Picky Eater

[WDWorBUST]

My DD (4 1/2) has gotten pickier with her eating lately. I am putting my foot down with some things obviously and giving her healthy options instead in case she is really hungry (Example: "Mommy can I have a brownie?" - no but you can have a string cheese). So I'm trying to find some ways to "sneak" some nutrition into some of the things she really likes. For example she loves a pasta salad I make - it's garden rotini, hidden valley ranch dressing, black olives, and bacon pieces. Does anyone have any ideas on how to sneak some extra protein in? Last night we were having ribs, pasta salad, and baked beans....she wouldn't touch the beans or meat but ate seconds of pasta. I want her to eat - she is very active - but I want to make sure she is getting the nutrition she needs too. So anyone have any ideas? (pancakes and pizza are a couple of other things I could use some added nutrition ideas on).

 

[Mouse House Mama]

She's 4- can't you tell her that she has to take 4 small bites of meat before her pasta? I put fruit in our pancakes and the kids love them. Have her help you make pizza from scratch and give her tons of choices for toppings and let her make it. I have found that if the kids help make it they usually will eat some of it. I wouldn't worry though. A lot of kids go through that phase.

 

[sunnyday123]

DD wasn't picky when she was little, she just didn't eat. A banana was too much for her. Involving them in the making or preparing is a good idea, and it get's them helping without them know it! I hid stuff in her food. Put squash in her spaghetti sauce ( those little baby food jars they start out on ). I also hid diced green beans in her tuna melts ( that was really time consuming) and then we progressed to raisins in her tuna,because she decided she didn't like tuna melts anymore. She still eats tuna like that. We call it Tuna Fish with Bugs. It works. Also, peanut butter on a spoon has a ton of protein and add powdered milk to her milk. Shoot for quality not quantity. Strawberries, etc. Broccoli with cheese sauce ( let her melt the cheese in the microwave) If you let them think they are in control, it helps. Bribery also worked. "you can have a milkshake after dinner" was a common phrase in our house! Just don't force her, kids change their tastes as they grow, but if you try to force food on her, it's all over. You can also bake stuff with applesauce and carrots. Just don't try to tell her prunes are really big raisins. She won't buy it, trust me.

 

[WDWorBUST]

I suppose I could make her eat what I want her to....but I don't want food to be an issue for her. I am overweight and struggling to do better myself and I don't want her to have to worry about it - I want eating healthy to be natural for her. My nephews were always forced to eat and although they are both very tall they are both significantly overweight. So my goal is to let her be picky within reason and try and add nutritional value to what she does eat.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I suppose I could make her eat what I want her to....but I don't want food to be an issue for her. I am overweight and struggling to do better myself and I don't want her to have to worry about it - I want eating healthy to be natural for her. My nephews were always forced to eat and although they are both very tall they are both significantly overweight. So my goal is to let her be picky within reason and try and add nutritional value to what she does eat.

I totally understand what you are saying. I too refuse to make food an issue in our house but I do insist that they try something at least once. If they don't like it then they don't have to finish more than the bite that is in their mouth. Just keep offering up different things. Kids taste buds are very sensitive so things taste different to them. That is why I will only make them try different foods and then they decide if they like them or not. I never get mad or upset if they don't like something. Many times they are surprised that they actually do like it!

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Try this book.

http://www.deceptivelydelicious.com/site/about-the-author.php

 

[fenfur]

Can you buy whole wheat pasta? or low carb pasta? I think these have more protein than regular pasta. We have started with our VERY picky 5 year old (he actually has a feeding tube, since he 2 1/2 years old, he was THAT picky of a eater and other issues) but we have started Try One New Food a day and usually we give a choice so he feels like he has control or let him pick what meal to try something, when they feel like they are in control (by giving them choices) then they tend to do better.

 

[Stephres]

I think it is important to remember two things: they taste buds are way more sensitive than ours and their stomachs are way smaller too. Don't get caught in the trap of trying to feed her too much at one time: that just leads to frustration. It also takes about 10 tries of a food for a kid to decide if she likes it or not. I always give small portions with two foods that I know she likes and one new one. If she tries the new (and this might be new for the 6th or 7th time, lol) then she can have seconds on the favorites.

Last night she had spaghetti, one turkey meatball and baby carrots. At first she said she wasn't going to eat the meatball and only ate the other foods. After a while she was still hungry and tried the meatball. She said, mom, how did you know I liked this now? I was thinking because I have tried it a bunch of times and had to get lucky sooner or later, lol!

I think it's important not to worry too much or it can turn into a control issue between you and the kid. Good luck!

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

I found out years ago that if you shred zucchini, it pretty much disappears in whatever dish you mix it into! Spaghetti sauce, casseroles, even baked goods got their shredded squash.

 

[NJDisneyGal]

I found out years ago that if you shred zucchini, it pretty much disappears in whatever dish you mix it into! Spaghetti sauce, casseroles, even baked goods got their shredded squash.

I totally agree with this. You can do wonders with shredded veggies. You could shred some carrots in your pasta salad. You can steam them first to soften them if texture is an issue. You can sneak a bunch of shredded veggies in pizza, just put them under the cheese. Instead of brownies, you can make some zucchini muffins. You can make them with whole wheat flour and it's even better. Hmm, that's all I can think of for now.

