Would you give him more food?

Food Guide - Canada Food Guide to Healthy Eating
@CanadaGal (4304)
Canada
May 9, 2008 7:38pm CST
My son Alex is 7 years old and in grade one (his first year of school all day and every day). He does well in school, has many friends, and is one of the taller kids in his class. He is also one of the world's most pickiest eaters. He drives me nuts with the limited variety of foods he will eat. He has almost always been this way, and I'm tired of it. With most kids, there is a list of foods they have that they will not eat for whatever reason. My list always had brussel sprouts, cabbage, and turnip on it... and still does actually. I would think that there are about 10 common foods that a lot of kids (and people in general) dislike, and so as parents, we will try not to make those foods for them on a regular basis. But what if your child was like my Alex, and was the opposite? What I mean by opposite, is that he has a limited list of foods that he WILL eat. Here are the only foods he will eat: mashed potatoes, noodles (like Lipton's sidekicks, chef boyardee and lasagna), spaghetti with meat sauce, ham, scrambled eggs, hot cereal (maple & brown sugar and apple and cinnamon only), hamburger helper, french fries (only at restaurants where they're done in the deep fryer), broccoli, chicken nuggets (one brand only), chicken wieners and bananas. I think that's the entire list. Common foods and snacks he will NOT eat: pizza, hamburgers, roasts, all veggies (other than the broccoli), crackers, cheese, applesauce, watermelon, grapes, strawberries, yogurt, goldfish crackers, cereal bars, granola bars (hard or chewy) cold cereal, tacos, pudding, jello, salads of any kind, sandwiches of any kind, bread and toast, chips, popcorn, hot dogs IN buns, cake, pie, ice cream, cookies, chocolate, suckers, etc. I got very tired of making separate meals just for him, when he refused to eat the foods that the rest of the family was having. I started doing that for him when he was a toddler, because I wanted to make sure he was getting a weekly dose of everything in the food groups. But once I realized he was growing well and there were no issues there, I decided that enough was enough. I decided that whatever I was making for meals is what he would be served. If he didn't like it, he didn't have to eat it, but he would NOT be getting anything else. He starts his day with 2 pkgs of hot cereal every morning. I make it with milk to make sure he's getting the calcium and other vitamins it offers. He is allowed 2 bananas a day at the most (too many could cause pooping problems, and there's the whole issue where he needs to learn to eat other foods). For lunch at school he usually only has one of the bananas for the day, and a drink (b/c he refuses to eat the other standard lunch items that his brothers get in their lunches). Dinner in our house varies... if it's a lasagna night, then he's happy, and has his fair share of the food (and trust me, he can really pack it in)... but if it's pizza night, he'll choose to not eat anything. If you were Alex's parent, would you give in to him? He whines about how he's starving, and I offer him an assortment of foods like I do his brothers when they're still hungry (like carrots and dip, yogurt, granola bars, popcorn, toast, etc), and he flat out refuses those foods. What would you do? Would you feed him the foods you know he'll eat? Or would you continue to watch him suffer and be all moody and such?
2 people like this
20 responses
@wooitsmolly (3613)
• United States
10 May 08
I'm sorry I cannot give you many suggestions on what I would feed him. He sounds very picky and I am not an expert on kids or anything. All I can say is you are probably going to have to make him eat a more varied diet. He is not getting enough fruit and vegetables at all. I think you should try going to the store and picking out all different kinds of produce and seeing if he likes any of them. Oh yeah, and does he like any nuts or seeds? Those are very healthy... hmmm.. what about trying to cut up veggies really small and adding them to foods he already likes? He might not notice... good luck.
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 May 08
I refuse to cut up the veggies he needs really small and add them to his foods. I don't have time for that. I will often add mixed veggies to the spaghetti sauce so he has to get some of them in his system when he eats it. But he will actually sit there and try to pick each and every piece out.
1 person likes this
• United States
10 May 08
What about using a food processor to cut them for you? It only takes 5 seconds... I used to pick all the chunks of veggies out of my foods when I was little, too. As he gets older his taste buds might change and he might enjoy them more. Good luck.
1 person likes this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 May 08
I don't want the extra work and dishes, and that is what I'd be giving myself going that route. I'm being just as stubborn as Alex on this issue, I know. lol.
