3 Yr. Old Wont' Eat "Normal" Food

M. P- don't worry the more you nag her the worse it will be. Sounds like she is getting what she needs. I have a 3 year old grandson who hates meat except hotdogs, and chicken nuggets, and love pasta. He also wont eat potatoes except occasionally french fries. I had a daugher who was very pickey eater and drove me nuts. She ended up loving food and had a weight problem. Even as an adult she has to watch her weight. So relax and enjoy you child, if she has a problem she will show it health wise. Hope this helped.

Bread, pizza, oatmeal and cereal are carbs. You could offer him whole grain crackers, graham crackers, etc. to get more carbs. Did the dr. tell you to give him pasta, etc? Will he eat brown rice? My son likes rice with tomato sauce and parmesan cheese. Good luck!

Cereal, whole wheat bread and oatmeal all contain carbohydrates - complex carbs, which are good for you. try cereal, ww crackers, and fruit. All contain healthy carbs.
Good luck.

I totally agree with Michelle H-I also have been in the medical field for over 25 yrs. I would like to add that when I was a child, for a year I ate nothing but vegetable soup and hot dogs! The pediatrician told my mom, as long as she's eating let her go. When her body needs something more, it will tell her. The only medical problem I had as a child is, my tonsils and adenoids were removed at 5 y/o. My suggestion would be to leave your child be and just keep teaching him to make healthy choices.

The first suggestion I have is to simply serve him the carbs he likes more often. My kids also don't eat potatoes or mac and cheese - I thought they were the only ones. LOL

Then, I thought I remembered that fruits and veggies contain carbs so I looked it up and I found these two lists of foods containing good carbohydrates:

whole-grain cereals
brown rice
whole-grain breads
fruits
vegetables
low-fat dairy

Apples
Blackberries
Blackcurrants
Cherry
Cranberries
Grapefruit
Kiwi
Lemon
Melon
Oranges
Peach
Pear
Plum
Raspberries
Strawberries

You don't mention if he eats fruits and veggies, but maybe if he will eat them that will suffice.

Do you think he will eat alphabet pasta or pastina? They can both be fun and since they don't really look like noodles maybe you can create a name for them.

Hello, being in the med profession myself, I thought I'd jump onboard and give my 2 cents.
First off, from what you say, I think your child is getting plenty of carbs (beans, bread, pizza, oatmeal, cereal, etc.). It's really not so much about the AMOUNT of carbs as it is about the KIND of carbs your child gets that will determine his health.
Furthermore, I wonder how recent and how far back your ped's education covers, because the current food pyramid is actually an alteration of the original one. The current one states that we need a lot of carbs because that's the base for our nutrition... well we don't, because it's not. The REAL base for our nutrition starts with the plant groups - fruits and vegetables, then meat and dairy, then grain (carbs), then sugars and fats.
Also, not all people and their bodies are alike, your child's nutritional typing may require more emphasis on protein, or be combination, rather than carb-oriented.
So don't worry about it, just make sure he gets the right stuff and you and he will do great. :)

And I'm with you about the disorder thing. We seem to live in an age where every little thing indicates a disorder. It's like every measley deviant behavior or quirk has to be diagnosed and analyzed, or means that there MUST be something medically and/or psychologically not right with the child.
Bollocks!
Some people just can't accept the fact that their kid is just plain naughty, or defiant, or stubborn, or lazy, or strange in some way. Just because they aren't your perfect paper-doll cut-out child doesn't mean you need to diagnose and drug them to death!
Some of my colleagues would take umbrage with my little rant here, but don't be fooled, not all doctors or med profs truly have your best interests at heart. In my career I've seen far more than my fair share of those who got into the field just for the large sums of money they can make, not for the service to the public good. They make me sick at heart and I try not to associate with them if I can help it. They also tend to not bother with education beyond what they got in college and whatever's new, fashionable, and/or profittable. :P

All I can suggest is different kinds of beans. Good Luck

Most doctors are given about 1 hour of nutrition training in med school. For what medical reason does your child need to increase his carb intake? Most of America needs to increase their intake of fruits and vegetables. This advice seems very odd. Beans, ww bread, pizza, oatmeal, cereal - all are carbs and GOOD carbs, complex carbs which are high fiber. If any doctor told me to get more "white" carbs like noodles and potatoes into my child, I'd find a new doctor.

Good morning,

There is nothing wrong with your son. He is getting all the carbs he needs right now. You are lucky that your son is eating. My son and my niece both started eating from myself and my brother's plate, yes they both got their mashed potatoes but prefer food that we were eating. Do not worry your son is getting all the nutrients he needs. Does he like fruits? I notice you did not mention that.

J.

