OT: My son doesn't eat veggies or fruit

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My son has never tried a piece of fruit. Oddly rejecting all of it from the very beginning.

He had been eating veggies but has this week decided that the last of his veggies--peas, are no longer going to go in his mouth.

Everything is "blahhhh" complete with tongue sticking out and scrunchy face (he has a speech delay so that was his sound before he could say "yuck" which is a fairly new word for him).

He is 2.5.

I have some ideas--but not sure where to begin and what would be too harsh for his age. I really do not intend on him filling up on calorie filler snacks. He is somewhat picky at meals and would survive on peanut butter if we let him.

I am borrowing a book from my friend tomorrow: Sneaky Chef. But honestly I do not hold out much hope.

He was eating veggie cakes for a while from Morning star. But those get pricey and really don't have all that much vegetables in them. So I started backing off of them although they kept him used to a veggie taste.

I really do not want to raise a poor eater. My husband's family was raised on less than healthy meals (catered to their tastes and they don't like lots of veggeis/fruits/healthy things.) My DH is a trooper b/c he has always been willing to model proper behavior to the kids and tolerates the veggies (except for actual onions and celery--those are a no go!)

So we do model for my son. Not sure how to get him to eat the veggies/fruit.

Even recently with toothpaste that he has been totally fine with. He has decided it is disgusting and fights to keep it out of his mouth.

We've got a battle of the wills and I am just looking for some reasonable ideas to get him to eat the "mandatory" veggie/fruit with a meal.

 

[Lstar311]

Oh, I could have written your post! My son rejects fruits and veggies also. I believe that he doesn't like the texture. He will eat bananas sometimes but thats about it. Nothing else for fruit. I bought the freeze dried fruit from an organic store for him and he likes that. Its crunchy so he will tolerate it. Also Costco sells big boxes of freeze dried apple and pear slices. He likes to eat this as well. I keep trying to introduce and reintroduce fruit and just hope that he will start to eat it soon. I'm thinking about making him smoothies w/ fruit, yogurt, and milk. Another idea I have to make ice pops out of fruit. I have a few recipes where you puree some fruit and freeze it.

As for the veggies I try to mix them with other things. For example I put peas in his mac and cheese. He might not eat every pea but at least I know some are going in his mouth. Another favorite food of his is rice so I always chop up veggies very finely and mix it in with the rice. I buy the Knorr rice sides which have veggies in them. I am a picky eater who doesn't love fruits and veggies either but I do try to eat them more now in front of him but I feel like if I don't like something I certainly can't force him to eat it. I also use some bribery which I know isn't the best parenting tool but sometimes it works!

I am hoping some others have some good suggestions too. I know there are people out there who might have a harsher approach to feeding children but I do not want food to become a power struggle. Also, I feel at 2 our kids are still really little for some of the eat it or you don't get anything else until the next meal mentality.

 

[Olivia'sMom]

I have the same problem with DD5. About age 2.5 she stopped eating veggies. I would love some ideas too.

 

[Hannathy]

2 stories- my sister did not eat a single vegetable but corn while growing up and then hit about 25 and now eats more vegetables and varieties than anyone in the family! never drank milk either and still grew up to be a dancer so they will grow up OK

My DS didn't eat any vegetables but potatoes and some rare corn when he was a toddler and at 11 still doesn't eat fruit and only about 3 kinds of vegeables and not very much of them and is perfectly healthy.

He does love potatoes especially mashed so that is how he gets most of his veg. servings.
He also will drink Apple juice so I try to keep that on hand Remember that if they will drink juice that is eating a fruit!!!! it doesn't have to be whole. Some kids will eat applesauce and not apples, form doesn't matter.

so try the juice and keep offering but some people just aren't fruit and veg people.

Now same house same feeding routine and my DD eats every fruit and vegetable known to man!!! so it is all in our makeup from birth I think.

