My Three Old Picky Eater

One of the things I have always done with my son is to put the food on his plate. If he does not want to eat it, he does not have too. He does have to leave it there. I find over time he quits complaining about it and eventually decides he likes it. (I have read somewhere that you need to introduce food 10-12 tmes without forcing them to eat it, they become more acceptable of it and will to try it.) I also found that sometimes serving it with melted cheese increased its appeal. If he did not want any of it, I allowed him to have cereal, but left his plate on the table. Many times he would pick off it. Good luck.

My 3 yr old is a little like that. He won't try anything new & doesn't eat a lot of veggies. We ask our Dr. He said that introducing new foods to older kids is the same as when they are babies. It has to be introduced 10-12 times before they may even think of trying it. He also suggested a multi-vitamin. I try to just continue introducing new things with the hope that one day they'll catch on.

One thing you might try is give her a plastic fork or spoon and let her try to eat it herself. My son has been using a fork(not that great but he tries)since he was almost 2 and he eats better with it. I think it makes him feel like a big boy. Do you steam the vegitables? Try that and give her the fork with those. Because the fork is new she might eat better. Do you try to feed her yourself? And I would agree try with fresh fruits and veggies give her something to dip it in. Just remember as long as she eats something it is better then nothing and good luck

One suggestion I have for you, if you can get her to try dipping them in a variety of dips to see if she will eat them that way, that is one thing you can do- I have offered ranch dressing, raspberry vinagraitte, strawberry vinagraitte dressings, almond butter, soy nut butter, and peanut butter as options, and my daughter will now eat carrots in one of those-she will tend to rotate what she is in the mood for, which is fine. One week it may be raspbery vinagraitte dressing, the next week it might be almond butter, but that is one way I got her to eat the carrots- it took a long time for her to come around. She is 4 1/2 and started eating the carrots probably about 9 months ago. Once I found out she liked the vinagraitte dressings, I offered her a taste of salad with the dressing on it, and it took many offerings before she would try it, but now she will eat it. For green beans, I could never get her to eat them until 2 months ago, I add a little onion (which she won't eat) and some bacon- I just bought the ready to warm and eat, already cooked bacon (I think it is Oscar Meyer) and can take out a piece or two at a time and I break it up and add it to the green beans and onions, and basically forced her to try it, and she ended up loving them that way- that is the only way she will eat them. I have also taken things like Zucchini and other veggies and mince them in the food processor and add them/mixed them in with spaghetti sauce or in hamburgers, meatloaf or anything where it is not as easily seen, and have gotten more veggies into her system that way. Well, I hope some of these suggestions help you out. Just keep offering.

My daughter was the exact same way, and all she would eat for awhile was chicken nuggets and fries. Every time we would eat something, I would ask her if she wanted to try it. Most times she would say no. The way I got her to try more things at first, was at holiday dinners with the family, where she really didnt have alot of other options. I also tended to only offer her bites of things I thought she would really take to (not broccoli at first...lol). As a matter of fact, one of the first things I got her to try was macaroni and cheese. Anyway, eventually she began to like more things, and now she mostly eats what we eat, even broccoli! I know this isnt very specific, but just want to let you know she isnt the only one! It did take about a year for her to get a more varied diet.

Hello D.,
I also have a 3 yr old fortunately she loves her veggies, but I have some helpful ideas I saw on tv one day. Try putting the veggies on a decorative plate, like zoo pals, or make faces with the veggies on the plate...make it fun and inviting. Try giving her peanut butter to dip her veggies in or another dip. There are all kinds of different ways to make it fun...be creative or see if she would like to make a fun snack with you. One idea is to make different animals or fun items with the food. Or if she has a favorite thing, like my daughter it is cinderella or princesses, make a special princess treat! Well I hope this helps..Good Luck!

I have a 3 year old son. He is a picky eater as well. I took him to the doctor last week and brought that up at his appointment. The doctor told me that it is normal for a 3 year old to be picky about what they eat. They usually will grow out of it. But like you, it still concerns me a little bit.

