OT: Anyone else have a picky eater?

[KerriMc]

Hello

I just wondered how many of you have picky eaters? I have a two and half year old dd that I seriously wonder how we produced her!!!!! She is so picky and has been since the beginning. Her older sister is awesome. She can be talked into trying anything and usually likes it. Her younger sister on the other hand is brutal!!! Please tell me it is the age and it will get better! I'm totally frustrated with her.

All she will eat is noodles (spaghetti, macaroni, tortellini, etc), corn, muffins (some kinds), toast, bagels, crackers peanut butter or cheez whiz sandwiches, yogurt, milk, juice, cheese, and fruit. (Oh and don't forget that she loves cookies and anything chocolate ... THIS she definitely inherited from daddy!!). She is a carb addict already

I can't get her to eat ANY meat ... no chicken fingers or even nuggets!! The only meat she ever ate was a piece of breaded halibut I baked in the oven. I then proceeded to make it again, so excited that she had meat ... and you guessed it ... she turned her nose up. I make spaghetti with meat sauce just so she'll get some meat in her. She does not like veggies, except for corn. When we serve a meal, I don't make something different for her, but she just won't eat anything. Should I offer each item at dinner or just one thing? Is this worth battling or just going along hoping she gradually changes or matures?

I put her on a multi-vitamin as I am worried she just doesn't get what she needs. So what do you do? How do you handle your picky eater? Neither of us are picky, nor is my older dd ... it seems from the list above that she eats a variety, but it really isn't ... not a veggie in sight or meat ... plus only specific fruit. ARRRRGGGHHH!!!!

Any ideas or suggestions appreciated ...
Kerri

p.s. Oh ... and did I mention she is a very stubborn and independent little person that wants to do her own thing!!!!

 

[lovesdumbo]

I have one of those independent girls-just turned 3 in Jan. So independent that she had to have speech therapy because she didn't want to copy anyone and speech is all mimic.

On our last 7 night Disney trip she ate maybe 5 meals the whole trip. 2 hot dog meals, 2 chicken nugget meals, and 2 hard boiled eggs at Sunshine Seasons at Land in Epcot for lunch one day. She also wouldn't drink any milk at Disney and never drinks juice. Luckily she does drink water.

At home she LOVES eggs, cheese-but only velveeta slices, cheerios, grilled cheese, hot dogs, pasta, mac & cheese, brocoli, canned beans and carrots (not fresh ones I cook for her), she just started eating PB&J, bread & butter, fruit candies (we figure she's getting her vitamin C from those). She used to eat canned peaches and mandarin oranges but she's in a really picky stage lately. We started giving her Pooh vitamins but it took lots of tries for her to take them. She's so strong willed that she won't eat if she doesn't like the plate even if its something she loves. My DS (now 5) went through a stage where he was bearly eating any solid food at all-just drinking milk. He's now a really great eater and will try anything. My oldest DD(6 1/2) is still a picky eater-doesn't like textures but is so much better than she was at 2 1/2 to 3. At Disney she wouldn't even try a milk shake because she had never had one. Can she really be my child?

Sorry I guess I don't have any advice but just wanted to let you know you're not alone.

 

[lovesdumbo]

WOW-I just saw your countdown. Have a great trip!!! I really stressed about what my DD ate at Disney but I shouldn't have. She was fine.

 

[Karebear]

This sounds just like my son--he is 2 1/2. He doesn't like meat--except for hotdogs nor does he like his veggies. My pediatrician told me to just serve him dinner and have him get down from the table if he doesn't like it. She said that at age 2 1/2 it is more about him asserting controll than not liking certain foods. He love yogurt, so now I tell him "finish your dinner and you can have yogurt". It seems to be working as he will eat the dinner in order to get the yogurt. Hopefully, this will continue to work!

 

[hezreck]

My DD was not too picky when she was your child's age, but now that she is 8 she is extremely picky! She would eat only cookies and sweet if I would let her. Last trip to Disney when she saw 6, she only ate the chicken nugget kids meals. The morning of day 4 she threw up first thing in the morning. I am certain it is because she wasn't eating right, and we were skipping meals.
This trip, we are getting the dining plan, and she has promised she will try new foods and eat better, or she doesn't get the dessert that comes with the plan. Disney is such an exciting place and so much to do, that sometimes you get caught up in it and forget to eat or grab some snack and not eat anything normal. I have decided this time, we are not going to do this. Hopefully with the dining plan, since we have to plan our meals we will not have the same problems as last time.

About you child being so picky, everything I read when my DD was little said a kid will not starve themselves and they will eat when they are hungry. As long as you are giving them vitamins, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Have a great trip!!

 

[idreamofdisney24/7]

Wait till they get older..hopefully, they change! Mine hasn't.
My daughter is 11..she will only eat chicken fingers when we go out to dinner. She will eat a hot dog from one rest. but will NOT eat a hot dog at home.. every night, she only wants pasta with butter!! she will eat chicken-but, very little.. no meat at all! We laugh and call her a chickatarian. We threatened her that she needs to expand her appetite for Disney since we have to get her the adult dining plan.. Also, she won't eat breakfast..only fruity pebbles or EGGo frozen pancakes... it's just awful!!!

