Persuading toddler to eat healthy stuff...

frostyspice

My two-and-a-half year old won't eat vegetables, fruit or fruit juice. The nearest he gets to it is those Frutapura pots of fruit puree. He's very picky generally, but recently has started eating fish fingers, sainsburys chicken pieces in breadcrumbs, potato waffles and potato croquettes. This is way better than he used to be ... but he is ALWAYS constipated and I don't know how I'm going to get him toilet-trained.

He spends much of the day sitting on the floor straining with little result.

My health visitor has been no help (surprise! Not) and I'm concerned that he's going to have long-term problems if I don't get this sorted out.

Has anyone else had this problem? Anyone got any tips for disguising fruit and veg in an acceptable way? Has anyone got any recipes for fibre-rich meals which are attractive to picky toddlers? I'd be so grateful for any advice.

Spendless

My son used to be very faddy, he will now try anything. Some things he still doesn't like and I'm happy with that, it was the refusal before trying that got to me! I used to make spag bol with onion,mushroom,tomatoes use stick blender on his portion for short time which would hide the veg. He ALWAYS ate it;) . Fruit what about a juice or smoothie, does he like mash? blend carrots into it to give it an orange colour. Would he eat carrot sticks if you gave him different dips to try them in, or apple slices if he could dip them into yogurt? blended berries for a topping for ice-cream.

Sallys_Savings

One of my sons was very picky, here are a few ideas that I used to use..so hopefully at least one thing may be of help to you.

How about making your own fruit juice lollies or ice cubes (mine used to love putting them in their drinks..especially if they helped make them)
We've made lollies with mashed up strawberries and bananas too.
I used a blender to blend carrots/swede etc up and put into a bolognaise sauce with pasta (my husband didnt even realise I did this until he came home when I was preparing it lol)
I also used to do this with shepherds pie and fish pie.
Bran in flapjacks (sure there must be other biccie receipes that you could do the same)
I would put blended strawberries/bananas/raspberries/blackberries etc into those mouse mixes (like angel delight)
Made veg burgers(potatoes with blended or finely chopped veg in) coated in breadcrumbs into shapes (time consuming but well worth it and I used to
make in bulk and freeze)
One of my children wouldnt eat carrots and broccoli but would if I made a dip
How about a cheese sauce with veg in or to drizzle over the veg.

Hope I've been of help and good luck

AnnieH

A professional once told me that children get what they need out of food from very tiny amounts so stop worrying.

Tha frutapura pots are just fruit, so there's no worry there. I know they're more expensive, but my baby is the same - he loves those things, but rarely eats an apple or banana.

If he doesn't eat what you give him. Let him go hungry. Sounds harsh, but don't let him snack between meals and he'll eat if he's hungry enough. He won't starve himself.

You're doing a great job - STOP WORRYING

Sallys_Savings

I'm sorry but I disagree with ..."he wont starve himself."
Thats what everyone told me with my son and he ended up losing weight because he wasnt eating.

In this case though your little one does seem to be eating something and like AnnieH has mentioned the fruitpura are fruit so hes having that, which is great.

I'd just offer him what he likes and just keep adding new bits with them, and he'll soon turn around I'm sure.

Good Luck

(my son is 19 years old now and a strapping 6 footer )

missk_ensington

Do you sit down at the dinner table as a family? I find my son will only eat if we eat together, on occassions when I've ordered a chinese to ahve after he's gone to bed and made him something seperate he won't eat it. When we're together it's like a competition! Its not unusual to see me rolling around on the floor holding 'the aeroplane' that's about to crash into the sea!

I grate carrots and put them in shepherds pie, and pancakes are a hot favourite containing eggs and milk- essential calcium and Vit D for growth.

Fortunately my Oli loves fruit, by my Godson hates it...or at least we thought he hated it. When he was given strawberries, mango, pineapple, tangerine,cherries, grapes, coconut.... instead of boring old apple and banana he loved it! try raisins as a snack in the car, and tell him they're sweets. I convinced my son for nearly 6 months that raisins were a type of chocolate!

Or if Oli is pulling a face at something I say that footballers eat it (Or bin men at the moment, as he has a current fascination with watching them tip the green bins into the lorry!) to be big and strong. or that Grandad eats it, or Winnie the Pooh.....

For a treat on a weekend we have a picnic and have Pooh-Bear-sandwiches (honey sandwiches) and he loves it, he doesn't know its wholemeal bread and honey isn't really that bad for you.

Kids also love eating things they have made. When I make a soup or a hot pot he sits on the worktops whilst I'm chopping onions/crrots etc and its his job to put the chopped veg in the pan and stir it! He then thinks he's made it and can't wait to eat it!!!

saving-grace

Does he like weetabix? - would help with the constipation

frostyspice

Thank you so much everyone for your ideas and advice.

Yes miss_k we do sit down as a family for meals, which is partly why he does try new things every now and again, specially when extra children eg his cousins are present. I just need to get him to like more stuff which will get the bowels moving!

Thanks again.

AnnieH

"I'm sorry but I disagree with ..."he wont starve himself."
Thats what everyone told me with my son and he ended up losing weight because he wasnt eating."

Quite right Sally Savings. I have a daughter who literally would not eat anythingwhen she was a baby. Although, in the majority of cases, children WILL eat when they're hungry. And as frosty spice's son does eat some things, I gave this advice as a general rule.

fsdss

this is a common problem, and its all to do with our changing generation and convenience foods.

a child will not starve themselves contrary to what other people think on here, they may initially lose weight however they will not make themselves ill.

alot of work with behaviour and health comes down to diet and food. and constipation is a worry for alot of parents.
however i am currently working with a mum who is making large batches of food with hidden (pureed)fruit veg in and freezing it. things like making Pizzas, fishcakes beefburgers meatballs. for examples. also offering smoothies (home made with juices or liquidised fruits and even veg) and it has improved constipation, she is now onto the 2nd stage of weaning (as i call it!!) and is mushing up the food. her child (4) has accepted this without trouble.

also if you involve your child with making this food he is more likely to enjoy trying it. (you could cut your fishcakes into farm animals for example)

the best thing i can advise you is to record a food diary of your child and see what he is eating over a week. children need at least 5 portions of fruit / veg per day and water is best to moisten the stools.

liney

NEVER ever use adult medicine for kids!!!!! Overdoses kill adults and cause kidney/liver failure. Imagine what you could do to their little insides.

If you can't get an appointment then go the the hospital and see the 'ShropDoc' or whatever they call your local on call doctor.

Constipation can be caused by the foods he is eating as well as what he is not. Milk, yoghurt, carrotts and bannana can cause it in large amounts apparently.

Make sure he drinks lots of water (mine like fruit barley too) and maybe he'll try veggie burger type things, or pasta with veg sauce. Fruit or bran type muffins (called cakes of course) and roasted parsnips (called chips LOL).

Have you tried giving him veg or fruit at snack time instead of with meals? It might catch him off guard...Don't worry though, im sure he'll be fine.