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Original poster

2 YR OLD WONT EAT A 'HOT' DINNER?

77 replies

Merlin · 14/05/2007 14:12

DS2 rarely eats dinner in the evening, but I know if I gave him a sandwich it would be gone in seconds!!

I have tried giving him something hot for lunch, but that doesn't work either!

Don't like putting him to bed with no dinner - I usually let him have a couple of yogs so he's not completely starving! It's just that he's missing out on his meat and veg!

Any suggestions or advice please?

OP posts:

clumsymum · 15/05/2007 12:35

luciemule,

I can see that a toddler might have trouble with meat like pork loin. The texture of pork is quite difficult with tiny teeth, so unless it is casseroled until it literally falls apart it will just become dry and chewy in the mouth (I know because I had teeth problems as a teenager, Kicked out horseriding actually, and it was ages before I could cope with some meats like pork, steak and lamb chops)
DS (age 7, and a very good eater generally) is really only just happy with the feel of these sort of meats in his mouth. He got thru a plateful of roast pork and veg at the pub last sunday lunchtime.

I'd stick with chicken and fish unless the other meats are minced for the time being.

Original poster

Merlin · 25/06/2007 14:05

Just an update .......... still no progress and I have tried absolutely everything I can think of. He just refuses to eat whatever i put in front of him for dinner. So I would say most of the time he goes to bed with no dinner. .

He does eat quite well during the day though, guess he is hungry!!! Now I am going to try and refuse him so much food in the day in the hope that he is starving by dinner time!! Hard though when his brother comes home from school and dives into the cupboard!!!

Oh well .......... "it's just a phase, it's just a phase"

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mcnoodle · 25/06/2007 14:20

I also have very fussy 2 year old. Rather than let mealtimes turn into a nightmare I have conceded defeat and now give him what he wants (porridge, cheese, toast, houmous, pasta/pesto, fruit, ham, biltong (yes really!) and cucumber). I figure he eats enough fruit to compensate for woeful lack of veg. He won't sit down and eat a 'proper' meal, but I still serve them, alongside his favourites.

There is a thread somewhere about snack boxes. Basically have a daily box full of snacks that you are happy for them to eat (fruit, biscuits, dips and breadsticks etc) and let them help themselves. Am going to try it with mine as am being driven slightly mad by constant requests for food. Ds is a grazer and that's that. Snack box allows them to self regulate food intake and learn about hunger/full up cues.

lilolilmanchester · 25/06/2007 14:24

have you tried involving him in preparing the food? I know it's messy and takes much longer, but it might get him interested? Start off getting him to help with something you know he will eat (e.g. buttering the bread and putting the filling in a sandwich), then move on to something slightly different (e.g. putting the topping on a pizza)?

DrNortherner · 25/06/2007 14:26

My ds was exactly like this at 2 yrs old. Drove me mad. It was the cause of countless rows between me and dh as I would give in and give ds what he wanted. Dh says I pander to ds....

Anyway, I finally learnt to chill out about it. Gave him what he wanted (would not eat Veg) but he alsways got lots of fruit and healthy snacks.

He is now 5 and still not teyh best eater, but does have a small reportoire of meals he will eat such as Shepherds PIe, Spag Bol, pasta and cheese sause, pizza.

He is still a nightmare eating out though, as apparantly the food in restaurants is 'different' Garnish, and anything green sends him over the edge

Original poster

Merlin · 25/06/2007 14:42

Thanks guys for the feedback! So is the general consensus I let him have say a sandwich for tea, cos I know he will eat that. He's great on yoghurt and fruit, just worried about the lack of protein ie, meat, fish etc.

Sometimes he will eat cottage pie, but not keen on much else. God, its a pain isn't it?!!!!

Northerner - your comment about anything green sending DS over the edge made me chuckle - DS1 who is nearly 7 is the same - the merest hint of a bit of salad in a sandwich and he's off!!!!!!

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Angeliz · 25/06/2007 14:45

I had dd2 (2) in Asda the other day and we stopped for lunch. I got her cumberland ring and chips and the woman poured gravy on and i literally shouted NO GRAVY I think they thought i was unhinged but my dd doesn't do wet unless it's pasta t the moment.

Original poster

Merlin · 25/06/2007 17:45

Well, aren't children so bloody unpredictable?!!

He has just sat down with his brother and eaten some pizza (a first) followed by strawberries and ice cream.

It's a bloody miracle I tell you!!!!!

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barefeete · 25/06/2007 18:24

I am probably too late on this thread but i just had to say that my DS (21 months)is exactly the same. Won't eat anything hot that even slightly resembles proper food. He also dosn't eat any veg - hot, cold or raw, no meat, fish or cheese. He does eat (have to look at the positives!) fruit and has funny fad weeks - this week it is a pineapple week, last week was a grape week and the week before was a mango week. He loves toast with marmite or peanut butter and does eat yoghurts. He also suprisingly eats cake!!!!! what a suprise. So today i have made cheese and ham muffins in the hope that he will eat them like he eats cake. people have said that it is a phase and so i am just giving him normal meals with something on the plate that i know he will eat - like a friut salad or a yoghurt. i know he is just being fussy as yesterday he left the fish pie and mash and most of the grapes and mango and only ate the banana and pineapple. a few weeks ago he ate some spaghetti hoops which was a big suprise and 2 months ago he ate a sausage. DH and I got drunk celebrating that one. Anyway it is nice to know that others are having the same issues as me. Does anyone have a DS/S who dosn't eat any meat or veg like my DS?

