make them something else or let them starve?

ELIZA_D

Thanks all.
(just to clarify....i would never offer the chocolate instead.....they "knew" it was there!!)

i waited an hour and then gave them both a plate of tuna,chopped toms,sweetcorn and cucumber.5 year old wolfed it down but 18 month old ate a little of the tuna and left the rest. Just before bath i gave them both a chopped up pear each which they ate.
my 5 year old has had 10 portions of fruit and veg today but my 18 month old only 2:( am thinking it may be because he is teething??
Anyway will persevere....sure they will turn their noses up at my cooking tommorrow as well............
(was only joking about serving it for breakfast.....sure my nan used to do it!)

icecubequeen

I'm a mean Mummy!

My children eat what they are given or go without

I don't tend to serve many meals they wouldn't like anyway, all traditional, normal food, that they have eaten before. If I try something new its always something I know has ingredients in it they will eat. They usually have a funny 5 mins at the table if they realise its something they don't fancy, but they know if they don't eat it then they won't get anything else, then they tuck into it and enjoy it.

We also have the rule that you have to clear your plate before you are allowed pudding. If you can't eat your dinner then you obviously don't have room for pudding

Paulie'sGirl

Icecubequeen, that used to be the rule at our house. It was known as "no dinner, no ping"

Its very effective!!!

maypole

I think also, try not to make a fuss at mealtimes if they won't eat. Hindsight is a great thing I know and when mine were little they were not too picky, but we still had to fly our fair share of "aeroplanes" into their mouths and a few "trains" if you get my drift. Looking back now with experience behind me I would not have made such a fuss. I will make up for my mistakes by being the "perfect" granny :rolleyes: .

Good luck, I know it is not easy.

ELIZA_D

I agree with the no dinner no pudding/treat but how do you explain that to a 18 month old who may see his older brother getting a treat cos he is every mothers dream at the table(oh except for tonight!!!!).......i usually have to give him his treats on the sly so the little one does not see and scream the place down............writing this down i feel this is wrong?!!

kisto

My DS (11) is a very fussy eater. He doesn't eat any fruit and the only veg he eats are tinned tomatoes in sauces and baked beans, (plus he doesn't know that i mash up carrot and sneak it into spag bol/chilli etc) :shhh:! I've had battles, tears (me & him) but I've just about given up now. I don't generally cook him anything separate but our "menu" is based on his "issues" with fruit/veg.

Tonight we are having bacon & cheese pasta. DD has gone off the cheese sauce lately so I've adapted it so DD & I will have pasta, bacon, cherry tomatoes and some grated cheese. DS will just won't have the cherry tomatoes.

We had Turkey roast for tea last night and DS had tin spaghetti instead of veg! :rolleyes:

I feel if I tailor the meal to their tastes, then they must finish it all. If it's a meal with something they don't like then they must eat a bit of what they don't really like and finish all the rest of the meal that they do like.

Definitely no pudding if they don't eat it all.