• United States
10 May 08
What kid doesn't like pizza? Wow I really feel bad for you! I thought I had it rough with my son Austin (age 7) who is the picky eater in the family. Take making a roast for dinner with glazed carrots, and mashed potatoes. He will eat the roast only if I cut it into chunks and allow him to dip it in ketchup (yet he eats his steaks with A-1) won't touch the mashed potatoes (in fact he wont eat any potato that isn't in the form of a french fry) but everyone else has to get their carrots first because he would eat the whole bowl if I let him. When I am making food he doesn't like, or any of my kids except the baby, for that matter, I put every food on the menu on their plate. If I know they don't like it say, mashed potatoes for example I only give them 2 tablespoons of it. Then I give them a little more of something I am making that they do like. The rule in this house is you must eat what is on your plate whether you like it or not and you will not leave the table or even think about getting a snack until your plate is cleared. I also don't allow my kids to drink until half of their food is gone because Austin had a habit of guzzling down 8 oz of milk then saying he was full. No matter how stubborn your kid thinks they are their body will not allow them to starve. It may seem cruel to some but you are not a restaurant and the cost of food is only going to continue to go up. Make him eat it. Don't offer him alternatives. I have already had my son fall asleep at the dinner table for refusing to eat something on his plate. Guess what he was served the next night for dinner? Yep, the same plate he refused the night before. And I have told him I will continue serving the same plate to him until it grows so much mold you can't tell what kind of food it was in the first place. (usually on the second night of his refusal I make sure to make one of his favorites for dinner because he knows he can't have it until his previous meal is finished) To date I have never had to serve the same plate more than 3 days before the kid gave in and choked down whatever it was they were protesting against eating in the first place.
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 May 08
When Alex was an infant and on jar food, his doctor told me to do that with his foods... if he didn't finish something one meal, then just save it for the next. I was to continue doing that until it was done, because he would eat when hungry. I don't do that now, because I don't believe in forcing him to eat foods that he maybe really doesn't like. But yeah, he won't eat pizza. Sucks to be him, eh?
• United States
25 May 08
Jesus! This post sounds like something out of 'Tales out of a Sadistic Control Freaks Personal Diary'! Not too likely that this person will be able to call their kids friends once they've grown. This post should be called "How to phuck up your kids and give them a bunch of sh!t to have to work out with psychiatrists when they're older".
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
10 May 08
My son was just like that, he went for 6 years of school eating weiners and ketchup for lunch because he flatly refused anything else. I couldn't get him to eat anything he didn't want to. If you are following my stories you get that story. I gave up, I just couldn't make him do it. Now at 31 he still is a picky eater but will eat more foods at least.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
10 May 08
I haven't posted that story yet, I was saying that I have started to post my stories and I have posted 8 so far, that story about my son will come way in the future.
1 person likes this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 May 08
I haven't had much time to do much reading on here in the last month or so, so unfortunately I have not read about your experiences with your son and the food. Alex will eat wieners, but I won't make them for his lunch. The other boys get sandwiches, as do most kids in school. However, when the other boys are getting a hot lunch at school (like pizza lunches twice a month), I will make Alex something special for lunch that day.
1 person likes this
@roniroxas (10560)
• Philippines
10 May 08
hello there gal, this is not easy. i am a single mom of four children and i dont have a picky eater with me. theres are times that i will cook something my children is not in the mood to eat but they dont have much of a choice. well for me that is tough love. i think we parents needs to be tough. although we really wanted to give all they want but sometimes we need to stand on our grounds and be stiff. well this is for him so you have to insist that he has to eat what other member of the family does. like i said i am a single mom of four and it is not easy to feed them plus expences in the house bills to pay and education. if a child of mine will whine to me about food i might go crazy already. so the first rule in our house what on the table is what they are going to eat. if they dont like then there is nothing i can give. but every once a week if the budget will allow or twice a month we go out to eat out. its like treating them and buying food that they really like to eat. this situation is not easy but i understand that you are tired already. but if you continue to give only to food he likes to eat he will be like that forever. you can start now or just go on like this forever. be strong. kids needs to follow to us not we following to what they like. its a two way traffic. if you do this to him he has to do something for you too. have a blessed day
1 person likes this
@roniroxas (10560)
• Philippines
11 May 08
yes it will really break your heart. we mothers get really hurt when we see our children like this. we mothers hae a tendency to spoil our children. lucky you for you have the money to buy food for him. i dont. even i want to spoil my children with chips ahoy and pizza everyday i cant afford it.
