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Original poster

HOW DO I GET DS2 TO EAT WHAT WE EAT?

20 replies

Merlin · 20/04/2008 22:07

Ok so tonight I decided that I'm getting tough on DS2.

Have been pandering to his very limited food choices ie pasta or pizza and chips for too long.

Roast chicken, potato, carrots and peas on his plate. Lots of head shaking, ate ONE tiny piece of carrot, refused everything else. So, no ice-cream (which was the bribe!).

Help me have the strength to continue this all week please!!!

(Just to add that he does love fruit so all is not lost!!!)

OP posts:

frasersmummy · 20/04/2008 22:10

what age is your little one?

Original poster

Merlin · 20/04/2008 22:13

He is 3. I know it's my fault, because I just got lazy and gave him what I knew he would eat.

But enough is enough. Breakfast/lunch not too bad cos he likes bread/cereal/yoghurt/fruit/cheese etc.

OP posts:

gagarin · 20/04/2008 22:16

Go for it - he won't fade away!

gagarin · 20/04/2008 22:17

ps the lovely Tanya Byron has been known to say that a new food has to be presented to a child up to 20 times before they accept it...you may have a lot of cooking to do

nell12 · 20/04/2008 22:18

Keep trying, dont give in
Lots of praise for even the tiniest bite
Praise other people around him "Oh Daddy, you have eaten some mashed potato, you are so clever"
Don't over-fill his plate

Keep calm and best of luck!

CarGirl · 20/04/2008 22:20

stickers for eating/trying properly new foods

misselizabethbennett · 20/04/2008 22:20

I'm doing a similar thing with DS aged nearly 6. Not sure I can help, but can go through it with you. Mine eats a reasonable range of healthy foods and gets proper nourishment, but he likes everything separate and isn't much into 'cooked dinner' or anything with a sauce, so hardly ever eats the same meal as us.

I think I'll join you in a campaign this week.

I tend to use a sticker chart (1 for a taste, 2 for eating some of it, 3 for a clean plate, that type of thing).

Right, targets for me:

Tell DS that we're setting targets for eating cooked dinners
Make a new sticker chart with targets written on
Introduce 3 meals that he hasn't had before, or usually rejects, but that I know he should like based on the ingredients

How old is your DS? And is DS1 a good eater?

nell12 · 20/04/2008 22:20

Try getting him to make food choices... would you like chicken or fish tonight

Get him to help you with preparation

Go shopping with him and let him choose his own "big boy's" plate and cutlery

JennsterSlugSlayer · 20/04/2008 22:21

Don't praise
Don't make a big deal
Don't bribe
Don't offer alternatives
Don't offer crap
Don't give pudding
They won't starve if food is on offer

nell12 · 20/04/2008 22:24

Please do praise him, it will make the situation more positive for him and more fun for you

mumto2andnomore · 21/04/2008 10:35

Im in the same position, my son is 4 and is fine for breakfast and lunch but for cooked meals eats pasta (all sorts eg lasagna, spag bol etc ) tomato and basil rice, meatballs and pizza. Tonight Im making shepherds pie, he will moan and whinge but hes having that or going hungry.
Praising his sister works for us as he wants praise too.
Good luck you are not alone !

HonoriaGlossop · 21/04/2008 11:00

If this was me I would start of by not using the sticker charts etc. Maybe keep that in your back pocket if you need extra help later.

I would let him get involved in the preparation IF he is interested. Other than that I would simply serve up what you're having. And while I would praise for eating well, other than that I would give his food Zero attention. If he doesn't eat it then fruit or rice cake or something for a 'bedtime supper' but nothing else.

Because he eats well in the day and his diet is quite varied I would have thought you'd be fine to stick this out.

FWIW there are some foods that I put on ds plate for MONTHS if not years before he ate them, so I can recommend utterly blind, ridiculous optimism

frasersmummy · 21/04/2008 13:51

The problem with my 3 year old is plain old stubborness.

He will eat whatever is put down to him at nursery or if we are out visiting someone he doesnt really know

but at home or at grandparents he sticks to tried and tested, fish fingers, sausages, pasta, chicken goujons, rice or potato croquettes

he snacks on breadsticks and apples .. breakfasts are fine, any cereal and toast with fresh orange/apple juice

I have tried at dinner time saying you dont want mince and potatos thats ok .. and I dont give him anything else except a slice of toast before bed

This doesnt bother him..so I dont really know what else to do

Mamazon · 21/04/2008 13:53

just keep putting it on his plate.

pudding is only for well attempted meals.

he will soon get the hint

AbbeyA · 21/04/2008 14:03

I wouldn't make a big deal of it, no sticker charts and no excessive praise-just a 'well done' if he eats it all. Just present the food with veg separate so he can help himself to small portions. If he doesn't eat it just ignore it and don't offer alternatives. Most importantly of all do not give any snacks between meals and don't let him fill up later on snacks.
Helping in the preparation is a good idea but I wouldn't give a choice.

Original poster

Merlin · 21/04/2008 14:17

Thanks everyone for all your ideas and support.

I am just going to stick at putting what everyone else is eating on his plate and hope for the best!

OP posts:

lilolilmanchester · 21/04/2008 15:03

Merlin, my advice would only be to give him a little bit of foods he doesn't like to start with. If he's overfaced with a mountain of things he doesn't like, he's perhaps less likely to try it? So just a mouthful of each, increasing the amount as he gets more confident? It's likely you won't be successful straight away, but persevere. Not sure if House of Tiny Tearaways is still on but Tanya Byron is fab at this as gagarin has said.

Original poster

Merlin · 21/04/2008 17:22

Thanks lilolil - that is exactly what I am doing - although it looks like I am feeding a mouse!!!!!

He is absolutely full of cold today and whingy so he is happy with a sandwich and a bit of fruit

OP posts:

HonoriaGlossop · 21/04/2008 18:39

frasersmummy, I would say that if your ds eats well elsewhere, then by not eating at home he's using the chance to exert a bit of control and I don't think that's a bad thing. Home is where you're safe to try this stuff.

So long as you keep giving him what you want him to eat and don't let him snack all the time so he's never actually hungry, I reckon he'll get there

And don't forget he's only 3, many children of this age still have tiny appetites and their natural inclination is toward little and often.

As he gets older you may well notice an increase in his appetite; I certainly did with ds when he hit 5.

fordfiesta · 21/04/2008 19:15

oh how lovely.......... a thread on exactly what iwas going to ask about tonight!!!!!!! Saves me the job!!!!
Hopefully we will have happy well feed 'non fussy eaters' in a few weeks time!!! (i know my son can do it as at pre school they say he scoffs his fruit!)
Good luck...... will keep an eye on this thread.

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