Replies to 'Picky Eaters'

I think you should show your son a clock or a timer. And show him how long he had to eat. And when it gets down to the last 5 mins (show him again on the clock) that lunch will be done! After a week or so he will start picking up on the time!! Dont give him seconds on anything unless he makes a happy plate!! Alll the food has to be all gone. Same with his drink dont refill until he has eaten his food!!

I work in a daycare and when my new kids come to my room they are not use to eating all their food in 30 mins.So we show them the clock, and it helps them learn their numbers!!

wow...that seems so obvious...thanks...I'll give it a try!

why use food to PUNISH a child?  That just attaches a meaning to food that complicates everything.  If he doesn't finish within a reasonable time, sure, take it away.  But don't just heat it up and later force the kid to eat it until it's gone.  Give him healthy food.  give him a reasonable time to finish.  If he stops eating or takes much too long, remove the food and MAKE NO COMMENT.  Do you like it when people observe what and  how you're eating and make remarks about it?  Feed him again in the same way at the next meal.  Not punishment food - reheated leftovers.  Give him an ordinary meal and repeat the process.

If he doesn't learn to eat faster, he's going to be hungry between meals.  He may test you for a while, but nobody likes to be hungy.  But he isn't going to learn that he's bad for not finishing.  He's just going to learn that we take a certain amount of time for eating that's limited.  If hedoesn't get itin, he'llget hungry before it's time for the next meal.

My aunt once told my toddler daughter "what a good girl you are for finishing your lunch."  I disagreed.  She's a good girl because she's a good girl.  She's not good because she finishes her food.  EAting is not an unpleasant task to tolerate.  She's not bad because she doesn't finish her food.  Eating is a pleasure, not a job. 

Stop mixing up eating with punishment.  My father-in-law would ask anxiously when my son left the table, "is he full?  has he had enough?"  I'd say, "I can't say.  The nerves from his stomach don't lead to my brain.  But the fact that he's left the table where the food is suggests that he's full."

Get out of your kids' mouths.  Provide what they need.  don't offer junk.  give them a reasonable time to finish eating. check with your docs to make sure all is OK.  then, mind your own business and stop obsessing about food.