1 person likes this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 May 08
Tough love... exactly! That's how I look at it. But it can still be heartwrenching.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
10 May 08
I've had 2 picky eaters, well technically 3 because my husband is picky as well. Unfortunatly I give in to hubby because I have little choice. My oldest was picky up until he was about 4. Our situation prior to that did not give me the opportunity to prepare many meals for him, so he'd mostly eat bologna, mac cheese, pizza, chicken nuggets, and spaghetti. We got into a position of being able to make different meals, but he wouldn't try them. We went through a couple months of torture trying to get him to eat what we served. Usually after he'd try it a few times he began to like it. He is now 11, and the only thing he doesn't like is beans, but even those he's getting used to. My daughter is different, she's had all these foods available to her all along, but she claims not to like much of it. I don't give into her. I give her the same things we eat, and tell her she has to eat X amount of it, like it or not. If she eats that much and is still hungry she makes a sandwich afterwards.
1 person likes this
• United States
10 May 08
I would not force my children to eat, rather if they would not eat what the rest of the family was eating they could excuse themselves. I would not reward that then with later letting them eat what they wanted. There is no right or wrong here, in my house money was tight and we did not have money to buy what everyone preferred.... and I was to busy to cater to whims. most of what they wanted in my case was JUNK and young growing brains and bodies need nutrition.
1 person likes this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 May 08
It sounds like you do what I do with my son. But he's 7 now, and still won't budge. Ugh! I've forced him to eat some things a few times, but that becomes a daunting task. I would like to offer him a sandwich if he's still hungry after only eating some of his food... but he won't eat those either.
@Adelida2233 (1005)
• United States
10 May 08
I would do what my mom did for me with foods that I did not like. I'm assuming here that you are cooking other foods than what he will eat for your dinners. My mom started by cooking something that I did like, then would go fix the rest of the meal. We sat down to dinner as a family, so everything was served together. She would offer me different parts of the meal, like squash, brocolli, whatever. If I said 'No Thank You", i got a tiny portion of whatever it was called a "no thank you taste". If I did choose to have some, I could serve myself any amount that I wanted. Thanks to the no thank you tastes, I now eat all different kinds of food that I never would have touched as a kid. I hated it at the time, but one bit of whatever it is, isn't going to kill you. I whined and moaned I'm sure, but I eat the stuff now, so it served it's purpose. I would still feed him the foods that he likes in the beginning, using the no thank you tastes as a way to introduce foods. If he associates the name of the food, just say, "would you like some of this?". There is no way I would let him whine and refuse the food and get away with it. I will admit I do not have kids, so I'm not dealing with it on a day to day basis, but I'm sure it annoyed my mother beyond comprehension and she stuck with it. Good luck!
• United States
10 May 08
My Mum did that too! I was expected to taste whatever was for dinner but if I didn't like it - OK - go make a PB sandwich ...by myself!
1 person likes this
@alindahaw (1219)
• Philippines
10 May 08
My son is also picky with his food. When he was younger, I used to sit with him for more than half an hour just to make sure that he finishes his food. It's quite a struggle really especially when he starts whining and try to make me feel really guilty about feeding him something he doesn't like. Fortunately, we always get through the ordeal without me giving in. :)
1 person likes this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 May 08
I won't sit with him and make him finish his food. If he doesn't eat it, it is his problem, and he doesn't get to choose anything else.
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
10 May 08
No I would not give in. Maybe I would try to include at least of of the things he likes in my regular meals like broccoli for the vegetable with that specific meal or something. Meanwhile I might teach him how to cook wieners and scramble eggs, so he could make his own if he wanted. But I would not give in. I almost feel like quoting my old aunt in here " If he was hungry he would eat whatever was presented to him. If he doesn't then he is not hungry " LOL I don't think you have to cater to his limited acceptable foods all the time. Sure you can make things that he likes every once in a while, but you also need to make things that his brothers like too. He'll be fine :)
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 May 08
That's pretty much what I do now, except he doesn't have the option to make his own foods yet. If I allowed that, he'd likely make hot cereal for every meal. lol.