Original poster

Merlin · 25/06/2007 18:25

barefeete - the lack of meat/fish is my concern too. But heyho - he likes fruit and yog so life is not all bad!!!

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barefeete · 25/06/2007 21:39

he ate eggy bread with cinnimon sugar twice for lunch last week so at least he has had 2 eggs recently!

Original poster

Merlin · 11/09/2007 20:17

An update - still very sporadic with eating an evening meal but I'm being super tough and not letting him have anything else - not even yoghurt.

Tonight, I put in front of him sausage, mash, carrots and peas. The cheeky monkey did eat the sausage, but sucked the carrots and rolled the peas around in his mouth before spitting them out! Potato he just won't touch.

My question is should I reward him with dessert for eating the sausage or not?

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Original poster

Merlin · 11/09/2007 20:29

bump

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tori32 · 11/09/2007 20:48

I CM and have dealt with 2 fussy eaters so far. The truth of the matter is that given options children will pick and choose what they want and don't want. Unfortunately this is rarely the best thing for the child. I am strict with eating.

If they don't try a little of each thing on their plate they get nothing until the next meal (no snacks, I cut these right back until they eat meals.) This ensures they are truly hungry and they know its meal or nothing. There are few children who will not eat when hungry at this age. Having little to eat for a week will not starve them. If you are being tough don't back track, stick to your guns and don't give in with yoghurts. If you give in then it gives them more will power because they know you eventually cave in.

I also hasten to add that both my fussy eaters now eat ANYTHING including lamb moussaka, fish pie, steak pie and all fruit and veg. They also eat hot and cold meals.

LoveMyGirls · 11/09/2007 20:57

I'm a cm and have been dealing with this behaviour lately and my rules have been....(must add they are working quite well i think by christmas he will eat most stuff if he carries on like he has been this week)

Ok Rules.........
Only give 3 meals a day as tori says, no snacks at all.

For a child to get pudding they have to not spit, throw any food then once he has said he has finished i cut a bit of something he hasn't tried and put it on a fork i take the rest of the plate away then i say if he eats one last bite he can have pudding. If he doesn't eat the last mouthful or messes with the food he has 3 chances then i bin it and he goes without until the next meal.

I have been doing this for about 6 weeks now and so far he has had 6 consecutive puddings. I can't be sure his mum has been doing ecatly the same so could be quicker for you to crack it.

Good luck!

tori32 · 11/09/2007 21:36

Lovemygirls I think we must have gone to the same CM school!!! I do exactly the same when they say they have finished. The psychological edge of them realising that you say when they have finished!

Original poster

Merlin · 11/09/2007 21:54

oooh you CM's are TOUGH!!!!!!

Seriously, that's what I'm now aiming to do - wish me luck in sticking to my guns.

Actually, he eats pretty well at breakfast and lunch, just evening that's a prob, so I know he isn't completely starving!!!

Thanks for your advice - it's appreciated.

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tori32 · 11/09/2007 22:21

You're welcome Merlin! Good luck and be STRONG!!! >

LoveMyGirls · 12/09/2007 13:34

How it is going so far today merlin, perhaps we can support each other, its not always easy being tough even when we know its for the best in the end!

Mindee had lunch thrown in the bin today, he was in an awful mood this morning though, he's had a nap now and seems in better spirits.

Original poster

Merlin · 12/09/2007 23:50

HI lmg - well I copped out today really. He had breakfast - raisin pancake, a pear and a few of my cornflakes so that was fine.

Then he was with Grandma for rest of day and had a good lunch and then - the little monkey = eat pizza and a bit of potato for tea. So Grandma rewarded him with 2 yogs.

What's the betting that tomorrow he wont eat what I put in front of him at teatime?!!!!!

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LoveMyGirls · 13/09/2007 07:58

Positive thinking and lots of lots of praise, stickers etc and you will get there in the end, my mindee skipped pudding at lunchtime yesterday i think he was tired but last night i did veg curry and he didnt just have the 1 last spoonful, once he tried it he actually liked it and had 2 mouthfuls which is better. I am determined we will get there if not i will soon have all 4 children doing the same, my dd2 has already started trying to do the same as him. My other mindee isn't keen on food either so at the moment its a battle with a few of them, i'm trying to get my eldest who is 8 to set them an example but she's getting fussier as she gets older!

If i keep going they will all have to learn there is no choice. Theres only going to be 1 meal at a time and they eat it or go without.

Original poster

Merlin · 13/09/2007 19:15

Hurrah!!!!

Tonight he had TWO helpings of cottage pie, followed by icecream, 2 small yogs, 2 pears and some strawberries!!!!!!!

Mind you, I had to let him sit at the table in front of Thomas the Tank Engine but at least he ate!!!!!!

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Original poster

Merlin · 13/09/2007 19:15

...... and later he will being sick ..........................

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LoveMyGirls · 14/09/2007 07:47

Congratulations - see your hard work is starting to pay off!!

We didn't do so well yesterday but i'm hoping today will be better.

Original poster

Merlin · 14/09/2007 11:38

Thanks LMG - tonight we will try pasta with tomato/veggie sauce - wish me luck!

Hope you have a better day too.

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