 

[Tink_Fan]

I have a 9 year old who is still a picky eater! She gets that from Dad though, I have never seen anyone so picky in my life. Especially a man, but alas our daughter has taken after him! It does make it tough when you are on vacation, we have a rule that she will not live on chicken fingers!

 

[Big J]

I'm not sure if my 2.5 DD has eaten, ever.

 

[tessqt]

When my dd was your dd's age she ate almost anything. Now at almost 9 her menu items consist of -


white rice with butter and salt
plain spag with butter and salt
mac & cheese
plain cheese sandwiches or grilled
cheese on crackers
Cheeseburgers
I tell her she's going to turn into a piece of cheese

french fries
eggs
waffles
bacon (depends on how it's cooked)
some cereals in a bag without milk
occasional hot dog
She likes all potatoes except mashed, will eat the cooked potatoes before mashed!
corn on the cob only and only veggie
occasional chick nuggets
Does like fruit

My dh is getting tired of the same old, same old!!

I don't have any advice other than make her try something once, my ds's pre-school teacher called them "no thank you bites".

Good luck, you are not alone!!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Also, she won't eat breakfast..

That is my oldest DD(6 1/2). Even as an infant she had very little interest in her bottle in the morning. Now its a struggle to get her to eat anything before school. And if there is anything worrying her she won't eat either. When we went to Disney last year we left the house at 8:30. She wouldn't eat at home. Got the airport by 9:30, flew out at 11:30, landed at 2:00. She wouldn't eat anything til we were in the town car on the way to the hotel. She is her father's daughter. I never NOT eat.

 

[new_mouser]

Mine ate fine until she started preschool and heard other kids label foods - particulary her favorite vegetables - yucky. These days there are foods she'll eat, but you never know what day of the week she'll like/dislike something. However, when eating out, there always seems to be something that she'll eat. I figure as long as she's growing up, not out, I don't worry about it.

 

[Schmeck]

DD12 is the picky eater at our house - her first trip to WDW (age 2 1/2) she survived on cheerios, french fries (thank the McDonald's god for that stand in MK) and fruit. She survived, but I was getting sick thinking of what she was eating!

She has been a vegetarian since the age of 2, eating lots of raw veggies, cooked peas, green beans and corn, tons of fruit, pasta, white rice, and french fries. Most of her protein comes from dairy, although she used to eat tofu out of the package

She's on the small, thin side for her age, but she is strong and healthy. I worry about her bone strength, but she dances 4+ days a week, and gets lots of calcium. She's never broken a bone, heals quickly, and is doing fantastic in school, so I guess she's OK. But I wish she'd at least eat some fish or chicken...

I really don't think they outgrow this - I can see her in college, eating ramen noodles (without the spice pack) or plain pasta with salt, with a salad (no dressing) on the side.

Luckily, WDW has plenty of options for our picky kids!

 

[Calliaz]

I have a just-3 picky eater; however, his pickiness comes from dysphagia (a problem with eating). His mouth and tongue aren't coordinated correctly with his brain. Apparently, some kids that are very picky eaters are actually dysphagic.

A book I love is _How to Get Your Child to Eat, But Not Too Much_ by Ellen Sater (sp?). It has great advice, IMHO.

 

[flminivanmama]

I'm not sure if my 2.5 DD has eaten, ever.

we always say my three boys "exist on air" but I like your response!

 

[NotUrsula]

A lot of so-called picky eaters are people with sensory issues; I'm one of them. I just gag on certain food textures, and I am also super sensitive to certain food odors -- I won't allow cruciferous vegetables in my house at all; if DH wants broccoli he can eat it at a restaurant when I'm NOT present! Fruits that are "slippery" like peaches are also on my no list: nasty texture. Children with this issue tend to like their dishes separate, so that they can better control what textures hit their mouths at a given time.

One of the biggest mistakes that well-meaning people tend to make with people like me is to assume that we only want bland food. That is often wrong; we are usually fine with very strong flavours as long as the texture is not a problem. I just love salsa if you puree it first, but chunky is a no-go.
While I love spicy foods, I find that excessive salt makes me feel ill. Be sure that you are not over-salting the foods you give to "picky" eaters.

BTW, DS has followed largely in my footsteps on food, but has been influenced by other children to go off things that he used to like, most notably green beans. The big shock was when the little garlic-muncher suddenly decided that spicy foods were bad. It turns out that I had my MIL to thank for that one; she told him that spicy foods would make him sick. It took him 4 years to get brave enough to eat them again. (He had reflux when he was little and tends to avoid anything he associates with episodes, which is mostly fruit.)

BTW, DS is not quite 9, is just shy of 5 ft. tall and weighs 63 lbs soaking wet. He's also healthy as a horse and nearly as strong; he can easily lift more than his body weight. (Not weight-lifting, of course.)

