to have one or the other ect and just keep trying the more often he sees things in front of him the more likely he will try them. i myself am very picky and my kids eat everything, sometimes i just have to be more creative than others. don't forget the old standby too if letting them dip it in ketchup or cover it in chesses or mixing it in with something else gets tehm to eat it, well then at least they ate it, and it gets tehm used to the flavor and texture of the food. good luck