If your kids won't eat dinner.....

[cruisnfamily]

My kids have to try everything. If they take a few bites and don't like it they don't have to eat it but the only snacks they can have are fruits, crackers, healthy stuff. If they make a decent effort at eating it, then they can have their junky snacks later.

I make exceptions for things that they absolutely will not eat...for example chinese food or chili. They are given a choice before we even sit down at the table of sandwhiches or something similar.

DS doesn't really like tacos or burrittos so now I give him a choice of sandwhich or tacos/burrittos and wouldn't you know, half the time he's now picking to eat the tacos/burritos and the other half a sandwhich. He just wanted to get to decide I guess.

 

[Serena]

My girls aren't picky at all, I don't know where they got that from. I was very picky as a kid. But I decided a long time ago that eating was not a struggle I had to deal with.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

I guess I am a bad mom! I do not require a clean plate, but I withhold dessert. No treat (even applesauce or yogurt) unless DDs eat enough. Since I am the one who fixes the plates, I am the one who determines "enough." Older DD (5 years) has learned that if she doesn't like what mom is serving, she just says, "I don't want dessert tonight." I am OK with that. She can have water, but nothing else that night.

I will add that both DDs are great breakfast and lunch eaters (breakfast I witness; lunch I get reports from teachers on), so I don't sweat dinner. DH and I love spicy food, so on those occasions when I make something that I know DDs won't like, I do make them an alternate meal. And when DH and I go out, it is kid choice for dinner at home. But those are the exceptions, not the rule!!!

 

[KristiKelly]

I require my kids to eat some and always push veggies more. I never require them to "clean their plate". I learned in Weight Watchers after DS was born, that those who grew up hearing "Clean your plate" still do that as adults and leads to obesity. Eat until your full, not until it's gone. Kids need to learn that at an early age.

 

[aprilgail2]

The only veggie my daughter eats are artichokes and corn...Dr said to just leave her and eventually she will come around and eat a more rounded diet and to just make sure she gets her childrens vitamins until she does. When I get home from work, I ask her what she wants for dinner and I cook whatever it is that she wants since she and I eat different things. She gets a cup of soda with dinner because she drinks more than her share of milk throughout the day. She can polish off a gallon of 1 percent milk in a matter of days. I never make her clean her plate for the same reason the above poster gave. That was a big thing in my house, clean your plate clean you plate and both my brother and I are overweight (in fact one week from today I am having gastric banding done)...if she only picks at dinner and is hungry later she gets a sliced apple with some peanut butter to dip the slices in.

 

[Disney Doll]

My mother didn't force u to eat anyhitng, but she din't make any special meals for us. You ate what she was cooking or you were good and hungry for breakfats. There was also no skipping dinner but then getting a snack or dessert later.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Thanks for the really great responses! Some very good ideas listed. I like how Pembo does the bites per age. I do think I need to offer more options during dinner as well. Usually I have 1 meat, 1 veggie, 1 carb, and then Milk of course. Hmmmm, gets me thinking I will be making more food, but giving my kids more choices at that time, might be more helpful.

Thanks a bunch!
Vija

 

[wovenwonder]

Since we use the microwave for re-heats its really not that big of a deal to have lots of choices for us. I often make two or three veggies at the beginning of the week --- knowing that each person likes at least ONE of these. We just put them in microwave dishes and reheat them for a couple nights. Makes everyone happy. Its not alot of work -- but is surely worth it.