Mealtime options

[Mibby]

DD is 18 months and has started to refused meals of things she used to like. Last week chicken sandwiches were the in thing, today we had a 30 minute tantrum over a chicken sandwich for lunch. How many 'choices' do you/ should I give? Once she calmed down I gave her cheese and crackers, which she ate but I dont want to encourage food refusal just so she can see what else might be on offer

The only choice in this house is whether you choose to eat dinner or not.

There is normally a piece of fruit or some greek yoghurt for pudding regardless though.

YY there is one main course option here but always fruit and/or plain yoghurt available.

DS is reaching the point now where I can give him a choice before I make it (if there is one), so I can say 'chicken or cheese sandwich?' and he will answer. That makes it a bit easier. He also sometimes says what he wants to eat e.g. 'tomatoes' or 'sausage' and I will go with that. Once it's made it that of fruit/yoghurt though.

rubirosa is right, too many choices will either confuse the issue or they will hold out for whatever 'else' is coming...! I usually still do yoghurt/fruit regardless, but the main courses can and do get refused on occassion. No matter, they won't starve themselves and will probably wolf down the next meal if they havent been filled up on snacks inbetween :) keep calm and carry on..

Thanks, I feel much less mean now :)

She ate a huge dinner with no fuss at all :)

She could sense you had the weight of mn behind you.