Toddler trouble regarding food! Absolutely Desperate!

[angelbaby]

My 22 month DD has an insatiable appetite and doesn't seem to have a 'cut-off' point when she's full. She's always enjoyed her food and tried a variety of different tastes and flavours. I know it sounds as though there's no problem. But, the problem is everytime my husband or myself go near the kitchen she rushes in after us wingeing and whining for food. We don't give her food then as she has set meals with healthy snacks and we don't want her to associate the kitchen with food everytime we go in it. This has resulted in her having MAJOR tantrums when we just walk out. Kicking and screaming as though she's absolutely starving and never had an ounce of food in her life!
She's a healthy weight - if not a little on the chubby side - and has never had a chocolate or sweet in her life.

Is this normal behaviour or do you think I've got a problem on my hands?

Also, how do I cope with the tantrums around food?

I'm ready to tear my hair out right now!!!

Hmm. My DD is 26 months and an incredibly picky eater who seems to want to dine on nothing but yoghurt.

angelbaby, My ds is a bit like this too and everyone compliments us on a "good eater". What has worked for us is to keep a bowl of fruit in the kitchen so if he wants something from the kitchen in between meals and healthy snacks he is allowed something from the fruit bowl- we also keep carrot sticks etc in the fridge. It's worked a treat - he doesn't feel thwarted - we don't feel like we're giving in and he's developed a really healthy appetite for fruit and veg.

Ds (16 months) is like his, he's big for height and weight, and always has been even when he was a poor eater. He doesn't whinge for snacks unless one of us is in the kitchen, but then he thinks he should be fed. Instead, he gets a drink, or nothing. I don't want him thinking every whinge or trip to the kitchen involves food!

aragon, what a brilliant idea! I'll definitely give it a try!

I completely understand angelbaby.
Our ds is like this.
Wants food 24/7.
Yet there is nothing of him.
I was worried.
Asked HV - does he have worms ???!!!
She said, just go with the flow.
Ds, like your dd wants something every time we go to the kitchen.
But no trantrums as yet.
Is that something we have to look forward to ????
I await the advice you get.....

Send some appetite vibes DD's way! She's far too busy getting into stuff to be bothered eating much. Like me and her dad when we were that age. Also like her father, she's tall and skinny as a rake. She needs to put on some weight!

angelbaby, we haven't had to put it into action yet but we have a plan that apart from meals and healthy snacks dd's can have bread, cheese or fruit if they are hungry (or won't eat their dinner) - then hopefully won't feel too deprived but not too unhealthy. sounds like your dd has a great healthy diet - i wondered if, now she is getting to an age when she will become more aware of 'treat foods', there might be a case for introducing a set time in the day/week when she has say a small piece of chocolate or a sweet, so she doesn't feel deprived but knows there's no point asking at other times? my dd has the worst tantrums at the mo and is also constantly asking for biscuits (although funnily enough even when she does get them as her snack she hardly ever finishes them - i think with her its just an exercise in getting what she wants!)

My nine year old ds is like this and always has been. I agree with others offer the fruit, veg option.
Ny ds like to make himself fruit salad. I know your dd is a little young for this but you could make her one to pick at. The odd treat and biscuit is fine, I think.

My ds is still very interested in food, knows you should eat five portions of fruit and veg and always make sure he does. He is solid but not overweight and is in proportion.

HI EVERYONE IM NEW AND MY 26 MONTH OLD WONT EAT AT ALL HE IS REALLY BAD WITH FOOD AND IM AT THE END OF MY WITS WITH HIM HES IS NOT UNDER WEIGHT BUT IM JUST SO WORRIED AND SUGGESTIONS

Hi EFC
if he isn't underweight, he must be eating something? Have you seen him eating next to other children of the same age, to see if he eats less than they do? I dont mean to sound competitive, but it might set your mind at rest.

My dd is the same angelbaby! I normally let her have something, sometimes it might be junky biscuit, or chocolate, but often she's happy with fruit, raisins or particular favourite at the moment is slices of pepper. She will virtually eat a whole one in one go! Oh and raspberries and blackberries always go down well.

My theory is that dd can eat as much as she likes so long as its healthy!

my DS is now 7 and as a toddler he was just the same. He was like it from the age of 10 months.... I had him follow me to the kitchen and say "hungry mummy". This went on for a while. He was always very big for his age and always hungry. AT 5 months old he was in clothes for a 12-18 month old and he didn't slow down lol by the time he was 2 he was judt under 3 stone and in 4 -5 yr old clothes. I had hell getting people to believe his age because he was tall as well.
I went with the feeding him when he wanted food and not when i decided he wanted to eat. Now I have a very healthy 7 year old who is still very big. he is now in clothes for 11 yr olds wieghs a healthy 5 1/2 stone.
I let him decide when he wanted to eat and have never had probs with him.

hi,

my dd is 2.4 months and a very picky eater she will try no new foods and lives on tomato soup and chicksticks im so scared she will go off these soon what to do ??

elliemae, stop providing Tomato soup and chicksticks, and feed her what you want her to eat. It is almost unheard of for a NT child to starve itself.