If your children don't eat what you cook for dinner...

t_obermory

Hmm going for extremes like tipping dinner over your child's head or making them sit until they eat it (I'm talking more than half an hour here) is only going to cause you more problems.

Personally I'm with Milford_Cubicle's advice, tell her you're disappointed and she won't be getting anything to eat but she's welcome to finish what she has got. She's not going to starve herself and it will pass, if she sees she isn't getting the attention from you she'll stop bothering.

However saying that is there any particular food she does it for more? As if there's something she genuinely doesn't like I wouldn't force it on her, we wouldn't eat something we genuinely can't stomach so I don't see why we should make our children.

Hth's and good luck.

cazscoob

there are some things that my kids dont like to eat and i usually adjust it to suit but TBH that doesnt happen often and they all eat the same as me and OH or they dont get anything else. no treats/puddings or supper. they all know the rules and as long as they make an effort to eat some of it then they can get something else but if they told me it was disgusting and i knew otherwise i would leave them without!!

fesdufun

My kids always have fruit as a snack at bedtime. They don't alway eat their tea but I still let them have fruit. I think a lot of it is personal choice. I try not to make a big deal of mealtimes times. They know they won't get an alternative choice to what is offered but if they say they don't like it then I won't force them to eat it. With cmy hildren the more you try to force them the more then dig their heels in. I also find that if they are too tired then they just don't feel like eating.

I am with the others about saying it is digusting - that is just rude. I tend to ignore it if my kids say that to me. I just say if you don't like anything just push it to the side of your plate and leave it.

Good luck.

affordmylife

i wouldnt put anything on my childrens plate that they didnt like so we dont really have this problem.

i hope it passes soon for you.

babs2008

When I was young there were never any alternatives on offer.

She may only be young, but to give in and offer something else could lead to her being a picky eater in the future.

BTW - I don't have children, so I'm not an expert at all.

If she doesn't eat her tea you could always offer her something less appealing - like just a piece of bread. Hopefully she'll quickly realise that the original meal is preferable.

I agree with other posters to make sure the food is not something she just genuinely dislikes.

oystercatcher

Telling the child she's upset you or throwing a tantrum yourself is giving her attention which could be what she is after.

I would just calmly ignore. Make her sit through the meal with everyone else and then clear away. No offer of an alternative and no special attention.
I never made my kids eat stuff they really really don't like, you can tell the difference between being fussy and genuinly not liking things. But if it's just something boring they can eat it , if they're not hungry they don't have to eat maybe it can go in the fridge for later.

My parents would make me sit for hours over a plate of food and then put it in the fridge and bring it out at the next meal. I certainly wouldn't go that far but there's no point in getting worked up about it , they won't fade away over night if they don't eat !!

Oystercatcher

liney

affordmylife wrote: »

i wouldnt put anything on my childrens plate that they didnt like so we dont really have this problem.

i hope it passes soon for you.

And how do you know what they like until they try it

bestpud

affordmylife wrote: »

i wouldnt put anything on my childrens plate that they didnt like so we dont really have this problem.

i hope it passes soon for you.

How do you introduce new things then, or do you mean there is always something they like on the plate?

I tend to do the latter and tbh I wouldn't be worried if DD refused point blank to eat her meal. I wouldn't offer anything else though, unless I could tell the dislike was genuine - and you can tell when they are just being awkward imo.

I have to say the bit that stood out for me was her saying it is disgusting. That shows a lack of regard for you and the time you've taken preparing the meal and I'd not allow my DD to speak like that. I know she's only five but she's old eough to realise her words can hurt others and there are good and bad ways of explaining things like this.

But anyway, try not to fret about it as she will pick up on it and you may have a battle of wills develop. Most try it on at some stage in my experience so she's normal in that respect.

IvoryTinkler

My 2yro DD is a very fussy eater. I always put something on her plate that I know she will eat (like baked beans), and give her what the rest of us are eating, knowing that she won't even touch it. I'm not faffing about cooking separate meals! Slowly she is getting better, food she previously would not touch, she will now pick up and lick.

She frequently goes to bed with just a belly full of baked beans lol.

jackomdj

My DD can be fussy & if she does not eat it it goes on the side for 30mins. If she still does not eat it the dog gets it!

She does not get another option & if she does not eat enough of her meal she gets nothing until the next meal. If she eats enough (& I already have an idea of what I would be happy with) then she will sometimes get the chance to have something....could be fruit, cheerio's, a boiled sweet, yoghurt etc.

At the moment if she does not eat all her breakfast she has to wait until after her next meal to open her advent calendar! (which does not even have sweets in every day!)

Remember they will not starve. The important thing is for you to stay calm.

Good luck
Nicky