My 3 yr old son loves Any kinds of fruit wich have good carbs. I make him fruit smoothies with frozen fruit, frozen yogurt, orange juice and a banana. He also likes corn wich has carbs in it too.

Your doctor-like my doctor-is no nutritionist. This list has plenty of carbs he's eating. If he's seeming to have low energy, he definitely needs more fruit and veggies. I don't see any here, so that's what he needs. As for stubborn-ask yourself what you will allow as far as refusing food, and then stick to it! If you want him to eat whatever you serve, enforce it.

Give a couple of teeny tiny bites of the new food when he's hungry before a meal. Let him know he must eat that tiny bite before he gets what he likes. If he refuses to eat it, skip that meal and no snacks until the next one. Whenever he takes a bite, celebrate and give lots of praise. Keep calm and don't force feed him, but do enforce rules like no throwing food or tantrums. Usually one or two meals is all it takes and he'll eat the tiny newcomer on the plate. You can increase servings from there as he gets used to everything. Good luck!

Hi S.,
He already likes ww bread, which is great. Instead of trying to get him to try new carbs (which is tuff, I know)....why not give him 1/2 slice of ww bread at each meal. That should help! Good luck to you.
L.

Did the doctor say how many carbs he should be eating a day?

Black beans - 21 Grams of carbohydrates per 1/2 cup serving
Whole wheat bread 19 grams per slice
Oatmeal 27 grams per 2/3 cup serving
Packet of oatmeal - 30 grams per packet
Baked beans/vegetarian style - 26 carbs - some of that may be from sugar

Potatoes and pasta may provide carbs but we tend to add butter and salt, or cheese that may be loaded with sodium
Potato mashed with whole milk - no butter - 18 carbs
Egg noodles - 1/2 cup - 20 carbs no butter here either

You don't mention any fruits he likes. Fruits are a good source of carbs and have other nutients and don't forget the fiber.
Beets, carrots, jicama,and peas (some children like the raw ones better than cooked).
Check the packages - the Nutrition Facts will list the carbs.
One recent article I read suggests having your child help with food prep - no knives! but helping to wash the fruits and vegetables and placing them on the plates - if he nibbles while he works all the better.
And I do respect doctors - but most have not had a large number of hours in nutrition training.
So relax and just try a new food - fruit or vegetable here and there - raw or cooked and see what he likes.

Oh thank goodness- I thought my child was the only child on Earth that wouldn't eat potatoes and mac-n-cheese! My son sounds just like yours and he just turned 3 today! I really wasn't worried about his eating because I think that the food he eats is pretty healthy- aside from the occasional Chicken McNugget! Thanks to all who offered their input!

Hi S.,
It seems like your son likes to eat things that are really healthy for him. You are very lucky because he craves food that will keep his body healthy. Beans, oatmeal and cereal are all healthy carbs. You might want to try experimenting some whole grains like quinoa, barley, millet or brown rice. You can cook them like breakfast cereal with cinnamin and raisins or you can make them like a side dish and add some cheese or butter or a little bit of seasoning. Quinoa is very nutritious and inexpensive. Mix whole grains with black beans and it is a good source of protien. We would all be healthier if our "normal food" was what your son innately craves:)

Hey S.,
I have the same problem - it must be the age :) . My son turned three in Feb. and he hates "normal" food as well. He won't eat pb &js, pasta, pizza . . . I swear he lives on hot dogs, chicken, yogurt and cheese. Although my doctor wasn't overly concerned (my son has always been big - 9 lbs 14 oz at birth and 22 1/2 inches long - we've never been worried about his size but he has definitley slimmed down in the last year . . .) he suggessted certain juices and fluids that have carbs. Then you get into the whole sugar issue but . . . It just depends on how badly you want your sone to get carbs. Yogurt juices - diluted with water, shakes made with ice cream and fruit, Pediasure . . .all those add some carbs but not a whole lot. We just keep trying plain pasta with butter and cheese and he's starting to come around. I found if you stick with just ONE thing and keep offereing it eventually he'll at least try it and he might surprise you and like it. Once you "master" one thing you just move on to the next. You don't have to force it just offer it to him - EVERY day (even EVERy meal) until he finally gets tired of being stubborn and tries it. With us that worked with BREAD - pieces of plain wheat bread, then plain white bagels (for some kids mixing different ingredients- ie pb and js, grilled cheese is just too much but if you give them the components separately they'll eat them)- my son has come around to loving bread so that has helped alittle and now we are venturing into pasta - Look out!!! We'll get him eating spaghetti yet. GOOD Luck!!!!

It sounds to me as if he is eating a better diet than most 3 year olds! Just remember, carbs are found in fruit and veggies as well as noodles and potatoes, and are much more useable to the body. If he is willing to eat fruits and veggies, I wouldn't even worry about pasta or potatoes!

And, why did the doc say he needed more carbs in his diet anyway? Oatmeal and cereal are carbs, so is bread, pizza crust, and the breading for chicken strips. However, I didn't hear you mention fruits or veggies, so maybe that is what your doctor meant by more carbs? Does he like cut up apples, or grapes, or raisins, or sweet potatoes? I'd be more interested in adding these kinds of things to the diet.

To do this, I'd look for some recipes for snack foods that are fun for him to help make himself. Such as a piece of bread with peanut butter spread on it, then using 2 raisins for eyes, a grape for the nose, and a slice of apple for the mouth. There are a myriad of healthy snacks such as this that let the child be involved in creating it, which may possibly interest him in at least trying the food. Just a thought.

Hope that helps,
L.

S.,
My son was the same way at about that age. We called him The Original Atkins Diet Guy. He loved protein and fruit and veggies, but never liked rice, potatoes, bread or buns. I think it's healthier anyway. Start looking at the carb counts on the labels-there are carbs in things you may not think. Also--O. thing that REALLY got my son onto eating mashed potatoes--GRAVY! Or as he called it GRAYBEE. I think he would eat anything with gravy on it! You can get fat free gravy and he might like that. What about pancakes, waffles or french toast? Cut in strips and let him dip into small bow of syrup.
Oh--O. more thing, my son never did and still doesn't care for the typical "kid fare" on menus or at home. He would rather get Broccoli Cheese soup at Panera than a McDonald's Happy Meal and I'm glad for that! I also needed to get certain meal stereotypes out of my head--if he wants to eat soup/ham or cheese and crackers for breakfast--I let him. Good luck. I'll bet what he likes this month may change in a month or two!

Hi S., I think your doctor should be over-joyed with a child that eats such a healthy diet! I've never heard of a Dr. telling anyone to eat more carbs...and actually he should be getting "enough" carbs from a balanced meal of the items you listed. According to my nutrionist a normal meal has two to three carbs (15g = 1 carb). Have you tried sweet potatoes or rice as side dishes? Or even yogurt? Best wishes.

Hi S.,
My daughter (3 1/2) is the same way. She does love soba noodles (Japanese buckwheat noodles), whole wheat tortillas (either plain or with melted cheese and maybe some ham or turkey baked in the oven until the cheese melts), white or brown rice crackers. She also likes sushi (I get the cooked versions like California rolls or veggie rolls) Good luck! Patty

My kids aren't normal either-they love fresh fruits and vegetables and aren't big on meat. Neither of my kids like potatoes. We eat a lot of rice. Japanese white rice, yellow rice (Aroro brand) and brown rice. Neither eat pbj or grilled cheese either. We do have fresh hot biscuits and rolls alot with dinner too. I make a lot of Asian style noodles and they gobble them up so that may be something to try. Als, they love sweet potatoes--scrub and chop into large bite size pieces. Toss with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt and roast in oven. Can toss some rosemary on them before serving but they prefer plain. Takes 45-60 min at 350 but if you don't have time, start them in the microwave. Good luck.

Kids are so funny - they just love routine (and that includes liking to eat the same thing over and over again.) It can take up to 20 times to introduce a new food and for the child to actually eat it. Please don't give up- just keep re-introducing foods he's already turned down because one day he may just surprise you.
As for ideas on food, there isn't too much I can recommend that hasn't already been suggested. However, My daughter loves ww waffles and pancakes. I make plain, blueberry, pumpkin spice or applesauce pancakes and she'll just gobble them up (no syrup though). Sorry I don't have more ideas but I hope this helps.
Try not to worry too much!
R.

I second all the comments about keeping his diet balanced and trying new things. One of our twins (who will be three in six weeks) is our carnivore. However, he does wolf down the sweet potatoes (the only "fries" that I make) whether I make them from scratch or buy the frozen ones. Both of my guys love rice, as long as it has enough flavor. Mashed potatoes also need seasoning or "sauce", so we do garlic, blue cheese, cheddar or other additives in the spuds. We also let them douse them with applesauce (a favorite on everything) or ketchup or ranch dressing. Some days they love what I offer, other days they walk away with less than full bellies (and are ravenous by the next meal).

Sounds like you got some great advice and that you're already doing all the right things. Next time you see the doc, tell him/her that he is getting as many whole grains as he'll eat each day and that he's the healthiest eater you know :)

S. -
Please consider yourself blessed that your son likes healthier foods!!!! Based on what you've listed as foods that your son likes, he is getting adequate carbs in his diet, and they are the kind that keep us healthy!! There are two types of carbs, simple and complex. Simple comes from fruit mostly, and complex carbs are veggies and grains. The mistake too many people make is eating complex carbs that are made from white flour and sugar. They are NOT good for your body, causing spikes in blood sugar levels and only giving sudden bursts of energy as opposed to sustained energy. The fact that your son likes whole wheat is WONDERFUL!! My son and daughter are the same way, and all my friends are so envious of how healthy they eat! Beans, lean meats like chicken and grilled fish and turkey, oatmeal are all excellent sources of nutrition for kids (and grown ups). Have you ever looked up what is in a "real" hot dog???? :) Turkey and chicken dogs are the way to go, on a whole grain roll!! Both of my children are long and lean, not heavy, chunky or big. This is the way human bodies are supposed to look, although you'd never know it by looking around at most Americans. Be proud of your son's stubbornness with food and pray that it lasts as long as possible! Tell your doctor the same!!
-J.

What about gnocchi? My kids love it with a little butter and parm cheese. You could also try oven fries: slice taters into wedges, toss with some olive oil and your (his) choice of seasonings, then bake at 400 for about 40 mins. Don't worry too much about it, it'll drive you crazy and he eats pretty well it seems.

It sounds to me like he eats good foods. Who ever said mac and cheese was a healthy diet item ? (esp the box kind with all the additives) If you want more carbs in there, why not give him dry cereal to snack on when he's hungry between meals? It tastes good, it crunches, and it makes good finger food. It also has vitamins in it and is generally low fat. I would use a small tupperware type container to give it to him, so it is obviously not in a bowl, so he doesn't think it needs milk !

You do not want your child to eat mac-n-cheese, noodles, pb&j, grilled cheese sandwiches these are not healthy carbohydrates. It sounds to me that your child has a healthy diet other than the fact that he is missing two very important food groups: fruits and vegetables!! (maybe this is what your doctor meant by more carbs. Because your child does eat bread, oatmeal and beans which are carbohydrates!) Carbs do provide the body with fuel it needs for physical activity and for proper organ function, and they are an important part of a healthy diet. But some kinds of carbohydrates are far better than others.

The best sources of carbohydrates—whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans—promote good health by delivering vitamins, minerals, fiber, and a host of important phytonutrients. Easily digested carbohydrates from white bread, white rice, pastries, sugared sodas, and other highly processed foods may contribute to weight gain, interfere with weight loss, and promote diabetes and heart disease. I hope this helps. Keep up the good work and be careful about nutritional advice from Doctors some have very little training in this field.

Hi S.,

My 4-year-old daughter sounds a lot like your son. She too won't eat mac&cheese or any other noodle. We call her our Atkins child because her favorite foods are meat, especially bacon, and fruits. She also loves cheese, even sharp blue cheese. She's getting a little better now in that she will sometimes eat mashed potatoes if they have gravy on them. If your son is eating bread, ceral and pizza, he is certainly getting some carbs. My daughter will also eat other reasonably healthy carbs like whole wheat crackers, popcorn, and veggie chips (I buy these at Trader Joe's or the organic section of Shop-Rite). Keep offering a wide variety of foods and he may eventually catch on but it's a slow process. If your son is growing and developing normally, I wouldn't stress about it too much. My daughter just the other day tried a Chinese lo-mein noodle and said she liked it, so progress comes although slowly. Best of luck!

Hi, Have you tried yogurts or banana's? These are simple carohydrates that will help him as well.

S.,
Wow~ you are truly blessed. If your son needs more carbs, try some brown rice or quinoa (pronounced keenwah), & bulgar. He already likes beans, which are an excellent source of good carbs, as well as fiber. Try different kinds of beans, not just baked beans (there might be too much sugar in them).
I wish you luck, you have the opposite problem from most people.
K. S.

unfortunatly sometimes, you just have to take the drs advice and let it go in one ear and out the other. He sounds like a typical 3 year old who is trying to have some control over his world and learning what he likes and doesn't like. I think the leading reseach says to look at the whole diet over a whole week and generally you see that they are eating a well rounded diet, even if all they had on weds was yogurt and cottage cheese or something equally non traditional.
My son was totally picky at 3 and now at 5 1/2 he is startign to come out of it.
One trick that helped was having him be my helper preparing dinner. He might enjoy making pizza dough, or homemade bread, or muffins. they really aren't that hard, you can check out allrecipes.com I like that site because of the helpful reviews.
Maybe you could take a behinds the scenes tour of a local bakery???
What is the big deal with the carbs anyways?? I'm not that up on nutrition that you would need to force that on a kid.

Does breakfast cereal have good carbs? that makes a good snack. could you give him crackers with toppings on them, like pizza ones, or cheese?

Don't worry to much, unless there is some existing medical condition that you didn't mention.
I'm sure he'll even out eventually.