 

[abcboys]

Sounds like you are describing my 3 year old DS. Dries me crazy. He will eat no veggies at all and they literally make him gag!! I've just about given up on making him eat veggies so I just try to make some/most of what he does eat healthy. I buy him whole wheat bread and he eats that instead of white and doesn't bat an eye. I buy jelly that's all fruit and no sugar. I try to get him to try different fruits since they at least don't gag him. He'll try cantaloupe, apples, and grapes. He does eat yogurt and different rices. When we go on car trips I try to pack snacks like cheerios or quaker oat squares cereal that he does like.

He does eat his share of junk food. Just tonight I was giving my boys a lecture of the starving childrens in the world that would be happy to have hot food. My 7 year old said he likes hot food, just not the hot food I made for supper.

 

[Our 2 Princesses]

My 10 yr old daughter is the pickiest kid I've ever met! I am so glad to hear there are other children thriving even if they are picky. My dd will eat no fruit and only mashed potatoes and chili beans for vegs.She will drink some juice though (like Juicy Juice) and I have her on very good vitamins. I have tried everything to get her to eat through the years, read all the books and finally I decided to stop fighting with her about it. It does no good.
I also think her problem is textures. One time a few years ago, I was eating grapes and she asked for one. I almost fainted away from shock but acted like it was no big deal and let her pick one. She put it in her mouth, took one slight bite and immediately threw up!
Oh, and don't you love the books and magazine articles about picky children? Tell them brocolli is a tree and they'll gobble it right up! Yeah, right!!
Thankfully my second daughter eats so wondefully. Lots of fruits and veggies! I felt like I died and went to heaven when I had her!

 

[lovesdumbo]

A lot of so-called picky eaters are people with sensory issues; I'm one of them. I just gag on certain food textures, and I am also super sensitive to certain food odors -- I won't allow cruciferous vegetables in my house at all; if DH wants broccoli he can eat it at a restaurant when I'm NOT present! Fruits that are "slippery" like peaches are also on my no list: nasty texture. Children with this issue tend to like their dishes separate, so that they can better control what textures hit their mouths at a given time.

One of the biggest mistakes that well-meaning people tend to make with people like me is to assume that we only want bland food. That is often wrong; we are usually fine with very strong flavours as long as the texture is not a problem. I just love salsa if you puree it first, but chunky is a no-go.
While I love spicy foods, I find that excessive salt makes me feel ill. Be sure that you are not over-salting the foods you give to "picky" eaters.

BTW, DS has followed largely in my footsteps on food, but has been influenced by other children to go off things that he used to like, most notably green beans. The big shock was when the little garlic-muncher suddenly decided that spicy foods were bad. It turns out that I had my MIL to thank for that one; she told him that spicy foods would make him sick. It took him 4 years to get brave enough to eat them again. (He had reflux when he was little and tends to avoid anything he associates with episodes, which is mostly fruit.)

BTW, DS is not quite 9, is just shy of 5 ft. tall and weighs 63 lbs soaking wet. He's also healthy as a horse and nearly as strong; he can easily lift more than his body weight. (Not weight-lifting, of course.)

That is definately my oldest. When she was 9 months old she would vomit on 1/2 a cheerio. She won't eat peaches but does love brocoli. She also suprises me with her love of salami. I would think she'd have a problem with that texture.

Last night my youngest had one of current favorites-fish sticks but wouldn't try mash potato "I can't like THAT!".

 

[NikP]

Picky eaters ahh!! My son is 5 and he has been picky eater since he was 6 months old. It has been suggested that it might be a sensory issue. At even six months he would gag when he touched a Cherrio. Now if I make him try something new he will throw up at the dinner table. It has gotten to the point that I make him clean it up and try it again. You would not know that he is picky from his size. He is over 4ft and 60 Lbs. He has always been big. He survives on Crackers, bread, banana, some chicken, apples and carrots. He will even stress about food. He does not want to go to bithday parties, because he is afraid that they will make him eat something. (He doesn't eat cake because of the frosting) We love him lots, but this drives us nuts.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

Your child's diet realy seems pretty typical for a two year old. It contains a lot of healthy food choices. My DS ate no meat at all till he was at least 6. Our dr said that kids really do not need a lot of meat.Dr also told us that fruit is almost as good as most vegtables.
She get a lot of the same things from her milk and cheese. DS has not out grown being picky but he has gotten a little better and will sometimes try new stuff but he is almost 14.Sorry. What I have always done is to make sure that there is one item on the table that he likes and leave it at that. If we have leftovers of a food he does not like the next night, I do fix him something different. AS for breakfast, DS would eat it only if it was 11:00 am or later. Big problem when he started school. WE compomised at 1/2 a poptart, only strawberry! We almost panicked once when the store was out the same time we were!!! That was his only breakfast for years and often is still
what he eats!!
Fact is that picky kids do grow up just fine! You can do more damage by making a too big a deal of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jordan's mom