Children and Food

[SPARKLER1]

I try to give my kids a variety of foods for their evening meals but they always turn up their noses and refuse to eat almost everything I give them. They've even got to the stage where they look at it and say "I don't want any pudding", which is followed by the usual response from me "good you won't be getting any unless you eat your meal".
I spend time preparing lovely things for them and the only thing they will sit and eat is:

Smilie Potato Faces
Fish Fingers
and Spaghetti Hoops.

Sigh

Now sparklyone, I've had this. Shall I tell you what I did?

I simply ignored the lot of them, served up what I was serving up and then one day to my surprise they ate it all.

No magic tricks, just plain stubbornness on my part!

@ sparklyone!

I try to be stubborn too. I just hate seeing them going to bed hungry. But I guess the old saying goes "if they are hungry they'll eat".

Stop buying it. They'll give in and try stuff eventually.

Stop buying them!!!! Have EXACTLY the same problem with my DD1 (2) - Won't eat ANYTHING except tuna (not in sandwich, just on it's own) and Tortellini (not pasta in sauce, just Tortellini!!) I just give her whatever we are having and I make her sit there until we have finished and then I clear up and get her down from the table and carry on (she's ususally having screaming habdabs by now and I just try to ignore her!!) I totally understand where you are coming from Sparkler, but just keep going and eventually they'll get the hint - Could take a long time, but just try to be patient - I am sitting this one out with you!! How old are they btw??? Old enough to bribe!!?

6 and 4.
Bribes - hmmm. The usual one is eat all your dinner and you can have pudding. My two just look at their plates before they even sit down, screw up their faces and say "I dont want pudding" LOL

LOL to your stubborn little mules - May be an extra minute on their bedtime for every 2 mouthfuls or get to watch a fave DVD before bed or a star chart or something incentive type thing - or perhaps just lots of patience and lots of merciless starvation!!

Totally here with you on this one - For lunch DD1 had half a tuna sandwich (one slice of bread) and two mouthfuls of pineapple yogurt - then she cried for biscuits - and guess what - there's none in the house - Ha! Ha! If it's not there, they can't have it. She went to nursery one very hungry girlie - Sigh.....

If those things aren't in your house, they can't eat them!

Just cook your emails, enjoy eating them yourself and anyone who winges should be asked to leave the table. (don't shout or get cross just say i don't like that noise if you're going to keep making it please leave.)
Guarantee they will soon return with hungry tummy's and decide to eat your meals.

And also, remove all junk from your house so they can't fill up on that in between meals.

This way they can snack as much as they like without you having to constantly say no, because it doesn't really matter as long as they are eating healthily.

Keep fruit, breadsticks, chopped up cucumbers and peppers, cheese and crackers etc all at hand for snacks.

would like to see someone cooking their emails....although I'm not sure DS1 would eat those either

PMSL thanks TOmmy, i think i need a lie down!

I know this is against mumsnet wisdom but I would say - back right off. Chill out about it. stop making it a battle ground. I personally think that it is a mistake to make food a discipline issue.
give them what they wil eat and incentivise them to eat different stuff (with star charts or whatever).
so serve them fish fingers but with brocolli say or baked beans
let them dip things in sauces
get them to help you make things e.g. potato wedges or some nice flapjacks or something.
coul dyou get them to come shopping with you and choose something to cook.
the dinig table shouldn't be a battle ground. that's very bad for the appetite.
ake the focus away from what they are or are not eating onto conversation at the dinner table.
don't punish them for not eating or force them to eat things they don't want to.
and remember that your preferences for variety are just that - your preferences.
it would royally tick me off to be forced to eat something I didn't want.
I think a more gentle approach is more effective.

Here Here Harpsi!!!