Topic : Picky Eaters

Thank you  

I will try that 

that's great advice 

Hi,  

I think it is great that he was willing to eat the stew, try the tomato and that you included his favorite as an enticement. 

This is a difficult problem, especially if parents' have defaulted to the child's diet of choice.  Our younger child was a picky eater.  Here is what we did to help her (and ourselves!).  We talked to her about it at a time when we were not eating or getting ready to eat.  No battles at the dinner table--it only makes it worse.  We told her that it was important for her to develop a taste for a lot of different foods.  We also told her that we understood that she thought that she did not like most foods and only liked noodles, bread and such.  We explained to her that if she did not try anything, she would never know if she liked it or not.  She was also told that she might not like broccoli, for example, at five years old, but that she might find out she liked it when she was six.  How would she know if she did not try it several times in her life?  So we told her this was our new rule:  she would be expected to try whatever was served.  We would not force her to eat.  However, there would be no special items made for her.  She could choose to eat or not to eat.  Of course, we made sure that she had those things she really liked to eat many times during the week.  This was highly effective.  She is 14 now and generally eats what we serve with some exceptions.   

The other suggestion I have is to get him involved in meal planning and food shopping.  At first, offer two or three choices.  What would you like to have for dinner tomorrow:  spaghetti, meatloaf or chicken?  Then let him choose the side dish or dessert.   

I grew up with an extremely picky brother.  My mom made whatever he wanted and he never had to eat what the family ate.  He is still very picky and difficult to please.  It is embarrassing to go to a restaurant with him because he almost tells the waiter how to cook the food (stay home!).  His kids are also very picky, to an extreme.  Nip it in the bud now!  Good luck...he is fortunate to have parents who want him to be healthy and happy. 

Hi, I am a speech pathologist with experience with kids who have oral motor issues including problems eating.   This post is just a general response as I do not know your child and cannot make specific recommendations for her.  However,  if you want information about a possible problem with food texture, I suggest you look into having her oral motor skills/oral sensitivity assessed by a speech pathologist who specializing in feeding.  Children can have oral sensitivity that affects what their food preferences due to texture, temperature, size.  There are ways to help children such as this to begin eating in a way that is more typical.  Sometimes children "outgrow" these sensitivities.   

On a personal note, my own daughter used to feel her food before putting anything in her mouth.  Some items "passed" her touch test...she did outgrow it.  I had and still have sensitivities to certain textures which can make me gag.   

Good luck to you. 

My little boy also has an issue with textures.  It's almost like he never graduated out of baby food....most kids go on to the "second stage foods"....my kid never did.  He had an amazing talent for picking out the smallest lump.  No matter how fine you tried to mash food up for him he would "spit out" the solid part.  He was very slow getting any teeth and he is a late talker also.  As with many of the other posts I have read.....there are times he just doesn't even seem to care about eating.  His speech therapist has said what many of you have said....He won't starve himself but sometimes it sure seems that way.  He could really care less if he doesn't get his meals.......and it worries me to death.  I am going to try some of the suggestions you all have made (offering several different things.....I am guilty of making the things he has eaten and hoping for the best.....and not trying smoothies and V-8.  It's really helpful to hear from other parents that have been through this or are going through it now....sometimes you feel like you are the only one.  Thanks everybody! 

I had the same problem with my boys.i was worried that they wouldn't get enough nutrients throughout the day. I asked my doctor about supplementing what they eat and h e suggested Carnation Instant Breakfast with their meals. It tastes like chocolate milk and they loved it. As she gets older (4,5,6) I would recommend feeding her the same thing the rest of the family eats for dinner, have some jello or pudding for desert. If she tries something new and doesn't spit it out (2 or 3 bites at least). she gets her desert. I do not recommend big sugary deserts like cookies and brownies. Pudding will give her a serving of dairy and jello tastes good, but won't addict her to sugar. Very important when you start to do this that you do not have too many snacks during the day, it will defeat all your efforts at dinner.  

Do not expect her to eat a lot at one time. Young kids eat very little at meals compared to what adults eat. Try various fresh fruits also. Pears look alot like apples when cut up. She may not even notice the difference. Melons and grapes have always been a hit with my boys as well. Get a melon baller and serve her watermelon, cantaloupe or honeydew balls. My boys think those are really cool. It takes about the same amount of time as cutting the melons into bite size pieces. 

Good luck, I know what a rocky road you are traveling. 

If the child's parents are not concerned - even after you have brought it to their attention, why are you still trying to fix something you have no control over? Maybe it is time to find new friends that you and your wife will enjoy being around.