 

[allyphoe]

School lunch. DD6 is technically underweight (<3rd percentile weight for height), and isn't a good sleeper even with a full belly, so I've chosen not to do the "eat or go hungry" thing at home. At school, though, they have what they have, and the only choice is to eat or go hungry. There have been days when she's chosen to go hungry. But after 2 years of preschool and a year of kindergarten, she almost always chooses to eat at least something.

Time. We've had at least one Disney trip where mac-n-cheese and soft pretzels were the only things she'd eat, 4 meals a day, for 2 weeks. The range of things she'll try has gotten significantly wider in the last 6 months - her favorite restaurant food is currently calamari.

The pediatrician told us that if she's getting a multivitamin, not to stress about fruits and veggies. She likes dairy and meat, so gets enough calcium and iron. She eats a reasonable balance of protein / fat / carb. And she self-limits her sweets - she'll hand me back her dessert and say she's had enough sugar.

 

[disneymom2003]

How interesting. I too could have written our post. My son started out eating fruits and veggies but by about 2 he had stopped. I tried to make him eat them but it caused a HUGE problem at dinner..............so I decided I did not want dinner to be unpleasant for him so I stopped nagging him. I continued to fix a balanced meal and let him pick what he wanted (which was not a lot) My family is not big on casseroles so that too posed a problem. Hiding the veggies was not always successful. He would not eat fruit either. Fast forward. he is now 22. About 6 months age is joined a fitness group called Cross Fit. Not he will only eat lean meat AND fruits and vegetables. He has lost 35 pounds and is the healthiest I have ever seen him. Not to mention he is in great shape. ( I work out at a traditional gym and he teases me about that) He is a bit over board telling Me about the unhealthy bread I eat. We laugh about it now and I tease him, but could not be happier. Who knew. All I can say is try to stick his fruit and veggies in what ever but don't make meal time something he dreads. May be some day he too will look to good foods for health.

 

[princessmom29]

I would put a balanced meal in front of him and allow him to choose to eat it or not, but he gets nothing else. He WILL eventually get hungry enough to eat it, and will NOT become malnourished or sick form not eating, unless there is a very severe sensory problem going on here. He more than likely is testing his boundaries and seeing what you will give in to or not, as he was eating the verggies before. It is very common at this age, and it is key that you NOT give in to him. I that approach doens't work after several days to A week I would ask the ped. to check for sensory issues.

 

[princessmom29]

2 stories- my sister did not eat a single vegetable but corn while growing up and then hit about 25 and now eats more vegetables and varieties than anyone in the family! never drank milk either and still grew up to be a dancer so they will grow up OK

My DS didn't eat any vegetables but potatoes and some rare corn when he was a toddler and at 11 still doesn't eat fruit and only about 3 kinds of vegeables and not very much of them and is perfectly healthy.

He does love potatoes especially mashed so that is how he gets most of his veg. servings.
He also will drink Apple juice so I try to keep that on hand Remember that if they will drink juice that is eating a fruit!!!! it doesn't have to be whole. Some kids will eat applesauce and not apples, form doesn't matter.

so try the juice and keep offering but some people just aren't fruit and veg people.

Now same house same feeding routine and my DD eats every fruit and vegetable known to man!!! so it is all in our makeup from birth I think.

MY BBF is a registered dietician. They will tell you that unless you are eating all of the peels white potatos do not count as a veg. They are a starch like bread or rice.

 

[Steph9072]

I have the same issue with my kids. My dd will eat most veggies raw and loves salad. However my son will not eat veggies if he knows they are there. So I have tried to become creative to hide them from him.

I often grate carrots or zucchini into anything I make that has ground meat in it.

Also, our pediatrician suggested Deceptively Delicious cook book it is written by Jessica Seinfeld. I have found it very helpful. There are recipes and ideas of how to incorporate veggies & fruits into yummy dishes. I found it at Sam’s Club. But I have also seen it at Wal-Mart & Target.

http://www.deceptivelydelicious.com/site/

 

[Schmeck]

As long as you are getting a multivitamin into your picky eater every day, don't stress too much on the fruits/veggie stuff. Of course there are some important things in the fruits and veggies besides the usual multivitamin ingredients, like fiber, flavinoids, antioxidants, etc, so your child may become constipated and not have the benefit of the boost to the immune system.

