dealing with fussy eating (4 year old)

[CrystalQueen]

DD has slowly turned into a really fussy eater. Mealtimes (especially dinner*) are a total nightmare. She will happily eat macaroni (but only if it's the right shape), stovies and baked potatoes (with coleslaw. Not cheese. As in nononononononono). Last night for example we had chilli and rice, she ate the rice. She won't try anything - I have told her repeatedly that if she tries something and doesn't like it, she doesn't have to eat it. We have cut back on snacks so it's not that she's filling up during the day.

What's the best strategy? DH is firmly of the opinion "it's that or nothing, she'll eat if she's hungry enough" which I don't share. Would you offer bread and butter, or a piece of fruit? Do we just have to eat macaroni for the next 10 years?

*by which I mean the evening meal!

Definitely don't just eat macaroni in front of her.

I have failed to get my unadventurous children to branch out so far but I am confident that exposure to different foods will be beneficial in the long run.

I go by the 'if you don't try it properly then you will have nothing else' .

It worked and I have a marginally better 4yo who will eat at least half a new dinner.

He has been to bed hungry on a few occasions after throwing tantrums. I will not cook a million different things for 3 people!

My 4yr old is the same. He's been like this for months now and I've given up mithering him to eat. I either leave his plate in the kitchen and pretend Ive not made him any then when he sees us eating he decides he wants it or just leave it on his table then he'll have about 4 mouthfuls a d thats it.

He now hates everything he liked last week. Grr.

Part of the problem is that DH gets really wound up, and then it turns into a battle of wills between DD and DH (who does the cooking).

then tell him not to make a big deal. It will only make things worse.

Give dinner, say calmly the rules, stick to them. Ignore any tantrums, throwing of food, spitting, throwing up (yes I have had all ) , don't give in, don't show that you are bothered.

Its hard but make the rules and stick to them like superglue!

I really think 'eat that or nothing' is the best approach, have used it for child even younger than four.

You don't have to be mean about it, just calmly say you are only making one dinner, if she doesn't eat it (or try it properly as Bonkey said) leave it on the table for amount of time you are happy for (20 mins / half an hour), no comments, no pressure. Then if she doesn't eat it you throw it away. No comments nothing. Don't talk about her eating to other parents / DH in front of her. Act as if it is all perfectly fine. Picky eaters often get sort of trapped in the drama and negative attention of it all and you need to take the pressure off yourself / her as far as possible.

If she is NT she is very very unlikely to starve herself. And obviously make dinners that you know will apppeal to a certain extent, you might have to do macaroni / baked potatoes one night a week.

I too do the eat it or nothing but dh is a soft touch with the kids and will make something else so hes eaten. Grr

Hello

My four year old was fussy as a baby, then got much much better, then about a month ago seems to be getting fussy again....for the first time ever I was hard about it and said its this or nothing and she took the nothing option. She went to bed fine and wasn't that desperate for her brekkie! My next plan of action is to get her to cook with me and 'help' and see if i can ger her interested in food. Not been able to do much yet as have a baby too, but planning once baby is on family food, (which at 10 months he is already having bits of and wolfing it down) then it's one meal for all... I can see already that the baby brother will probably be eating all the big sisters left overs...

Good luck!