Persuading toddler to eat healthy stuff...

Thriftylady

sorry this is a bit off topic, but I've been reading through this whole thread with interest.....there are a couple of the posts that I have seen 'quoted' and replied to, but I can't see the original post itself. Does anyone have any idea what I could have done and why I can't see it? the ones I can see are all numbered 1 to 21, so it doesn't look like I have missed one.....someone mentioned that they had reported the post to abuse, would this make it disappear?

Rachie_B

my youngest son was / is very fussy eater

he was fine as a baby and would eat anything put infront of him !
once he could walk his appetite dwindled rapidly and he "went off" a lot of his fave foods

he was 4 in april and its only about the past 6 months or so he will try new foods ,hes MUCH better now and because hes maturing its easy to bribe him
and also i say to him that his fave tv characters etc eat their fruit and veg and it will make him have big muscles ready for big boy school in sept lol

he now eats pasta / rice / potatoes / tuna / sardines / some veg & some fruit which he never used to !!

quite what he was exising on i dont know ! cereal / sarnies / yogurts mostly

its all about cajoling them into it,but not in an anxious way .be laid back and chill a bit and they will eventually come round to it

twink

make sure the little ones are getting plenty to drink too esp in the warm weather, water or diluting juice would be good

mae

I would suggest fun fun fun at the table try to lighten up and keep the atmosphere not tense. Then for even kissing a veg or a fruit I would reward with cheers hugs and a spoon of his favourite meal, after the kissing try moving on to licking and loads of praise again. Then move on to nibbling it. But this may take weeks to move on to nibbling don't rush it just make the healthy food available and fun for a while til it is not seen as a threat or a struggle or a war to your child. I have seen this on House of Tiny Tearaways and it works... In the mean time loads and loads of liquid for the constipation. Also I would try inviting a child over who you know will eat the healthy food and let your child see the other child eating it and they may follow suit but don't force the issue. Maybe even have a treat jar and if your child kisses, licks or nibbles the healthy food he gets to pick a treat but be very firm and keep this treat jar only a treat for a kiss etc of a helathy food. THe key is fun, patience and baby steps every little step is a step nearer. Good Luck

AnnieH

Thriftylady wrote:

sorry this is a bit off topic, but I've been reading through this whole thread with interest.....there are a couple of the posts that I have seen 'quoted' and replied to, but I can't see the original post itself. Does anyone have any idea what I could have done and why I can't see it? the ones I can see are all numbered 1 to 21, so it doesn't look like I have missed one.....someone mentioned that they had reported the post to abuse, would this make it disappear?

I suspect that if the post has been reported to abuse then it will have been removed.

Careful_girl

I would suggest trying to hide veg in other foods if there is no way that your child will eat them alone. Mashing up carrots in potatoes, making fun things with friut and veg and not giving any attention to what is left. When the food is eaten lots of praise and positive stuff "wow you'll be as strong as.." sort of stuff. Also try reverse psycology maybe. Put something on your plate and say how nice it is. Then when he wants some let him have a little but say it is specially for you. Maybe he will want some then but chose something easy like mango or roast parsnip which you think he may like. As soon as you find something make a positive fuss about it being specially for him.
As for the constipation try getting him to drink more water. Get him a fun cup or a straw, make fun ice cubes put squash in if you have to. In school when I have this problem I get the ch to drink as often as I remember. I make it fun and a bit of a challenge. Bet you can't drink this sort of stuff.
It is all about being one step ahead of him in the nicest possible way. Lots of attention for doing what you want and very little for not. act it up make him feel good for doing the sensible thing.
All the best,
CG:j

lil_me

We do picnics to get my fuss pots to try new things

In the house usually or sometimes in the garden, blanket and lots of little bowls of small bits of different foods. Always 1 or 2 they like and lots they won't usually have. If they try something new I am happy. Main part of it is the fun, they help prepare it and can make all the mess they like.

Thriftylady

The reverse psychology thing reminds me, I remember my brother telling his daughter that she couldn't have any broccoli/peas/carrots - whatever she was refusing to eat at the time - because they were only suitable for adults. Obviously this made her want to eat them til they were coming out her ears, so it had the desired effect ! Bit sneaky I know, but she's a normal stroppy 14 year old now, and the refusal to eat things was only a short phase, so I don't think there was any lasting psychological damage!

sticher

I wonder where the route of my problem lay? My siblings had no probs and ate like horses lol.

Well I would like to know the answer to that too as I have 3 sons, Middle one eats fantastically - anything, eldest is a bit fussy but eats VERY healthily, third son (who is now almost 8!!) is still VERY fussy. He literally eats ONLY carrot (raw), cucumber, apple (only in the last few months), plain boiled rice, marmite (on bread, crackers or wheatabix), pancakes and fromage frais (on occasion).

Every day he has a marmite sandwich for lunch, plus an apple. Every evening he has plain rice, carrot and cucumber or a pancake.

Overall what he eats is quite healthy (and he drinks milk on his cereal - usually frosties), so I have never taken him anywhere about it, but I had hoped he would have grown out of it by now.

There is no way I can disguise anything (as you can see from his list) although, I did used to put fruit juice in jelly for him, but even then he tasted the difference.

It makes it a nightmare for me to go anywhere (oh he also eats pepperamis) - although he will eat McDonalds chicken nuggets and fries (last year or so). I would love any suggestions.