Xpost: picky eater

Hi everyone! My 3 year old is what I consider an extreme picky eater. He only eats a handful of foods, no meats or vegetables, and only the same 3 things served at mealtimes every single day. He will not even look at a new food. He used to be such a good eater, but since he turned maybe 15 months he started rejecting foods he used to love and hasn't eaten them since. And if a food he does eat isn't cut perfectly or there's a crumb hanging off, etc. he will not eat it. He's doing well in height and weight percentiles, but I'm worried he's not getting the nutrients he needs and I want him to at least TRY new foods and have a healthy relationship with food. Has anyone gone through this? Please tell me there's hope! Thank you!!!



original

Xpost: picky eater

I wouldn’t worry at 3 - there are only a few things a 3 year old has control of and one is what they eat.


Try to introduce new things and see if he will eat them.

Re: Xpost: picky eater

one of the things i don't miss...

my son went through a period when he'd only eat grapes (cut a certain way), horchata (a rice/milk drink), tysons chicken nuggets, and ketchup. that's it.

oh, and if he was in a binge-eating mood, half a pancake. not a whole one, just half... with ketchup.

i thought my precious baby boy would die. lol

what got me through it was what an early childhood teacher told me.

she said to make sure a good variety of foods is always available and easy for him to grab. when he gets curious, he'll start to explore what you're oohing and aahing about.

i started having kid-friendly snacks all over the place.

i don't remember how long it took, but he eventually did start trying new things. so much so, that by the time he was in kinder, he was an amazing eater. i never had a problem with him and food again.

he's 23 and the only items he won't eat are:
* dill pickles
* sour cream
* flan
* lima beans

he loves to explore different foods from all over the world.

i say: do your best to not make meal time a stressful time and make other yummy foods easily available to him.

ps. have you tried looking into those "deceptive" recipes? that might help you feel better about what he's eating.

Re: Xpost: picky eater

My DS is almost 10, and he eats almost everything now (and will try everything). But he went through a very picky stage at ages 3-4.

I agree that you really can't force them to eat what they don't like. A lot of kids grow out of it. I would just make sure he takes a multivitamin and try to sneak in nutrition where you can. But otherwise, don't sweat it.

I remember the pediatrician saying that a lot of the same vitamins, antioxidants, and other benefits of veggies can be found in fruit. My son always loved fruit, so that was easy. He also liked fruit smoothies, and wouldn't notice/balk at some spinach mixed into this smoothies.

For awhile, he was a carb-a-holic and I worried he wasn't getting enough protein. But he now loves steak, burgers, chicken, and will eat things like pork roast and salmon! Back in the picky stage it was all peanut butter, so I gave him peanut butter all the time!

He also loved pancakes, so we would make homemade pancakes and mix ricotta cheese into the batter (then freeze a big batch) for a little protein boost.

Maybe try to introduce new things that are in his comfort zone. So if he likes french fries, then maybe try "chicken fries" (breaded chicken strips cut like fries) or different vegetable "fries" ( like butternut squash).

Re: Xpost: picky eater

If being a picky eater was harmful my DD wouldn't be alive right now.
To this day- at 8 years old- she is still very picky.
But also very healthy/never sick and perfect on the height/weight chart.
I don't sweat food.

I never eat a vege either and I'm still alive and never sick.
I think a lot of the whole you have to eat this, this and that is overrated to be honest.
I follow a woman on Instagram for example- she is a fitness and healhty eating freak. She eats all the best stuff, nothing processes, all the fruits and veges, all organic etc.
This woman is sick CONSTANTLY. Always posting how she is getting sick AGAIN. Twice a month at least.
And then there is me- with my Dorito habit, my dislike of veges, my fast food addiction, eating chocolat by the pound on my couch at 11 pm at night, my love of all things junk....and I"m never sick.

I don't know....

Message edited 10/10/2018 4:28:54 PM.