Too Many "Snack" Requests! (Take 2) - Marshall,WI

I actually am having the same problems with my 2 boys who are 4 1/2 and 6. I love some of the advice that you've gotten and I think I'll stop having the fun snacks that they like and only keep healthy one's on hand. I'll include one thing on there plate that they like and then include new things as well. If you are having any luck or think of something new that's working please help me out as I will do the same! Good luck to both of us. Its going to be a battle but we've got to stay strong moms.

Ban sweets from the house until he learns to eat better. It will probably be good for the whole family!

One of my friends converted one drawer in her fridge into the snack drawer. She filled it with yogurt (but not the sweet stuff), string cheese, apples, oranges, sugar snap peas, baby carrots, etc. If the kids got hungry between meals they were allowed to get into the snack drawer.

It also occured to me that maybe he just doesn't want to eat at the table. If that seems like it could be the case, only let him have snacks when he comes back to sit down, rather than wandering around with food.

I think you just have to be strong and not give into him if he doesn't want to eat "real food." He might skip a meal or two, but eventually he'll eat. Good luck!

M.

My daughter started to pull the "I want snacks" all the time too, she is also 3 1/2. I encourage her to eat at meal time, but don't force or bribe. I offer 2 healthy snacks during the day at 10:00am and 2-3pm and a small bedtime snack. THat's it!! She gets plenty of food and if she's hungry, she'll eat. SHe has already started to eat more at mealtime. After she gets back on track, I won't feel the need to be quiet so strict on eating times. She eats her veggies pretty good, but really likes the butter spray from I Can't Belive it's not butter.

This is all very normal for this age. Actually, I agree with most of the other suggestions already. One of the ways I was able to get my children to have an interest in eating was to involve them in the cooking or food prep process. Let them help you out in the kitchen. It may take a little longer, but kids have a great sense of pride when they make anything and most likely will not turn their nose up at it when it's finished and ready to eat. Make them a part of shopping for healthy food, and talk to them about all the good stuff that's in the food their eating, and how it makes them healthy. It's never too early to discuss nutrition with your children.

Have you thought about smoothies, yogurt like the kids gogurt.. put them in the freezer and say they are ice cream or something hmmmmm.. maybe carrot sticks , or celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins on top.

It might sound harsh, but I think you just have to stick to what you're doing. Put the snacks up high where he can't reach them and don't cave in. When he's hungry enough, he'll eat what you provide him. If his bowel movements are regular, then he's getting enough. I think the two of you are just at a stand-off. He's not hungry enough yet to quit being picky.

Maybe if you let him help you cook, he'd be more likely to eat a little bit of everything presented on his plate. At 3 1/2 maybe he can put the vegetables in the pan for you and fill it with water. Let him choose which vegetable to cook.

As far as nutrition goes, I always puree kidney beans to mix into sloppy joes or grate extra carrots into spaghetti sauce for example. There are a couple cookbooks out dedicated to "sneaking" vegetables into kid's foods. The Sneaky Chef & Deceptively Delicious.

Let us know how it goes!

My son went through a phase similar to that. My doctor said to serve him what you want him to eat and be sure to include one thing he likes on his plate. DONT give him something else no matter how many requests he makes. She said it would take 6-8 weeks...it did...and it worked! He now eats almost anything we put on this plate for dinner. I would highly suggest getting rid of snack foods altogether. In the pantry, at his level put things like individual servings (baggies or bowls w/lids) of snack mixes (i.e. cheerios, dried fruit, and nuts), healthy snacks like dried snap peas, raisins, etc.. Definitely keep lots of fruit/veggies in the house and just continue to offer them at every meal...he will give in eventually, you just have to be firm for weeks/months! Trust me, you don't want to give in or make him seperate meals...that's what my mom did and I am STILL the pickiest eater in the world! Good luck!

My daughter is also 3 1/2 and is also a picky eater. She is getting better, but still only eats a few things. Like some of the other moms, we do serve her the same meal we are having, and add one thing we know she will eat. Often all she will eat is that one thing! I have heard that kids need to see something on their plate 20 times before they will try it. Sometimes she'll actually say, "I don't want breakfast, Mom--I'll just wait until snack time." So I save her breakfast and let her "revisit it" at snack time. Last night we had Beef Stir Fry for dinner. She said she didn't want the "fry stew", and just ate oranges...and this morning she had a HUGE breakfast! Your son will eat when he's hungry. If you stick to your guns, and keep offering healthy stuff, he'll eat it. You can also try to make his food "fun", like slicing the apples and putting peanut butter on them, or using cookie cutters to cut shapes out of cheese slices, or cut shapes out of sandwiches. My daughter likes it when we do this. They also sell silicone shapes that you can use to cook eggs and pancakes in (we have a heart, and we make "heart eggs" all the time). Sometimes, too, if you give the food fun names, it really helps...like "Curly Soup" (chicken soup with spiral noodles), "Ants on a Log" (celery with peanut butter and raisins)...it seems to intice my daughter more if the food sounds interesting and fun.

Have you tired making his food "fun"? I have a book called Healthy Snacks for Kids (ISBN: 1-55867-159-5) thats all about fixing fun, nutritioual snacks for kids... things like PB & Fruit sandwiches with faces and muffins baked in ice cream cones... maybe check that out. Otherwise, good luck... I gess you could always try locking the pantry and having your child stay at the table until dinner is done, not more brides, no more unplanned snacks, just mom in charge. =) Hope you figure it out!

Yup, get rid of the snacks that are not healthy. Just don't buy them. Does he see others eating these things, that he can't have??? They are in the house for some reason. It's actually a GOOD idea to give healthy snacks mid-morning, and mid-afternoon. Make them high fiber and high protein. If he doesn't want what's available, then he'll have to make a decision at some point, on how hungry he is. He is not starving, but he will come around eventually. It seems harsh, but in reality, it's a healthy habit to form. And it teaches that you create the options and still have the controls, but he gets to chose from those options. Good luck.
J.

I didn't see your post the first time around, but have similar issues in my house, My 3 year old, up until a month ago, would only eat sliced cheese and then it moved to cheese sandwichs, it was for breakfast and lunch, she isn't much of a snacker and doesn't really like sweets, the only thing I made sure of was that she he her dinner, thats my only rule. I have 7 kids and snacking is part of thier day, but know my 6 year old snacks non stop (he is very slim and fit), I do buy fruit snack, chips ect, but I also offer fruits and veggies, which he will eat, and yet I still have the one rule you will eat your dinner or you get nothing, that is the one meal I control and make as balanced and complete as I can for them. Kids go in phases and yes will only eat certian things, but instead of becoming a hard??? compromise a little but let them know that the "meals" must be ate or nothing else, even if it is only 2 bites of everything. The 22 month might be a little young to be to strict with but know is the time to start adjusting her eating habits.