 

[Hannathy]

MY BBF is a registered dietician. They will tell you that unless you are eating all of the peels white potatos do not count as a veg. They are a starch like bread or rice.

My point is I don't care! he drinks juice and is perfectly healthy.

I refuse to make food a battle there are more important things to save the battles for.

 

[disneymom2003]

I would put a balanced meal in front of him and allow him to choose to eat it or not, but he gets nothing else. He WILL eventually get hungry enough to eat it, and will NOT become malnourished or sick form not eating, unless there is a very severe sensory problem going on here. He more than likely is testing his boundaries and seeing what you will give in to or not, as he was eating the verggies before. It is very common at this age, and it is key that you NOT give in to him. I that approach doens't work after several days to A week I would ask the ped. to check for sensory issues.

In theory your idea sounds very good. But in reality is does not always work. I tried that and he did not budge. He DID NOT like veggies and I was not about to make meal time a tug of war with my son. The reality is you have to try different things and see what works for your child. There is not just one way to get a child to eat something he does not like. I am wondering if you have children.

 

[CLR4321]

I would suggest trying a variety of fruits and veggies. I know you mentioned peas...I will say, peas are not that great for you compared to other green veggies such as spinach, broccoli, and zucchini. It would take more time, but have you considered making vegetable muffins? My old day care provider used to make the kids zuccini/carrot/spinach muffins, and they ate those things up like candy! She would sweeten them with Agave nectar, which is a substitute for sugar. Here is a link with nutrition facts: http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/sweet-cactus-farms/blue-agave-nectar I buy the Blue Agave myself. The muffins are very healthy and are the equivalent of a serving of veggies. You really can put a variety of veggies in....the agave will make them taste appealing to the kids. I don't have the recipe, but I am sure that you can find a recipe for zucchini muffins online...and just modify it with the agave and add additional veggies into the recipe. You could even make a large batch and freeze them, and heat them up in the oven for dinner. Don't tell the kids they are veggies, and they will think you are giving them cupcakes!

Aside from this, try other creative means of getting them to eat. If your kids like ranch dressing or another type of dipping sauce, let them use it. Even if it is ketchup...let them at it if they will eat it!

As far as the peas go...just toss them. They aren't worth the trouble.

 

[polynor]

my son has a limited fruit palate - strawberries, grapes, blueberries and bananas. that's it.
as for veggies -- canned green beans. and not the low sodium variety either. won't eat fresh greenbeans or any other beans.

he's 3 and used to eat the other veggies and fruits (and yogurt) when he was a baby but just suddenly stopped. he also won't eat sweets of anykind -- no candy, chocolate, cake, cookies, etc. (so veggie filled muffins don't work for us)

My MIL makes him meatballs that are half ground beef and half ground vegetables -- anything that can go in the food processor gets incorporated -- carrots, zucchini, onions, broccoli, squash, etc. She mixes the stuff together with a little binder and then bakes them. As long as he can't see it -- he doesn't realize he's eating veggies. I do the same thing with his spaghetti sauce -- grind up all sorts of veggies and cook it in the sauce.
so he gets it that way.

we've also made recent deals with him at dinner that he has to try at least one bite of everything or no playing Thomas the train, bikeriding, watching a video etc. a lot of times he'd rather give up the other item and eat it -- but that's ok.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I would put a balanced meal in front of him and allow him to choose to eat it or not, but he gets nothing else. He WILL eventually get hungry enough to eat it, and will NOT become malnourished or sick form not eating, unless there is a very severe sensory problem going on here. He more than likely is testing his boundaries and seeing what you will give in to or not, as he was eating the verggies before. It is very common at this age, and it is key that you NOT give in to him. I that approach doens't work after several days to A week I would ask the ped. to check for sensory issues.