Keep trying! Get creative, and offer vegetables that she hasn't had before, or in a way she hasn't had them. If she likes fruit, she probably likes sweet things, so try offering sweet potatoes/yams, sweet corn, and beets, because they are all sweet. I found shoestring cut beets in the canned foods section at the store the other day, and my daughter loves them! They are a fun color, and kind of sweet, so I guess that is why she likes them. If she likes cheese, put cheese on the veggies, or butter, a little salt and pepper, or other kinds of seasoning. A tiny bit of salt isn't going to hurt her, and it is better for her to eat her veggies with a little butter and salt than not eat them at all, I think. I've also tried fresh asparagus with my daughter, and she really liked it. Also, give her the vegetables first, while she is still hungry. She'll be more likely to eat them then. I agree with the other people who said to try to make it fun. Maybe you could pretend the broccoli and cauliflower were little trees or flowers, or that the green beans are little logs or cars, and she is the giant who eats up the town? She could be Alice from Alice in Wonderland, when she is big. What about using the potato peeler to make carrot curly cues- you could do that with a lot of different vegetables. Have you tried offering her pickles? They even have bread and butter pickles with no added sugar now. That would be a very sneaky way to get her to eat a vegetable, and you can cut it in any shape you want! Best of luck, and don't give up! She'll thank you for it someday! =)

I have a 2 year old and I don't know if this will help you, but my son won't eat veggies unless they are fresh and steamed. I only steam them for a couple of minutes so they are still crunchy and I put a little garlic salt on them. I don't know why, but he eats them every time!

I don't have alot of advice other than my daughter was the same way. When she was that age she would only eat chef boyrd. The only fruit I could get her to eat was apples. With dinner I would give her a little bit of veggies and atleast make her eat that by not giving her dessert or a snack. Sadly at the age 10 she is now trying more things specially things she didn't like when she was younger. She loves corn and green beans now. She will also eat raw brocc. with like ranch dressing and carrots. Give it time her tastes will change just try and get what you can in.

I have a now 5 year old. When he started eating solid foods he would only eat Chicken nuggets and french fries. He still eats a lot of chicken nuggets and french fries, maily, but now after trying time and time again to introduce new foods he will on occasion eat pizza, mac & cheese, and even a hamburger on a rare day. He still will not eat vegetables with the exception of Carrots and eats tons of fruits.
When I took him to his ped. around 3 years old and told them my concerns about him only eating fruits and chicken nuggets they assured me that all children go through some type of picky eating stage and that as long as they are getting their nourishment elsewhere (i.e. fruits, juice, milk, and daily vitamins) they are just fine. So I'd say hang in there, one day she'll surprise you and ask you for French toast for breakfast.

Hi D., I'm a 23 yo WM of a 2 1/2 yo little boy. He's gone through some picky phases, but usually he grows out of them pretty quick. You said that your little one won't touch any foods with a weird texture.. have you tried giving her infant/toddler silverware? I know it sounds simple, but my son loves his silverware and prefers to eat with it rather then without it. I got his at Target (yeah, I work there, so that's most of the reason why). They're about $3.50 for a fork/spoon set, but they last for a while and they're actual silverware with a fat handle for little ones. Just a thought.

~{@ J.

D.
I also have a 3year old picky eater. only she wont touch fruits either. latly all she wants is plain cheese. its normal. I ve talk to my pediatrician and a dietician and the best you can do is offer variety of foods.. They will eventually begin to eat more foods.

Hello,
Try to have her help you make her meal. Like a veggie pizza. Also try to have her help you make a tortilla wrap and then after you roll it up cut into sections to create "pinwheels" and secure them with a toothpick. I think if they help in the "cooking" process they will eat more and if they feel "hey, I made that" it boosts their self esteem and encourages them to eat their own handiwork.