Fussy Eaters (merged)

angelicmary85

mikey72 wrote: »

Totally off subject, but how's it going now?

Hello Mikey!!

Not good really. When I last updated my thread it was going quite well but now it's even worse than it was before - she 'chokes' and startes trying to make herself sick if she so much as licks something she 'doesn't like'

Gingham_Ribbon

at_my_wits_end wrote: »

I am going to limit the number of snacks she has during the day and try to totally cut out crisps and sweets.... .

I didn't realise she was eating that sort of thing during the day. That's probably why she's not bothering with her dinner. It sounds sensible to knock that completely on the head - maybe a treat on a Friday evening or Saturday picnic is all. She's young enough to get used to the idea that healthy snacks are all she's allowed.

Good luck!

picnmix

angelicmary85 wrote: »

Hello Mikey!!

Not good really. When I last updated my thread it was going quite well but now it's even worse than it was before - she 'chokes' and startes trying to make herself sick if she so much as licks something she 'doesn't like'

This is exactly what my little one did, from the age of about 2 to about 5, even now if it is something new, sometimes she will happily try it, other times we have the choking and urging. She does now have a better range of food that she likes, she never had a poor diet, what she did eat was quite healthy, she has never been really ill, but it is a problem. I tried all the super nanny type tricks, none of them worked, she is just plain fussy.

Buttonmoons

I'd be over the moon if my DD ate a sandwich! Though one time she ate a bit of a tuna one but that was never repeated. I think it's a very common thing, my DD is now 4 and still fussy, she never used to be, it was like something switched on in her after a bad bout of sickness and diapoopoo at age 2.

she has been better lately though and her new fave meal is tanglatelle with chorizo in a tomato sauce (lots of black pepper added) she loves the spice! Also, good way of disgusing loads of veg into as I just puree her veg into her sauce, like peppers/celery/tomatos/onions/mushrooms. 5 a day and she doesn't even know it

Rainey_LB

mikey72 wrote: »

Depends on what has happened previously, and what habits they develop.
Some children will get used to not eating, so they will actually starve themselves.
How many days would you let your child refuse to eat for before worrying?

I agree with this post completely, I have posted before and people have said they won't starve they'll eat eventually.

My DD is now 6 & although we still have days where she is fussy and certain meals she's not that happy about the situation has improved drastically, this has been through persistence, not reacting to her & adapting the meal slightly for her.....afterall its wise to choose your battles!!

But DD would and still will go without - quite happily, from breakfast (plain cereal or toast with butter) and then go through til the following day with nothing if I keep serving up things she doesn't like, day after day, it has been tried.

Also to make every mealtime a battle is not going to improve her relationship with food and going to be very stressful for both of you.

It sounds like you DD doesn't like things that she's unfamilar with and different textures. I think just keep trying, only put a very small amount of what she doesn't want to eat on the plate, even if its just 2 mouthfuls and she will get used to it and build it up from there. I always found it better to give her quite small meals and then give her more if she is still hungry, too much on her plate used to overwhelm her.

Although I do agree limit the snacks and no pudding if she doesn't eat the required amount.

There was also a post about children not being born fussy I completely disagree with this as well, I fed my DD exactly the same as I had my DS, he is not fussy at all, she has always been.

I think sometimes people forget children have their own tastebuds too, do you like all the same foods as your OH, brother, sister, mother??

Do keep trying, I doubt you will find a magic solution that works over night, but you'll get there in the end.

picnmix

Agree with you Rainey - DD1 was always fussy, DD2 will eat pretty much anything, and I did nothing diff the 2nd time, so nothing that we did as parents.

SailorSam

I was watching a programme on Tv last night, i think it might be a series 'cos they were talking about next weeks show. It's about E numbers ; food colourings and additives, and trying to show that they were not all the work of the devil.
On last nights show that had a group of kids who were fussy and they all finished their plates eating sprouts. They'd chopped them added some colour and flavour and mixed a little yoghurt. They tried another dish but the kids guessed right away they'd been given sprouts but some still ate them.

angelicmary85

Buttonmoons wrote: »

fave meal is tanglatelle with chorizo in a tomato sauce (lots of black pepper added)

I'm going to put that on my meal plan...sounds delish

babybug

I was a very fussy eater as a child, for 3 months I would only eat bacon. My parents tried the "child won't starve itself" method, and found that I happily would starve rather than eat something I didn't want!

As a couple of other people have said, by letting me have what I liked, but trying to introduce new things a mouthful at each meal, dinner times stopped being a battle ground. It turned out that I have abnormally large tonsils, and found certain foods hard to swallow. I then wouldn't eat things that might cause me trouble, but was too young to explain this.

At 26, I'm a lot better than I was. Still very fussy, but nothing like I used to be. For me, it wasn't until I left home and cooked solely for myself that I started being more adventurous. And learned that actually, food in sauce is not the work of the devil

Rainey_LB

SailorSam wrote: »

I was watching a programme on Tv last night, i think it might be a series 'cos they were talking about next weeks show. It's about E numbers ; food colourings and additives, and trying to show that they were not all the work of the devil.
On last nights show that had a group of kids who were fussy and they all finished their plates eating sprouts. They'd chopped them added some colour and flavour and mixed a little yoghurt. They tried another dish but the kids guessed right away they'd been given sprouts but some still ate them.

Renaming sometimes works also, we have burger pie instead of shepherds pie (its all mince :rotfl:) & soft chicken instead casserole!! Although at 2 1/2 she might be a bit young for this yet....... when we were kids I always looked forward to 'French Chicken' until I found out it was rabbit!! :eek: