My kids won't eat??!

[Thirstysomething]

What do I do if my children won't eat properly?
I spend hours making them meals I think they will like which are also good for them, but they are just like birds and pick at what they want (not a lot). They are both slim, but not weirdly so, and they are both very tall for their ages (nearly 4 and nearly 2). They are generally very good at trying lots of different food - they just don't eat much.
Anyway, am thinking I should get a vitamin supplement, but have read in the newspapers that most kids supplements are not that great. Eg Sanatogen has talc and additives, etc. I bought some chewy 'sweety' ones which they loved, but am now thinking they might have been a waste of money, given what was written in this article.
The ones they recommended were Fresh and Wild chewable - which I can't seem to find online or Viridian mini capsules, which sound great -- but I can't see a 22 month old swallowing a capsule - however mini?!
Not feeling very well myself, kids are ill, and at the end of my tether tonight!
Any thoughts?

Don't fret pet. My 9.8 dd is exactly the same. I drove myself demented making all the stuff that Anabel Karmel recommended and freezing it. Guess what? She wouldn't eat very much of anything.
I was super concerend and spoke to her paed, he advised me that she was healthy, responsive and happy so give her what she wants.
She is still a fussy little bugger but remains happy, healthy and responsive and has grown.

Your kids DO eat, just not what you want them to. If you're child requires a feeding tube to sustain him or her then you can say they don't eat. There is a difference between not eating and not eating what you want them to eat.

Try to relax and not worry about it. They sound normal to me x

My Mum told me that the amount of time you spend cooking is the opposite of the amount your children will eat! It sounds like your children eat a wide variety of foods but not as much as you'd like. You have the golden grail AFAIC - children who eat well but know when to stop. Enjoy it, feel smug and if you don't like the idea of what is in the vitamins then don't give them to your children.

Hope you feel better soon.

What do they eat? That is more important that how much, imo.

And when you say they don't eat much, how much do they eat?

If you make pasta, for example, how much do they eat? A handful? Three or four bits of pasta?

I hope the same problem as well. My 3yo DS used to be a very good eater, but not anymore. I notice that his weight dropped by 2kg (from 15 to 13) in the last fews months. I am too concerned...

I have found over the years of feeding children ( I am a CM of 30 odd years) that it often comes down to how much you put on thier plate, put too big a portion and they will pick, it is to daunting for them.

I give them a small plate with a small portion, with the option of having more (I put the rest in the middle of the table and tell them to help themselves if they have finished what they have on their plates)

It seems to work.

my spelling and grammar is not always that bad honest!

I am going to try the small portion option tomorrow, thanks!! I always heap their plates in vain hope... did that tonight with their favourite (pasta pesto philadelphia peas) that is usually my failsafe because they haven't eaten much all weekend and they didn't even want that! The two year old ate ONE mouthful and the four year old ate four mouthfuls with SUCH a look on her face, because she was trying to please me.
MmeLindt: breakfast they eat a bowl of cereal and the 2 yr old will eat masses plus a banana, yoghurt, toast etc, the 4 yr old just the cereal.
Then the 2 y/o will eat a few carrots for lunch (she loves them... phew) and maybe three mouthfuls of pasta (I nearly always have to give them pasta since they won't eat any potatoes at all), no fishfingers or meat or anything.
The 4 year old will pick at whatever I give her - maybe five mouthfuls.
They will both ask for cheese or yoghurts afterwards (they end up eating masses of dairy).
Tea - ditto lunch.
Looking back at what I have just written, it actually doesn't look too bad. It is just so depressing when you have slaved for them and yet I feel so guilty if I do a quick option like sandwiches!

Sorry, think I was overreacting maybe when I wrote my first post - was a bit ill.

It can be worrying when they won't eat but honestly the best way I have found is not to show you are bothered by it. Cook them reasonably healthy, balanced meals, put it in front of them, all eat together, if they eat it - great, if not - no problem. Don't praise them for eating or try and get them to eat, if they don't eat remove food with a breezy 'so you're not hungry then', but don't offer anything but healthy snacks until the next meal. That is how I have found the best way to deal with it! But from what you have written, it doesn't sound too bad - they are getting protein from the cheese etc. Will they eat fruit?

Also agree about the portion thing.