DD 7 driving me crazy with food

[GreatBallsofFluff]

DD is a wonderful child, polite and helpful. I have had a bit of attitude at times, but nothing serious.

Her one issue all her life has been food. Up until last year, the only food she would be guaranteed to eat would be mash, gravy, peas, sweetcorn and sausages. Occasionally she would eat spaghetti in tomato sauce, chicken in breadcrumbs etc and pizza. I never forced the issue and classed it as a phase. I was right and suddenly she has started eating and trying more things - GREAT.

She'll have roast dinners, salads, sandwiches, macaroni cheese even salmon and mushrooms! But what is driving me mental now is that she will not finish her plate.

As it is just DD and I, we always discuss what to have for tea. She will help me make it, and when serving up, I will ask her opinion on how much she wants. I don't give her more than I think she can handle and she doesn't usually ask for a lot either. For example, two sausages, a spoon of mash and a spoon of peas and sweetcorn. She will not finish it no matter what.

I never let her have anything if she doesn't finish it, and she just accepts that, doesn't argue and walks off. She has always been more of a grazer (sp?) than a three meal a day person. I don't let her have anything to eat at for at least 2 and half hours before tea. I'm just tearing my hair out about the wasted food.

I've tried really small portions but she still does it and I have no idea why.

Hmmmm. I thought guidance was never to make them finish everything on their plates as this was a certain road to an eating disorder.

I think you nee to relaaax about food. Don't force her to finish, and if she is a grazer, let her graze, with peak grazing at mealtimes(but little portions that she isn't forced to finish). I would not let her snack about1 hour to hour and 1/2 before tea. 2 1/2 hours seems rather long

I think you need to chill a bit about the wasted food. make sure you aren't pushing your issues onto her

I was bought up to eateveything on my plate. Now I can't leaveanything

Thanks Orangeandlemons.

I think it annoys me that I give her these choices, and still EVERY mealtime it's the same. I wouldn't mind if it were 50:50 or whatever.

Also I feel that there is absolutely no point making a meal for us if she's just going to leave half of it.

But yes, I need to chill out and relax. Will try it and see

I have almost given up cookingfor my dd. She picks and faffs.

I agree with orangeandlemons When you have kids some wasted food is just par for the course. It's great that she's trying new foods, my 9 year old is still really fussy. And yes of course there's point making meals - how else are you going to eat?!

My 9 year old only has one sausage plus veg/potato. Serve much much less, then give her seconds if she requests. No need to make it into an issue.

It sounds like your portions are too big for her. Shes only 7 after all

Please don't try and make her finish everything on her plate.
It's wasted food whether she leaves it, or eats it all under pressure from you and stores it as fat.
She needs to be allowed to eat as much as her body tells her she needs, and no extra

My dd is a bit like this, used to be great but lately won't eat anything and is like a rake so I worry about her not getting enough. When she says she is full after eating a few bites, I tell her she must eat 7 (her age, was 6 laast week!) more forks of whatever protein we're having (bolognaise/fish/eggs/chicken/beans etc) and at least half her veg.
I also give her a side plate now so it doesn't look like loads and way less carbs than I used to. It's going ok, but I don't want her to have issues :( I just want to keep her healthy, it's not about waste for me.

If it makes you feel any better DS didn't eat a single thing until 3:45 today. He's survived on 3 cups of water.