@slothgurl (569)
• Enumclaw, Washington
10 May 08
My 8yr old drives me nuts with his picky eating! One day he loves something and wants it all the time, then all the sudden, (on a picnic or somewhere else you can't do anything about it)IIIIIIICCCCCKKKK I told you Mom I DONT LIKE THAT ANYMORE! The only thing he still eats regularly is Top Ramen. I call it starch with salt water, but sometimes I feel like something in his tummy is better than nothing. He does like his fruits and veggies though. Spinach,corn,celery,raw broccoli,grape tomatoes,kiwis,tangerines,lemons(yes he EATS them!)apples and pears. He doesn't really like meat, unless its pot roast (that no gravy can touch),steak that is barbequed, smoked salmon, and oysters. Chicken nuggets HAVE to be from McD's. That's about it. #:)
1 person likes this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 May 08
You are fortunate that he'll eat an assortment of fruits and veggies. I have that with my other two sons, thankfully.
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
10 May 08
I would let him be moody. Giving in to him and giving him everything he wants to eat could make the problem worse. If he won't eat what's put in front of him maybe he will eat at the next meal. Trust me when he gets hungry enough he will turn around.
1 person likes this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 May 08
That's what I figure. And the moodiness only gets him sent to his room on time outs or gets privileges taken away.
• Regina, Saskatchewan
10 May 08
Parenting a picky eater is hell on wheels. I never had that problem with my kids because I learned really early on to tell them. "This is what's being served. This is not a restaurant. You eat what I put on the table or you starve." My kids eat everything now. But for years I babysat many picky eaters. Some I 'turned' some I didn't. A pediatrician told me that kids will eat wallpaper if they truly get hungry enough, and skinny or not, their bodies will send them the 'right' cravings eventually. Never force a kid to eat, but never cater to their self imposed preferences either. If Alex were mine, I'd take him into the kitchen, show him his favorite foods and tell him "Look bud. This is it. It's up to you to decide what combos of this food you're going to eat every day. You are welcome to share what I make for the others, but if you choose only these things - you're on your own. So decide what you want for dinner and have at making it". That worked for some of my 'foster kids'. At first they loved doing for themselves (with just a bit of help from me where the stove was concerned), but eventually most of them gave up the control issues and started expanding their preferences just so I'd do the cooking for them! Don't know if it will work for you CG and I surely don't envy you your problem. The trick is to not keep on enabling him, and at the same time not letting him starve either.
1 person likes this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 May 08
He's only 7, and doesn't yet know how to cook. We've only just started on how to make his own hot cereal in the microwave, but it still requires my supervision (one of these days I'll actually measure out the milk and that will help him... but for now, I still eye it). Yes, when all of the boys are old enough to do cooking, I'll definitely have them make their own meals. Ideally, they'll each be in charge of one meal a week for the family. But that is still a few years away (I want to get the laundry down pat first lol).
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
10 May 08
Consult his doctor. I say this just to be cautious because I'd worry about a balanced diet. My mom had the same problem with me, though I was only 4. Cottage cheese, pears, and milk was about all I would eat for about a year. The doctor said I was getting protein, starch from the fruit, calcium, sugars, fruits and that was about all I needed. I'm fine at 54 now, and eat a variety of healthy stuff. Mom said I was always picky but a body eats what it needs. He's eating a lot of sugar and starch, you might want to have the doctor check for a deficiency?
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 May 08
The foods he eats are very high starch, yes. For that reason, I won't serve pasta dishes two nights in a row. I try to make foods with milk as much as possible (like with the hot cereal, instead of the water is asks for) so that he can get the extra nutrients from that. Even with the hamburger helper and lipton's sidekicks pastas, I will opt for the ones that need milk for the same reason. When searching for information on picky eaters when he was a toddler, I remember finding that it was better to look at the "well balanced diet" in a span of a week instead of daily. It was certainly less frustrating at mealtimes when doing that. I continue to do that now.
