Seeking Moms with Picky Eaters

Hi L.,
I have two daughters and my oldest sixteen year old daughter is a picky eater and it started from the day she was born. She would drink about two ounces ever three hours. She was wanting to eat a little all day long. She would eat three bites of her dinner and want to leave the table. My Dr. told me explain at dinner that this was all she was going to eat for the rest of the evening and send her to bed hungry. It was so hard for me to do that, but it worked for a while. Unfortunately she is now sixteen and still under weight. I was told by her Dr. that she is healthy and I need to relax and allow her to eat when she's hungry. It's frustrating, but I just keep healthy food around and make sure she takes vitamins every day. She loves sweets so I am also concerned with diabetes. I totally understand what you are going through.
P.

Unfortunately they go through these phases. The best thing you can do is offer whole grain breads only to her and keep offering her the dinners you are making. Most kids don't like to eat a lot of whole grains so she might change her eating< but if she doesn't at least she is getting healthy grains. Try to see if she will eat penut butter or cheese or something else on the bread. She will get through this phase then start another soon enough though so try not to worry too much. Good luck! Hope this helps! Peace, love, and happiness!

My daughter is also a picky eater and every night dinner is a struggle. I require that she eat one bite of everything on her plate and if she doesn't, then I put her in timeout. If after that she still will not eat, then we begin to take toys away. We have only had to take a toy away once. After that, she has gotten a lot better about eating dinner. It might be worth a try for you.
I also put foods I don't want her to eat up high where she can't reach them. My daughter loves fruit snacks and would eat a box a day, so I put them up high and each day I put one packet down low for her to eat whenever she chooses. She knows that she will not get any more than that. I put foods that I want her to eat in places where I know she will see them (down low) - like yogurt, fruit, peanuts, raisins, etc.
I think as long as your daughter is getting offered healthy foods throughout the day, even if she doesn't eat much, she will get the vitamins she needs (that is what my pediatrician told me anyway!). If you are worried that she isn't getting enough vitamins then you should talk to your child's doctor about it and she/he will recommend the appropriate vitamin for your child based on her diet and age. It is important to talk to her doctor first since children can easily overdose on iron.

I say just let them skip the meal. I tell my son that if he doesnt eat it then he has to wait until the next meal/snack. If the child was truely hungry, they would eat. I try to make the next meal a healthy yet one I KNOW my son will eat...But of course all this works for us but our dinner is at 4:30pm or 5pm.

my son is going through the same thing but he has gotten a lot better ive learn just to bare with them they will grow out of it

Hello L.,
I understand what you are going though. my 4 y/o is very picky. I make her foods that we are eating and will not make her anything special due to it not being fai to my other 2 children. My Pediatrician recommended daily vitamins(she loves the Flinstone Gummy's) Also he said I could give her Pediasure 3-4 times a week or more depending on how much I could afford. They are very expensive but worth it to a picky eater. I would just continue putting everything on her plate that you are eating and maybe one day she'll try it. My oldest was also the same way and is now tying new things. I can't get them to eat Potatoes but they sure will eat Crabs. Strange Children!! LOL I wish you the Best of Luck and stand you gound. One day she'll give in!