Don't blindly trust a pediatrician to be knowledgable in the area of sensory disorders. DD was a poor eater from the time she turned 1 until just a few months ago, and she's almost 6. Her former pediatrician on two separate occassions more or less accused me of deliberately starving DD because she wasn't gaining weight. Ironically, this was at the same time I was begging him to help me figure out why DD wouldn't eat. Unfortunately, our issues weren't limited to just fruits and veggies, but also to meats. Milk was the only source of calories she would regularly take in. She would go for days without eating if I didn't offer her just what she wanted. Every meal turned into a battle. We started working with a psychologist a couple years ago because she had some serious behavior problems outside of the eating issues, and it turns out she is bipolar and has some sensory perception issues. Both disorders were impacting what and how much she would eat. Now that we are treating the pyschological disorders, her eating has vastly improved.

I'll offer one suggestion that I haven't seen yet. Depending on where you live, it might be the wrong time of the year for this, but have your child help you grow a vegetable garden. DD decided a year ago that she liked carrots if they had the green tops still attached. I was buying her the carrots from the grocery, but this past spring, we planted a vegetable garden together. She was really excited to see the seeds sprout and grow. In the evenings when we got home, the first thing she wanted to do was check on the garden. She pulls the carrots from the ground and will chomp them down as soon as I clean them up. She's also eaten green beans and lettuce from the garden. I haven't been able to get her to eat tomatoes yet, but maybe next year.

 

[MommyBoo!]

To go along with the previous poster's suggestion, kids are more likely to eat what they help cook. All three of my kids (14, 12 and 5) cook. The older two cook full meals. The youngest does not work with knives or the stove but there is plenty that she can do to help.

They have all been helping in the kitchen since they were very little. They really enjoy it and it is fun to make and eat a meal where everyone in the family has contributed. It's also awesome when I have a heavy work week and the kids offer to make dinner.

Another poster was correct about the form of food too. Sometimes, you just need to find the form that they will eat. When dd12 was younger, she loved apples but hated applesauce. My kids will eat some veggies raw but not cooked and vice versa.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

I think Maggie'sMom and Hannathy hit upon what worked for my kids when they went through that veggie/fruit-hating stage.

When my guys got involved in the prep, they didn't mind eating it at all. Growing a garden, making dinner...or their favorite, playing with their food. We'd make edible "play dough" from pb/honey/oats, and make it into monsters for them to decorate with bits of broccoli hair or carrot chip noses or whatever. Their favorite snack when they were tots were my famous apple carousels. I'm a total geek, though, so making critters out of fruits/veggies was probably as much fun for me as it was for them. It also doesn't hurt that I eat every veggie and fruit I can get my hands on, too. Love them!

Also, are there other kids your child can hang out with (playgroups, playdates, childcare, whatever)? If my guys saw their buds eating veggies, they'd pick them up and eat 'em too like it was no biggie. Gotta love peer pressure (finally -- it works for us!).

I also once read that as long as a kid's diet balances out over a certain period (say, two weeks?), he'll be just fine. He doesn't really need to get a completely balanced diet every single day.

Good luck!

 

[DawnM]

Honestly, I had to just get some tough love and tough it out. My middle son hates veggies and doesn't care for fruit much either if given a CHOICE! I no longer give a choice!

I serve fresh salad almost every night and they HAVE to eat that FIRST! I also serve fruit at least one meal a day.

After YEARS of this my 9 year old will still say, "Do I HAVE to eat this?" ARGH! Yes, same answer I have given for SIX YEARS!

They do not get other food until said food is eaten, period.

They now eat it.

There are some things they really don't like and I try to not make them eat things they hate. I personally have my own list of foods I don't like so I know how that is. I don't serve brussel sprouts or kale because I don't like them.

Dawn

 

[luvsJack]

The most important thing is not to make food a battle. The more of an issue you make of it, the less likely he is to eat the food.

You want to teach life long good eating habits, not win a fight today.

 

[patchchild]

I serve veggies first. Somehow, kids are always starved about 10 minutes before dinner is going to hit the table. I pull out apples, carrots, peas, celery, green beans, cucumber, anything fruit or vegetable, as an appetizer. Somehow, they're gone by the time food gets to the table.