• United States
10 May 08
I have a few suggestions: #1 - Has he been tested for food allergies? Sometimes kids who really dislike a food do so because that food group makes them feel sick, or unhappy or cranky etc. Do that and find our if he has a legitimate reason for not like such a large group of foods. #2 - Does he like any particular fruit or yogurt etc? P.B. sandwiches? He is not too young to start getting his own food when he doesn't want to eat what the family is eating. IE - Alex: "I don't like lasagna" Mom:"Then how about your grab a yogurt and an apple from the fridge and join us at the table." You shouldn't have to make separate meals! #3 - Does he like milk shakes? You could always toss some good quality ice cream (if he can do milk products) or high fat yogurt (not that low-fat tasteless stuff) into a blender with a good quality protein powder and some fruit or fruit juice and fresh fruit. Most kids would love the idea of a milkshake for breakfast!..or dinner. Putting too much pressure on kids to 'eat what I tell you' can end up having them associate food with power and is prime country for eating disorders. However, it is not unreasonable to expect them to try whatever food the family is eating and then get something they like for themselves. 6 years old is not too young to start developing a divers palette - but if he really doesn't want to - then he needs to start figuring out for himself how to feed himself - he's got another 70 years to do that! Hope this helps! Trudy
1 person likes this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 May 08
He won't drink just milk. Nor will he drink chocolate milk or strawberry milk. So his milk intake is in whatever foods I can make with it in it. He won't eat yogurt or apples... if he did, I'd be in heaven! When he complains about being hungry, those are prime examples of what I offer him to eat... foods that are already "made", that don't require cooking or preparing on my part. But he turns them down. From a few of the other suggestions in this discussion, it looks like I'm going to have to start teaching him how to cook some foods on his own. But the stubborn one in me will make sure he does ALL of the work involved in those extra items.. the preparation AND the clean up. I don't want any more extra work than I have to have.
@momalisa65 (1971)
• United States
10 May 08
Personally, I would give him what he will eat. I do that with my son as well. I am also a picky eater so I understand. I make different things for my son and I alot. He will probably gradually try new things. I remember when my son was smaller and he went through a phase of only eating hot dogs. That's it. After months of that, he went onto chicken nuggets. Now he's a teenager. He is tall and thin. He eats more things but not a whole variety like he should. He has never EVER eaten breakfast in the morning before school. No matter what I bought or made for him, he says he cannot eat in the morning or he feels sick. I respect that. On the weekend, he is up for a few hours then he will eat breakfast. That's just the way he is. Remember, even though your son is little, he is still a seperate individual human being with likes and dislikes just like the rest of us. I know a 50 year old woman who is a freind of mine, who will only eat meatloaf, ham, and fish. I NEVER eat meatloaf or ham. So when her and I are together, we eat fish. Lol. One thing I do though, when I want to learn to like something new, like carrots for example, I cooked them and made them sweet, and just put ONE carrot on my plate with my dinner. I didn't really like it that much, but the next time I put one on my dish again, I wanted one more. So I had two that time. And so forth, until I take a normal serving now. I did the same with my son and he likes the sweet carrots now too. Maybe that's something you could try. Just one bite of something along with the other food he likes. He may develop a taste for it. But don't be upset if he doesn't. He's still his own person.
1 person likes this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 May 08
I can't afford to cater to each child's individual likes and dislikes for every meal. I have 3 boys. If I do it for one, I have to do it for all of them, and I have MUCH better things to do with my time (like mylot lol... kidding!). The gradual process is what worked to get him eating the ham. I would give him a few small cut up cubes (one for each year of age), one serving of mashed potatoes, and one serving of broccoli. He could have more spuds as long as he finished everything on his plate. Eventually, he realized that he really did like the ham. However, that option isn't available with all meals.
• United States
11 May 08
I've always had the belief that if you make food an issue, it becomes an issue. My personal way of handling such things was to simply let them eat what they liked but I would NOT make 3 different dinners, etc. to accommodate (within reason). At 7 he's old enough to be doing it just to be a pain in the butt but he knows what he wants. Have what he likes available but don't go out of your way to prepare it for him. If he wants something other than what the rest of the family is eating, fix it himself. You might be surprised how quickly he changes his tune. It kind of sounds to me like he knows you will cater to him so he keeps doing it. Good luck!
1 person likes this
• United States
10 May 08
First I would talk to your doctor. As long as he is healthy I would not give in to him. I was a very very busy mother and cooking a decent healthy meal for my family was important to me. But I would not make a separate meal for a child going through a food phase, if they are hungry enough they will eat what everyone else is eating. Karen I know its tough, watching him but part of that is playing the quilt card too. Before you take anyones advice , talk to his ped, make sure his health is not suffering.
