Getting children to eat and not waste

Newtonlot

I know this is not totally money saving but I can't afford to keep throwing away food so figure it is in away.

DD1 is 3.5 and used to be a really good eater. She would eat anything including veggies.
DD2 is 15months and again used to be a really good eater.
I try to get them both to eat at the table for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The only time I don't eat with them is dinner time as I wait for DH.
Anyways, they have both decided that they want to be fussy eaters. Only I can't afford to do 2 different meals all the time, or cook and then have to cook something else as they decide they don't want it.
This morning I decided enough was enough. They had their brekkie fine, but I made sure they had no snacks so they would be hungry for lunch. 11:30 came and neither of them would eat. They still haven't eaten it. DD1 has said she doesn't like it - she hasn't tasted it. And DD2 closed her mouth and shook her head. My mam said they would eat when they are hungry but dd2 is obviously hungry - she tried to arm wrestle my banana out of my hand.
Should I stand firm with this and wait until they eat the shepherds pie before giving them something else? I don't want to be seen as giving in again.
I have no idea how I'm meant to cope with this. I dread meal times. I try not to get stressed, but it's hard.
Newtonlot

Paparika

Newtonlot wrote: »

I know this is not totally money saving but I can't afford to keep throwing away food so figure it is in away.

DD1 is 3.5 and used to be a really good eater. She would eat anything including veggies.
DD2 is 15months and again used to be a really good eater.
I try to get them both to eat at the table for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The only time I don't eat with them is dinner time as I wait for DH.
Anyways, they have both decided that they want to be fussy eaters. Only I can't afford to do 2 different meals all the time, or cook and then have to cook something else as they decide they don't want it.
This morning I decided enough was enough. They had their brekkie fine, but I made sure they had no snacks so they would be hungry for lunch. 11:30 came and neither of them would eat. They still haven't eaten it. DD1 has said she doesn't like it - she hasn't tasted it. And DD2 closed her mouth and shook her head. My mam said they would eat when they are hungry but dd2 is obviously hungry - she tried to arm wrestle my banana out of my hand.
Should I stand firm with this and wait until they eat the shepherds pie before giving them something else? I don't want to be seen as giving in again.
I have no idea how I'm meant to cope with this. I dread meal times. I try not to get stressed, but it's hard.
Newtonlot

Stand firm, you are the boss

Cloudane

^ This (although I'm not a parent). But at the same time don't make them overeat for the sake of not wasting, don't want 'em joining the obesity bandwagon

Newtonlot

I feel like the wicked witch at the moment never mind the boss.

DD1 has fallen asleep on the sofa - keep thinking she must be starving by now.

There is no possibility of over feeding them, would mean I would have to get some food in their mouths first :rotfl:

Am going to stick with it and have shepherds pie for dinner as well.

They have had plenty to drink today so I'm hoping it will only take a day or 2 for them to realise I am the boss and that if they don't eat they don't get anything else.

Have just sneaked a piece of choclate to keep myself calm

melancholly

is there any reason that they've suddenly decided to be fussy? any changes in routine or anything like that?

but stay firm - if you show them you're the boss now and stick with it, it should reap rewards as they get older, especially when they're teenagers!

Rikki

I can see the headlines now......"Children starve while mother eats chocolate" :eek:

On a serious note children will eat when they are hungry. I had this stand off with my eldest many moons ago. Its scary when its happening but just giving them one choice main meals and no snacks inbetween does eventually work.

Remember if they win this battle the next one will become more difficult for you to win.

Newtonlot

Not that I can think of.

There's the odd day that they will try to eat me out of house and home - which I don't mind as they are eating. But then there are others like today.

They won't ever try anything new. But they both love veggies especially brocolli.

I was wondering if it being the school holidays and nursery being closed, if that was making a difference. But they still go to childcare once a week and eat fine there.

I think dd2 is just copying dd1, but I have no idea about dd1. Think I need more chocolate.

Newtonlot

I think the headline would read ' Children starve while mother eats her own body weight in chocolate and explodes' :rotfl:

Yep I think your right. Am going to stand firm.

It's just so hard when you have to do it.

Hardup_Hester

Hang on in there Newtonlot, they won't starve, my dd once went for 3 days on only 4 peanuts. She was stubbon, but I was stubboner, lol.
Hugs Hester

Newtonlot

Well dd2 has just polished off her lunch and also dd1's lunch.:j:j:j
She went into the kitchen got the fork off her plate and fed it to her doll, then ate it herself. I got the plate and asked her is she wanted more and she did.

dd1 still doesn;t want any but has asked for toast. I told her if she tried the shepherds pie ( one spoonful left) then I'd make her some toast. She has screamed and cried and said no. So no toast then.

Thanks for all the advice.

Not sure what to make for her dinner now that dd2 has eaten all of the shepherds pie. Will leave it until she tells me she is hungry again.

Reggie_Rebel

You haven't subconsciously been increasing the amount of food on their plates to get them to eat more at all?

Perhaps taking a look at the portions before they see might be an idea, and look at it from a child's eyes. If they think they will never eat it all they may not eat anything.