Picky Eater - Waterford, MI

leave it for him. If he walks away, keep it available for him. He'll get hungry enough. Do NOT make him something special or what he wants.
"This is what mommy made for you. Eat it or you'll be very hungry" and stick to it.

I am writing to let you know that I am having the same issue with my son. He will be 13 months on the 16th of this month. The only table foods he will eat are puffs, cheerios, shredded cheese, cereal bars, and bananas. Aside from that, he still eats jarred baby food! I have tried and tried to get him to eat more table food, but, he does exactly what your son does, he shakes his head and refuses. I am also at a loss for what I should do. I've asked my doctor and some other people and everyone says the same thing, just keep offering and he'll eat more one day. I'm also concerned because I think he should he getting away from jarred baby foods more quickly. I have talked to some moms whose babies have been off baby food and who eat anything and everything and some who are in the same boat as you and I. Does your child still eat jarred foods? My son eats a lot, just, not a lot of variety. Anyhow, I know how you feel and how it can be very frustrating. I sometimes think I'm doing something wrong and wonder what I should be doing differently! If you get any good responses, please let me know...I'm also looking for some advice.

keep trying...
Try mixing things together... Like putting green peppers in the eggs, or bits of hotdog in the green beans... Peaches can mix with any other fruit...
Once he slips in a new taste he may go gangbusters for it.
It is not odd for a child to only eat his "fav's" but the menu of favorites does change and expand...It just takes patience and time.
Offer his favorites PLUS something new and just let him experiment. He's really now just learning about tastes and by the time he's a couple years older will make some combinations that may make you go ewww... Like my 4yr old who put jelly on a turkey and cheese sandwich. lol

This diet sounds pretty well-balanced for a picky toddler. I'd keep mealtimes and snacktimes fun and relaxed. Any way that he can help you prepare the food - arrange it, cut soft fruit with a plastic knife etc. - might catch his interest. Let him eat things off your plate when he wants to. Make things child-sized and appealing. You can give him vitamins if your'e concerned. He will learn to eat more at his own pace. What you don't want, at all costs, is to get into an extended battle over food. Toddler are learning independence and they will use any issue to show you they mean business. Keep it light and loving and like you really aren't pressuring him at all and you'll have more success.

I don't know if you have tried using the Jessica Seinfeld cookbook (I can't remember what it is called but it is sold everywhere). She has some interesting recipes in which she "hides" nutritious foods within something yummy that a child would most likely eat. I made a sweet potato macaroni and cheese, frozen yogurt pops, and sweet potato pancakes. She has all kinds of different food groups and maybe a couple of these would help keep your sanity :)

Good luck,
J.

I am the mother of two beautiful girls ages 4 and 2.

My daughter does that sometimes... Try putting the new food with the regular food... for instance take a bite of spagettie with a bite of the new food on the same fork/spoon with the liked food showing. this always works for Ava. She then realizes that there is a new taste and is usually willing to try it alone after a few mixed bites. Good luck!

S.,

The other posts had great suggestions about slipping in new foods with his favorites. Something to think about, at your son's age you should not be worrying about his daily nutrition, but instead the combined nutrition over a period of 3 or so days. Your pediatrician can give you more information regarding the amounts of fruits, vegetables, fiber, protein, calcium, etc, your son should be eating.

Try introducing uncooked vegetables as well as cooked. My son HATES cooked bell peppers, but will happily eat an entire fresh bell pepper if I let him. =) Mixing fresh vegetables in with the spaghetti sauce (cut into small pieces) may help your son to adjust to the new tastes and textures you are introducing. Also, try only introducing two or three new items a week, but space them out so he doesn't feel bombarded with unfamiliar foods.

Lastly, a trick we used with our son was to offer one type of snack if he was hungry before we would give him what he wanted. For example, if your son hasn't tried apple sauce and refuses to even taste it, when he gets hungry offer the apple sauce, if he refuses tell him, "You have to try 2 bites of this before I will get ......" If he won't try it, ignore him and when he asks for a snack repeat what you said. It will take time, and he will most likely scream and have a temper tantrum in the beginning, but eventually he will try the apple sauce and may find he likes it.

Our son is seven years old and eats almost anything we put in front of him. He tries new foods at least once and we taught him to say, "I don't care for this" if he doesn't like the food. He is a great eater and has discovered a lot of new foods that he loves!

Good luck!

-C..

i think it sounds like he's getting what he needs! eggs=protein, spaghetti can be carbs and protein if you get a protein pasta, green beans and peaches, cheerios good for whole grains....sounds good!
you're right, it is very common for this age and passes quickly. don't stop offering new things but I wouldn't worry if he only eats those things for a long time, he made good choices at least! haha Good luck!

I agree with what everyone else has said so far. Spaghetti is an excellent food to mix with new foods like tomato chunks, green peppers, onions, cheese, squash, etc.

Keep on offering him the new foods. Try putting all of his favorites on a plate but keep the portions small (not enough to fill him) and then offer a new food along side it (on the same plate). Sweet potato is a good one to try. Don't point it out, don't push it, just offer it for a couple of days.

Also, sit down and eat with him. Foods that my kids wouldn't try on there own, suddenly become desirable when I'm eating them.

Good luck and just keep on trying.

S.,

My son is the same way, even now and he's three and a half. Every couple of days, reintroduce the new foods; try making the bites of food smaller, that seems to work occasionally with my son. Also, unless you or your husband has a peanut allergy (check with your doctor to make sure its okay) but give him a saltine cracker with a bit of peanut butter on it. I know it isn't recommended in kids under a certain age, but I was out somewhere with my son when he was about 16 months old and he was hungry and all they had in the vending machine was crackers and peanut butter. The peanut butter would give extra protein which will help, and if you're still worried, talk to your doctor about giving him pediasure. Good luck!