Fed Up With Picky Kids

LizD_2 · 18 June 2014 at 6:10PM

Firstly, I AM SICK OF MY KIDS NOT EATING A PROPER MEAL :mad:

Right, got that out of the way, sorry about that.

Frankly I'm at my wits end trying to cook something decent that my kids will actually eat. I'm not a great cook at the best of times and seriously lack the will to keep trying when everything gets thrown back in my face. They are only little, (just 4 and almost 2), but I really don't want to get bad habits ingrained. They will happily eat frozen things with potatoes and vegetables, but most 'real' food is usually rejected after a few bites. The only scratch cooked things I can think of that they'll eat are cottage pie, fish pie and chilli con carne.

pigpen · 18 June 2014 at 6:31PM

Persist!!!

They are toddlers, they do as they are told and you are the grown up who is in charge of their health and wellbeing!!

They eat or go hungry, if they moan they are hungry later give them their dinner back!

I have never catered for whims! We have days when I am busy they are fed freezer crap.. potato mush, sausages/dippers/fish fingers with veg/tinned spaghetti/beans.. the rest of the time I poison them with veggies and meat and pasta and heaven forbid, rice!! lol... they eat or go hungry, right down to my 2 y/o.

I will cater for true dislikes .. eg.. some get baked beans some get spaghetti, DS3 gets pasta without sauce because he hates it.. I'm not incredibly mean but I will not cook separate meals for the children to myself and I will cook what I want..

Just keep serving it up and praise what they do eat and if they choose to go hungry they won't fade away over night!

We have a rule that everything must be tasted.. that includes myself.. even OH!!

Cook what you want.. and don't let it become a battle. offer praise and bribes as a reward for trying something new. Finger food stuff is usually more readily accepted, strips of chicken, meatballs mine LOVE, raw veg if they don't like it cooked is much healthier and more interesting.

Just stick with it and they will start eating it, be firm and patient... no resorting to toast and jam if they refuse proper food!

martinthebandit · 18 June 2014 at 6:37PM

LizD wrote: »

Firstly, I AM SICK OF MY KIDS NOT EATING A PROPER MEAL :mad:

Right, got that out of the way, sorry about that.

Frankly I'm at my wits end trying to cook something decent that my kids will actually eat. I'm not a great cook at the best of times and seriously lack the will to keep trying when everything gets thrown back in my face. They are only little, (just 4 and almost 2), but I really don't want to get bad habits ingrained. They will happily eat frozen things with potatoes and vegetables, but most 'real' food is usually rejected after a few bites. The only scratch cooked things I can think of that they'll eat are cottage pie, fish pie and chilli con carne.

4 and 2? If only there was a responsible adult in the house eh?

If your giving in to them at that age you are in for a whole world of problems when teenage hormones kick in.

Tigsteroonie · 18 June 2014 at 6:41PM

Oh what we'd give to have a NT kid who will eat real food - frozen or homemade - instead of one particular brand and flavour of baby puree;)

bossymoo · 18 June 2014 at 6:41PM

I think also look at portion sizes. They don't need huge amounts. My DD eats like a bird (unless bacon or steak is on the menu!!!) and since I am overweight I figure she knows more about what amounts she needs than I do. Too much on her plate outfaces her.

But yes, cook what you are cooking and if they are hungry enough they will eat it.

I also have the taste rule, not allowed to say we don't like something without tasting. Within reason lol. We don't do snails and frogs legs

Most of all - let it go over your head, they can smell the fear, lol
X

Mummy+2 · 18 June 2014 at 7:11PM

I know the feeling! I went through it last year with my then 4 year old and I'm just starting the battle again with my 20 month old! Persistence really is the key, they get what they are given and nothing else. They soon learn and going a little hungry for a night or 2 really won't do any harm.

We have a kids choice night where my 5 year old gets to pick what we have, I also let her serve the meals up where possible during the rest of the week, this really helps

[Deleted User] · 18 June 2014 at 7:15PM

If they'll eat 'freezer foods' make your own, cheat a bit. Make your own burgers with good lean minced steak, make your own fish fingers with skinless boneless fish fillets, make chicken dippers with fresh chicken breasts, even make up home made frozen 'ready meals' and if they see them come out of the freezer they won't immediately say I don't like it!!! Make food fun, little pizzas on half rolls made into faces, my girls loved eggy breads with ketchup faces on them for breakfast make rice pudding and pop some sultanas or chopped prunes in before it's cooked, make chocolate rice pud with cocoa in the milk. Make fruit smoothies and call them milkshakes, make the smoothies into ice lollies for healthy snacks in the summer. If they like pasta you can hide lots of extra veg in a homemade tomato sauce and blitz them out of sight. They will stop being so fussy as they get older if you don't make mealtimes into dramas and don't force them to see food as a negociating point. Would you let them help with the preparation of the food, that might encourage them to try meals they helped make, even, if you have room in the garden let them grow simple things like lettuce, it's amazing how they'll try things they've grown even mustard and cress on the windowsill is good fun. Hope you can find a way to engage them, it will make life so much easier all round.

LizD_2 · 18 June 2014 at 7:31PM

I should say there are 2 options at tea-time - take it or leave it and go hungry. DS1 knows the rule and DS2 will learn in time (evil mummy

).

I think it's more about me getting fed up with making an effort for nothing! I will try some of your ideas when I have time.

good_advice · 18 June 2014 at 8:01PM

At 2 and 4yrs you are going to have to put your food down. You will find having x2 one will copy the other.

Make the dinner. Everyone up to table. Tv off. No one leaves till the last person has finnished. Offer nothing else and NO PUDDING if dinner plate is not clear.

As mine got older the saying changed to first one that wants to leave the table does the washing up.

Some food is sometimes left and use to go on the bird table.
Now anything left goes in the dog. The sty dog lies in wait!

We are now all adults. I tend to cook more of a selection and some times say help your selt when cooked.
A meat and sometimes veggi
several veg and either potato, rice or pasta.

cornishchick · 18 June 2014 at 10:10PM

It's been suggested that a child needs to try something up to 7 times before they can truly say that don't like it. A rule we had and my BIL still has is, you try some thing new and you try it a few times .
Also make no fuss when they refuse to eat, but give appropriate attention when they do eat.
Small portions.. Get them involved with the cooking, even the 2 year old. Set meal times and eat together where possible,

I am a mother of two and spent 15 years working with children from age 18months upwards.
Good luck. Deep breath and stand your ground. Lol . X

scaredy_cat · 18 June 2014 at 10:23PM

children don't do good with too many choices - give 2 at most, or as others have said, they eat or go hungry. i didn't have choice when i were little, and it didn't hurt me.

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Fed Up With Picky Kids

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