Any suggestions for a picky eater? She used to be so much better but gradually is refusing more and more foods - even foods we know she likes. We have tried different methods but are hitting a wall right now. I don't want this to become a worse habit than it already is. Suggestions? Please?
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One thing that we do with our picky eater is not to force her to eat. I've learned that the more you push a toddler, the more they push back. Also, if she doesn't eat her food, then don't give her any other options or snacks till the next meal. I've also heard of people giving the uneaten food at every meal till they finally eat it. Little kids still have the "survival" instinct and so they won't starve themselves. I think the most important thing is to offer a variety of foods all the time and not get stuck on giving the two or three foods they enjoy the most. I heard once from a Dr. that it takes on average about 10 times of offering a new food before a kid will try it and like it. So don't offer a new food once or twice and give up on that food. Keep offering it again and again.
If she likes smoothies, we've had a lot of success putting pretty much anything in smoothies. We have a bit of a picky eater ourselves.
Jake went almost two months without eating a vegetable. He had always loved them and then one night he just refused to eat them. I would put them on his plate, but he wouldn't touch them. I didn't force him, but kept putting them on his plate. One night he just started eating them again, and had three helpings. He hasn't stopped eating them since. While he was on his "veggie vacation" I had him drink the V8 juice with fruits and veggies in it, so he was still getting his vegetables, he just didn't know it.
Don't panic! She's being totally normal. Give her a good complete vitamin and whatever healthy stuff you're eating, and let her decide.
Then again, you could join her. Have you seen the Toddler Miracle Diet plan?http://www.nanceestar.com/KidsToddlerDiet.html
I always put some of everything on their plates, even though I know Jer doesn't like green beans. :)
I let them choose a dinner once a week, and they choose a veggie as well as a main dish.
When it's just me and Danielle, I ask if she wants "green beans or broccoli" with her lunch. I like to give them choices that I'm happy with.
I like to do small portions, and if they want more of the first they need to eat the second.
I mostly like to give them control and choices. I think those work really well for toddlers. The key is (of course) giving them boundaries in which to have that control. :)
I have a rule that you must try one bite of everything and if you don't like it and don't throw a tantrum or say it is yuck you don't have to eat more. If you say it is gross or throw a fit you have to eat your bites in your age. It is a general rule and sometimes I am not super strict about it, but my girls know not to comment on yucky looking food and they usually try a bite of everything! It works better the older they get and the more they understand. Be flexible and it it works use it...if not change it up to make it work for you. I also don't make my girls try things if they sincerly don't like something. Little B really hates caulifower and dry heaves whenever she eats it...therefore I don't make her even try it. Maybe again in another year or two. Good luck
We haven't had very many picky eaters after we broke the first two of the habit. (We have had light eaters - but that is different.)
We stopped picky eating by serving every meal in courses. Each person had to finish each course before starting the next one. Courses were ordered to have the least desirable first.
Oh - earplugs might be a nice accessory for this approach. There was screaming when I moved to the main course before the toddlers. And especially when some were eating dessert while others sat staring at vegetables.
And no snacks.
Try letting her "help" cook. Sometimes kids are more excited about a dish after they help prepare it. I like giving choices. At the produce store, I let each child choose one fruit and one vegetable. At a meal, I'll say, "do you want carrots or cucumbers?" Sometimes they'll pick a third choice, and as long as I'm okay with it, they get it.
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