So, I’m at my absolute wits end with both my children. One Pre schooler and one key stage 2. They just won’t eat.
Older one doesn’t like any of the basic slow release carbohydrates. Pasta, bread, cereals, rice, potatoes (unless roast), quinoa, couscous etc
Also dislikes any diary, including milk, cream, and eggs (will just about eat some of the white of a hard boiled one). Also dislikes likes cheese unless melted and really crispy on a lasagne. only meat she’ll eat is chicken and lasagne. Younger one will only eat sausages. At a push.
The only things they will reliably eat are apples and carrots. Breakfast is a carrot and an apple and I force a drink of apple juice or smoothie or she’d just go without. I struggle to get them to drink as well.
Anytime I find something they like, they’ll eat it about 3 times then that’s it for years until they’ll suddenly eat it again. But about three times and then repeat.
pre schooler is less fussy. But just doesn’t want to eat. She has cows milk and would literally live off that.
I’ve tried not giving the milk but she’ll hold out for days and then obviously I’m worried about dehydration, and her behaviour comes difficult because she’s hungry. Her food intake for today is 3x beakers of milk, 4 Chips, a few bites of an apple and a few bites of a strawberry jam sandwich.
Every day is a battle. I dread meal times. They resent meal times because it takes them away from their enjoyable activities. So you can’t reward good table manners with a nice pudding etc.(not that I want to use food as a reward. But for most children, the pay off of coming away from there game is some yummy food) Mine just want to get down and play.
Interestingly to me, the older one never even really wanted her milk as a baby. Slept through from 12 weeks and never really had much. She was FF, and never went past a bottle larger than 4 scoops. Just didn’t want it. Same with weaning. Baby led, and she was never really interested.
They are not even really that interested in junk food like chocolate or crisps etc.
Neither are very under weight but they are smallish for age and very slim. School and pre school have both mentioned it to me. But offer no advice. Both are healthy and rarely unwell and have a lot of energy.
Does anyone have any tips/ advice. I’m worried I’m going to give them an eating disorder by making it an issue. But it’s a big problem. Because when they don’t eat they get very stroppy and struggle to regulate their emotions etc. so every day out etc is spoiled because they won’t eat. The older one hates going to anyone else’s house after school because they try and give her supper.
Ive tried just ignoring it and offering food but no comment if they decline it and carry on with the day. But we’ll get to about 3.30pm and neither have eaten a thing at all and then they’ll be squabbling and crying and it’s too late then. And I KNoW it’s because they need to eat.