1 person likes this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 May 08
He continues to grow like a week, gets plenty of rest and exercise, and is only really moody when he chooses not to eat what he's offered. I don't feel the need to make a doctor's appointment for him because of this. I had seen his ped when he was an infant and doing this too... and back then (different doctor), I was told to keep on giving him the same foods over and over again... that children, when hungry, will eat whatever is in front of them.
• United States
25 May 08
My son was a picky eater too. I cut his peanut butter sandwich the wrong way once and he wouldn't eat it. Another time I peeled his banana for him and he wouldn't eat it. I never made either of my kids eat anything they didn't want to eat. If they didn't like what I had prepared, and I couldn't talk them into trying it even, then they were free to make something for themselves, as long as they cleaned up the mess. One of the funniest photos I have of my son is when he was 2 or 3 years old, just a toddler, standing in front of the fridge with the door open peering up at all the shelves looking for something to eat. There was a long time when both my kids were living on pizza and pepsi. Gawd, I was a nervous wreck! But they are both still alive and very healthy.
1 person likes this
• United States
12 May 08
My stepson is picky. I am a great cook, but my stepson will not eat anything at my house unless it's junk food. He will say it's "too tangy" and not eat it. I have no idea what the hell he means by this, because by that point he's already picked out anything resembling a vegetable. No tomatoes, nothing green, no skins in the mashed potatoes. He picks at his food at my mom and grandma's houses and gives it dirty looks until I want to smack the holy living sh!t out of him! My mom will offer him a peanut butter (no jelly) sandwich, but my grandma just says "If you don't like it, don't eat it, but don't fix a plate and then waste it. I've cooked all I'm going to, and if you don't want to eat, that's fine, but you aren't getting anything else." And he doesn't. Same thing at my house, but my husband makes enough snacks (popcorn and such) before bed that it doesn't matter if he eats dinner or not. Not like it will kill the kid to do without, though. He's 9 years old, 4'6", and weighs 142 pounds. My mother-in-law will make a huge spread for dinner, and he'll go in, take a look around, and say he doesn't like any of it. She'll make him something different! It drives me crazy! My stepson's mom is the same way. She eats healthy stuff, but he throws such a sh!t fit that she'll eat her own dinner, and make him some ramen noodles or microwave pizza bites. And he's come to expect that everywhere. I sometimes keep a little girl that's almost as picky as he is, and it's very difficult for a babysitter to play the same "what do you want for lunch" games that parents do, especially if there are other children to care for as well. It isn't fair to the child, the caregiver, or the other children. So my advice to you, before it's too late: "If you don't like it, don't eat it, but don't fix a plate and waste it. I've cooked all I'm going to, and if you don't want to eat it, that's fine. But you aren't getting anything else." That includes junk food, snacks, or dessert after dinner. You don't have to stop making foods he likes, or even make them more often, but don't make him anything else or let him make himself something else, either. See how picky he is after a month of that rule!
1 person likes this
• United States
12 May 08
OK - so one more comment on this. I hate to quote Dr.Phil - but one of his questions I really like is "So, how's that working for you?" The defination of insanity is to keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. It might be a good idea to re-read all these comments - taking a close look at those that you DON'T agree with. Perhaps there is something in some of them that will help you and your son get out of the 'food rut' you are in. Change things up a bit - as much as you and he can handle - and maybe you'll see a change in him. Just a thought...
1 person likes this
@sisterjinx (1135)
• United States
10 May 08
My husband would he'll eat when he's hungry enough but I don't believe that. I think you are in a tough situation. I might try and ask him to try one new food every week and give him a reward for doing so. He might find some new foods he likes if he tries this. He will probably grow out this. taste buds change throughout a child's lifetime. What he won't eat now he might like next year. I think I would try and be patient with his eating limitations for now and make some kind of deal with him to try a new food each week. Maybe he can pick something to try or if that doesn't work than you need to. Maybe you can make a family event out of it. Make a new foods night where everyone tries something new. And if everyone tries one new food then they get to plan one supper or pick one desert for the week. I honestly don't know. I hope this helps a little or gives you some ideas.
1 person likes this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 May 08
I remind my boys on a regular basis how taste buds change over time, and that is why it's important to try new foods over again just in case you find your tastes have changed. But Alex is still so stubborn. Sigh!