Ds1 27 months only snacks won't eat a proper meal.

[Racheyg]

I need some help/advice ds1 is 27 months and was a good eater, easy to wean and would eat anything. For the past year he has stopped eating meat and chicken. He has now even started to turn his nose up at veg (which he used to love) if I let him he would live off fruit and cereal. I'm at a loss on how to keep him healthy.

He is always so distracted and would rather play than sit and eat. As he goes to bed at 19.00 it's difficult for us to eat together as oh doesn't get in till 6ish.

Anyone got ideas or meals that I could try ds1 on?

[MajesticSeaFlapFlap]

So he's 2?

Try proper meals with no snacks?

[RitaConnors]

I would do the same as Majestic.

Or at least give his the components of meals as snacks.

My friend constantly feeds her toddler and then she is upset when he doesn't eat his meals.

I wouldn't want to eat my dinner if I'd just had an apple.

[RabbitSaysWoof]

I agree with pp's. I think snacks are so overrated for toddlers I don't think they have the ability to over eat, and proper meals with grazing combined is probably over eating for most people.

[slightlyconfused85]

Don't let him graze- only offer him substantial, healthy food at mealtimes, sitting at the table so as not to get distracted.
If he's not into meat have you tried fish? It's always popular with my Dd in many formats (fish pie, breaded fish, fish pastas). Also homemade pizza- he could make it with you, choose his topping and then sit down to eat his creation.

[Racheyg]

Thanks all. He is a typical grazer and thinking about it he leaves his lunch until after his nap (usually wakes up about 14.30/15.00) he does eat at his table but maybe it would help if we all ate together? Is eating at 18.30 too late if he goes to bed at 19.00? Should I make his bed time later?

At the moment he eats dinner at 17.00

He does it fish and likes fish pie.

[fifthcupofcoffee]

I don't think you should worry too much. I think they all go through phases (even very long ones) of not liking things or not eating much. My step mother actively advised me to offer lots of snack size food all the time when weaning DS1. I didn't quite follow that advice because I also agree with earlier posts that a substantial meal is preferable. With my DS, I realised that he was getting bored at meal times so we often read a story or two whilst we eat. That way I can also refuse to rurn the page until he takes another mouthful. Maybe not ideal but at 2, they can hardly hold a fascinating conversation whilst they eat, as many adults like to do...

[Iguessyourestuckwithme]

What time are his meals?

My almost 2 year old has

7 breakfast
10 a breadstick
12.30/1 lunch
3 a rice cake
5/5.30 dinner

[poocatcherchampion]

Cut out the snacks and give him normal meals.

[Blueberry234]

Mine is 15 months I give
0745 breakfast
12 lunch
1400 very occasional breadstick
1700 dinner

I don't like snacks as my first never ate a decent meal if he snacked

[slightlyconfused85]

I think 5pm is good a good time for dinner with a 7pm bedtime. My dc eat at 5 before dh gets home because they are too tired to eat much later. I am not hungry this early but will sit down with them and chat to them about whatever and maybe have a cuppa or some fruit while they eat so they're not lonely or messing about.
Also remember it'll be a phase! Just offer food at mealtimes and not much Inbetween and it'll work in the end!

[Racheyg]

You guys are right I do let him snack too much. I love to cook him fresh healthy meals but I end up throwing them away and buckling and making him beans on toast.

He eats breakfast at 8.00, fruit at 10.00, lunch at 12.00 (although wil normally leave this till after his nap) dinner 16.30/17.00 and a biscuit with milk before bed.

[WhetherOrNot]

27 months makes him sound like a baby, when in fact he is 2 1/4 years old. Old enough for you to start putting your foot down when it comes to eating.

[rainbowunicorn]

I can never understand these threads (no offence intended to the OP) where people come on and say my child won't eat dinner, lunch etc. They then go on to say they eat loads of snacks, fruit etc. Surely it is obvious don't give the snacks and they will be hungry for the meals.

[slightlyconfused85]

Op 'buckling and giving him beans on toast' is another issue entirely. He will eat - but is holding out for alternatives which you are giving.