 

[WDWorBUST]

Thanks for all the ideas. The strangest thing to me is I'll give her dinner and she'll eat what she likes and then says she's done. Then promptly asks for a brownie, ice cream, etc. I do allow her to have a Little Debbie brownie after dinner - well it's actually half a one. And I do let her have ice cream (in moderation). But I definitely limit those things. I do think part of it right now is she is going through a growth spurt again and she is just hungrier - it's just so hard. She is 43 inches tall and 43 pounds right now and very proportionate. She does gymnastics and takes dance. She swims almost every day.

Oh....and I do make her at least take one bite of everything on her plate....but after that she doesn't have to eat it if she doesn't want to. She is so strange though....she'll tell me she doesn't like cheese. She won't eat it on burgers, pigs in a blanket, sandwiches, etc....but she loves string cheese. And last night I made nachos - which she doesn't like - and she asked for some shredded cheese in a bowl. And she ate it. It's definitely a challenge.

I will just take from all these posts that she is normal and keep offering her new things and just requiring her to taste them at least.

She does take vitamins every day and overall I'd say she is getting good nutrition so I'll just quit worrying so much about it.

 

[chrissiecutie]

My son is a difficult eater as well! What works for us is the toddler plates. You know the ones that have a separate space for each thing?? We have them in spiderman, mickey, lightening mcqueen, dump trucks and more. He gets to pick out his plate every day for lunch and dinner and we discuss what to fill each space with. I try and find the plates that have one large section and then at least 3 smaller sections. So we put a sugar free wheat bread jelly sand (one of his favs)or mac& cheese, rice w/butter, pasta, etc in the big space. Yogurt, prunes (we call them prune candy!!), any canned fruit (rinsed and drained of course), carrots, green beans, dried fruit (check out Costo's antioxident blend-yummy!), fresh fruit, unsweetened applesauce, cheese slices, etc in the smaller spaces.

Also, if I give him pasta (his fav) I always put half the portion I would allow onto his plate. Since he always asks for seconds, I can feel good about giving him seconds, since I only gave him half a portion to begin with. And, I will only give him seconds after he's eaten everything else. Since the "everything else" is stuff I know he likes and we work on filling the plate together, there are usually no problems. If he says he doesn't like it, I say fine, you don't have to eat it. But I stick to my guns, no seconds on the "good stuff". He'll either eat it or take his plate to the kitchen and be all done. I never use dessert as a bribe. Dessert is a once in a while special treat in our home. I was raised this way and I have no food issues (that I know of!) and it makes mealtime very easy in our house.

Traveling is usually easy as well. He doesn't eat most of the food served in restaurants so I pack his food in one of his lunch boxes and he eats it there. When we do eat out, I try and put a special treat in the lunch box for after he's done eating. I never "make" him eat everything or force him to "just try it". I leave him alone, expose him to good foods and let him make the decision. I honestly believe that kids (and adults too!) will eat junk over good foods if it's available. I know I would! So I don't make it available. No Little Debbie's, fruit snacks, cookies, chips, french fries, ice cream, etc live in my home. These types of foods are for treats and honestly, most of the time he doesn't finish them anyways! His taste buds are not accustomed to eating this type of food (which is why we have a hard time eating at restaurants!). Sorry to go off here...each home is different as is each child. But we started this at an early age and it's really worked for us. Food is a non issue, exactly as it should be, IMO.

 

[MJAJmom]

Picky eaters in my house too. The only other thing to add is lots of milkshakes and smoothies. I can put lots of fruits and yogart in the smoothies. I did sneak in some protien powder a few times too.

 

[amez]

I put almonds in my magic bullet and then add them to pancakes--my kids are good eaters (most of the time) but that is a easy way just to add some protein. i'll also use some applesause like someone else suggested.

My kids love Broccoli mixed with mac and cheese. I've also pureed califlower (cooked) and mixed it in mac n cheese. Can't tell it's there at all.

W/ any red sauce (pizza, speghetti etc) you can add a little canned pumpkin or cooked pureed carrots, sweet potatoes etc. It really doesn't change the taste at all. even if you just pick up small jars of baby food to dump in while cooking.

You can add wheat germ to many many things (cookies, brownies pancakes etc.) If the recipe I'm using calls for a cup of flour I use about 1/3 white, 1/3 wheat and 1/3 wheat germ. My kids can't tell the difference--you can also start off using more white (like 1/2 cup white, 1/4 wheat, 1/4 wheat germ)

 

[DevilDuckie]

Thanks for all the ideas. The strangest thing to me is I'll give her dinner and she'll eat what she likes and then says she's done. Then promptly asks for a brownie, ice cream, etc.

Not strange at all- what possible incentive does whe have for eating her healthy food if she knows she can just have junk later anyway?

Without making it a huge issue you can institute a rule that seconds and dessert are for people who ate dinner. My son didn't *have* to eat things he didn't want to but he darn sure didn't get dessert if he didn't eat reasonable amounts of what I put in front of him.

 

[DevilDuckie]

She is so strange though....she'll tell me she doesn't like cheese. She won't eat it on burgers, pigs in a blanket, sandwiches, etc....but she loves string cheese. And last night I made nachos - which she doesn't like - and she asked for some shredded cheese in a bowl. And she ate it.

My guess is that she doesn't like *melted* cheese or *cheddar* cheese or something like that but at 4 is not fully cognizant of the need to specify that.