I haven't had this with Louis but there's still time - LOL! The times he won't eat now I know he really musn't like it so I offer don't offer it again (like minestrone - I think it was just too hard for him eat to be bothered..hehe) but I offered some toast just to fill his little tummy...
Other than that we just put a plate full of food exactly the same as ours and he eats off it what he likes...I never try and make him eat more or certain things on it...but it's all basically healthy stuff anyway...
I definitely would try and avoid giving him crumbed/fried foods as an alternative...and if you want to just fill his tummy give him something boring - s/which/toast/cereal etc so it's not really a more exciting option to the veggies iykwim??
Nelly - yep, your right I need to be more creative - things cut into little square and sticks without any imagination probably just doesn't cut it with DS! I think you're right about the texture thing. I made a casserole a couple of weeks ago with a similiar texture to the commercial food and he ate the lot, but then again - I made it again last week and he didn't eat it.
Jade - you are spot on! He is one little man who knows what he wants. He has always been like this! The midwives in the hospital commented on what a stubborn streak he has. DH just laughs and says that it is obvious where he gets that from!! I'll have to bank the idea in getting him to help out. The kinda help he is offering at 15 months would not get any dinner on the table. Great idea when he is a bit older! I definitely do that! I really like the idea of his own table and chairs, he would really go for that. Great inspiration!! He is a bit of a grazer and loves to sit and little table and chairs! I likes to have control of his environment and ultimately I think his refusal to eat is related to him wanting to have control.
Melanie - DS drinks 3 cups per day. In the last month, I have been giving him his last drink before bedtime because previously I was giving it in the afternoon and thought it was reducing his appetite for dinner. It didn't make any difference . When I cook dinner, he gets what he gets and I don't give him anything else. It is just that I try to plan dinner around what I know what he will eat. I know that MCHN, peads and dietitians say that kids do not starve themselves. Unfortunately I know a toddler who did starve himself because he wouldn't eat. His poor mother wasn't believed by the Drs because they gave exactly the same advice. This toddler would faint because he wasn't eating enough!! In the end his mother gave him what he would eat and ignored the Drs because in her case it wasn't true. The advice from this mum is to give him what he'll eat, of course!!!! My DS is not quite this bad, he does eat breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea. It is just dinner that is the problem!!
Kristie - I wish my DS was like Louis! Toast, yes - he will probably eat that for dinner too! I give DS a plate with vegies on it just like ours, but ultimately most get thrown around the kitchen. He likes roasted vegies as well as chips though!!!
A couple of nights ago we have shepherds pie, he refused to eat it, waved his arms around, screamed etc. I then managed to get some near his mouth. He licked it and then changed his attitude, decided it wasn't too bad and proceeded to eat a few spoonfuls. Then started refusing again. He certainly knows how to push mummy's buttons.
I welcome any more suggestions.
Ultimately, I can't wait until he talks then he can tell me what he wants and why he won't eat!!!
Ticklish, it sounds like you are doing everything right. Kids do often eat less in the evening than during the day so it sounds fairly normal to me. Apparently it's healthier that way too. I used to find that Jack didn't eat much at any meal, but was worse at dinner, especially if he was tired. He still doesn't eat dinner well when he's tired. An MCHN actually suggested switching Jack's meals so he was having his "dinner" food at lunch (left over from our dinner the night before) and then a sandwich or yoghurt, one of the foods he really liked, for dinner instead. It did help a little but not much so I stopped doing it. But it might be an idea for you?
Thanks Melanie - I had never heard that kids actually eat less in the evening. Maybe I expect too much of him. I think even for adults, having dinner in the middle of the day helps with metabolism and is ultimately better for us. Kinda makes sense not to go to bed with a really full stomach. Maybe toddlers instincts are cleaverer than we think.
We had pasta tonight and he did eat most of that, so tonight at least tonight he has had a decent meal. It still seems to be a case of him eating only what he likes and only when he wants to!
Ticklish, DD also doesn't eat a lot a dinner and most afternoons she wont have afternoon tea. I have swapped her meals because she does eat a lot for breakfast and lunch.
The difficult thing though is to try not to make a big deal about it. If he refuses to eat, let him. If you are worried about him not eating anything, offer something plain but still healthy like yogurt. DD eats reasonably well most the time but she does go through phases were she doesn't want to eat anything. I try not to react and just let her hope down from the table and don't offer her anything until the next planned meal. It seems to work and we dont' really have any meal time 'battles'
Good luck
Thanks Captain. Good advice. I think my DS is like your DD. Likes to eat breakfast and lunch but not dinner. It is just so easy to cook meat and vegies for dinner because that is what we eat. Swapping meals is probably the answer, so far I have been a bit lazy because a sandwich at lunch is just sooooo much easier!
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. When I cook dinner, he gets what he gets and I don't give him anything else. It is just that I try to plan dinner around what I know what he will eat. I know that MCHN, peads and dietitians say that kids do not starve themselves. Unfortunately I know a toddler who did starve himself because he wouldn't eat. His poor mother wasn't believed by the Drs because they gave exactly the same advice. This toddler would faint because he wasn't eating enough!! In the end his mother gave him what he would eat and ignored the Drs because in her case it wasn't true. The advice from this mum is to give him what he'll eat, of course!!!! My DS is not quite this bad, he does eat breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea. It is just dinner that is the problem!!
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