[RabbitSaysWoof]

I would agree with you rainbow but I can see where it comes from.
I've never given my child snacks and I've nannied for dc who don't snack, all very healthy children who eat pretty much what they are given and don't think of asking for food in between meals, but the attitude of other people is that they are missing out on something they need.
A friend of mine even made up a scare baby (who didn't develop physically because the poor child's stupid Mother didn't realise she needed more than just her three meals a day plus milk) the made up kid wasn't even 1 apparently but the lack of breadsticks and rice cakes in its diet was detrimental until the hv pointed out the error of the neglectful Mother's ways.
It's a widespread idea that it's a need, and the companies marketing individually wrapped grab and unwrap food just perpetuate it even more, you can't go anywhere with a baby or toddler without them being offered food, and I think when the toddler years hit and their appitites slow right down snacking is already a habit by then (or rather the giving out of snacks is).
I really do think you can be made to feel like you are doing something wrong if you don't go for the little and often idea, people still talk of 'tiny tummies' refering to young children as if it were still the newborn period and the idea of a bit of hunger running up to a meal is frowned upon I honestly know a few people who would give their dc a banana or a couple of biscuits while they are cooking a main meal, then try to coax then into eating the meal itself.

[Racheyg]

whether I know how old he is and that he isn't a baby. I do put my foot down but sometimes if he hasn't eaten I do end up giving him beans as I would rather he eat.

The reason I started snacks, I was following what friends and family did as he was my 1st.

I am taking on board all your advice and I hope to see an improvement in his dinner time appetite x

[Babbafish]

Just stop the snacking!!!! It's really really simple !

[slightlyconfused85]

There's nothing wrong with healthy anacks for a hungry child as long as they're eating meals. If he's not then it's best to stop so he is more inclined to eat. I know difficult not to offer alternatives but he will learn to hold out for beans at his age if you're not persistent with offering the meals you are preparing. He won't starve himself

[WhetherOrNot]

So YOU might whether I know how old he is and that he isn't a baby. But WE don't. You might still be treating him like a baby baby in your eyes if you are still talking about him in months when it should be years Racheyg !!

[NickyEds]

Ds is 22 months (is that allowed??) , so nearly two and he has;
7.00-Breakfast
10.00-snack
12-12.30- lunch
3- sometimes snack
5.30- Tea
I used to just give him an afternoon snack automatically and he started to not want his tea so now I'll give him one if he asks.He definitely still needs his morning snack-he's starving by 10. In our house I make something nice to eat, if he doesn't eat it that's fine but there's never anything else. More often than not he eats it but sometimes he doesn't, I think sometimes he just isn't hungry so if I made him something else that would be rejected too.

[Racheyg]

Wow I didnt realise I wasn't able to use months for my sons age.

Thanks once again. I have taken onboard what's been said.

[Wolfiefan]

My DD is five and doesn't always fancy what's for dinner. My response is "well that's dinner". If she tries it and eats some nicely she might get a piece of toast before bed so she doesn't wake hungry but I never cook an alternative.
She also often asks for snacks whilst I'm cooking dinner. I say no!

[TheCraicDealer]

[Caveat: do not have children]

What's his liquid intake like, OP? If he's drinking water/milk steadily throughout the day then that's also going to fill him up along with the snacks.

[Indole]

It's perfectly OK to say 27 months rather than 2 years, IMO. Children change very fast at this age and I'd be much more inclined to cut a 27 month old a bit of slack than say, a 34 month old! A few months can mean everything has changed at this age! Rachey, I actually think this is perfectly normal and fruit and cereal with beans on toast is not a terrible diet by any stretch of the imagination - I have heard far worse on here and IRL! I would try things like cubes of cheese or babybels or something for snacks if you are worried about protein. Some people (including babies, toddlers and children) do just prefer to eat little and often. That's not necessarily a bad thing and as long as the snacks are healthy and part of a balanced diet I honestly can't see anything to worry about. Is the cereal sugary? If so, in your shoes I'd stick to only savoury snacks apart from fruit as it's easy to see why a toddler might prefer sweet cereal in that situation!

DD is 9 and she still has a snack after school and before tea as she is hungry (usually crackers, cheese and fruit). She may eat slightly less tea but I can't see why that matters as long as she's still having a balanced diet.

[Racheyg]

dealer he is a fan of water and it's always available in his bottle so he can drink it whenever he needs to. So maybe he is drinking too much.

indole thanks for the kind words. He loves Rice Krispies or weetabix. (I don't add sugar) I have tried cheese but he only likes cheese spread :(

He has wholemeal pasta with mushrooms and cheese sauce tonight. He hasn't had it in a while so I'm hoping he forgets he went off it