Do you think this will work?

[Queen]

I am at a loss here, and I know 'where' I went wrong with DD1 and her eating but now I want to fix it.
Currently, she is 4 and 3 months and will not try any new foods, and has a somewhat limited diet. She basically eats no meat, aside fish fingers, chicken nuggets and cottage pie, oh and sausages.
Everyone told me when she was young to not give her the option, either eat 'that' or go hungry, which I always thought was mean but now I am thinking maybe I should try it?
I know they say "kids will not starve themselves' but but but but

So do you think this will work? Or anything else I could try?

Thanks in advance..

[*Ang*]

DS who is 3.5 is similar in that he has a very limited diet - he is the opposite, will eat any type of meat/fish/chicken/eggs ie protein as well as dairy but refuses vegies in any way shape or form and has extremely limited fruit ie bananas, sultanas and puree fruit. MY oldest DD on the otherhand eats EVERYTHING so we dont know what happened.

We go through phases where sometimes we try to "force" him to eat certain foods and he will in all honestly gag after 1 or 2 bites so we just think its not worth the effort and distress. He is not an unhealthy boy by any means and I manage to sneak vegies in to some foods.

Unless it is worrying you I kind of think just let her be, especially if you are managing to get some fruit and veg into her. Maybe try giving her a multi vitamin if you are concerned (DS even refuses these).

[The[cookie]Doctor]

maybe you could try looking at jessica seinfelds 'deceptively delicious' for her??

i think its more about getting fruit and veg into foods BUT it might give you some ideas. i borrowed it from my local library.

good luck, sounds difficult!

[Tinks]

You're right, she'll eat when she's hungry. Don't offer her the foods she only eats anymore, in fact don't have them in the house so it's not tempting to give in to her to shut her up.

I think you'll need to prompt her to try new foods, so eat with her. I'm not a big believer of making kids 'clean their plates' so I say 2 mouthfulls of corn, 3 mouthfulls of carrot, 2 pieces of meat for example. Another good tip is to have a clock near where she is eating, tell her she has to have eaten what you've requested by the time the big hand gets to a particular number (I used to give 10 mins). Keep telling her how long she's got left and that if she doesn't eat what you've asked you'll put it in the bin and there'll be nothing else to eat. When teh clock says time is up take the plate away and put the food in the bin then give no more food for the rest of the night. She'll fight and scream but she won't go hungry. After a week or so if you've been consistant, she'll know you mean business and meal times will change.

Also, reward her when she's finished her tea by the time specified and praise each mouthful she takes.
Good luck!

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I did starve myself! Don't go down that route.

If she is getting all the nutrients she needs, don't worry. So her diet is bland? She'll more than likely grow out of it if you stop pushing. I eat all sorts now. I eat now!

You can try mashing veggies in with her potatoes or cutting things up really fine or... those things may work. But if she's healthy and she knows that it's polite to eat at least half of what she's given when she's out for a meal at someone else's house, I wouldn't worry.

[misty]

I have an extremely fussy DS1 and a not quite as fussy DD. I know alot of people say measure with the clock - but I actually find the opposite works for us. I will give them whatever meal, and they cannot have anything different, any treats until theyy have eaten more then 2/3 of that meal. That meal will not be taken away until it is time for the next meal. My DS1 will literally be eating breakfast until lunch time somedays. My DD is really not that bad at home now (since we have started doing this) and has even started eating her vegies and meat at my parents, because she knows that I won't let her have whatever treat nanna has for her until she has eaten dinner.

[sirenz]

I think Tinks makes a good point, don't offer her foods she only eats all the time. Just keep feeding her the same foods as everyone else, but don't force her to sit there and eat the lot. My mother did this to us kids and I have NEVER forgotten how horrible it was each and every dinner time because we weren't allowed to leave the table until every bit was eaten

My ds goes thru these little stages, sometimes he will eat nothing for dinner, cause he refuses (even if he likes the meal usually), and other times he will eat the lot asking for more lol. I find the more fuss I make over him not eating, the more he WON'T eat if that makes sense? Just try some gentle encouragement each meal time and praise, praise, praise if she eats any of it

Perhaps as a treat every now and then, you could make some home made chicken nuggets and fish fingers and give her those at the end of the week if she has managed to try some different foods.

Sometimes we have a race to see who can eat their vegies first, it works wonders for our ds, he loves racing mummy and daddy to eat veggies first

[Queen]

It worked
DD1 eats broccoli, celery, capsicum, peas, chicken breast....
Its working

[Mellybubz]

I think that you're getting a good balance there with the fish, chicken.etc. At least its a bit of protein into her. Great if you can get some veges added in. You're doing ok I think so dont beat yourself up too badly!!.

[Santosha]

I know it's been a while since you posted but since this has popped up again... What worked? What did you do that made the difference? And is it still going well?

[mrsmac]

Please let us know if it worked further!! My DS is a terrible eater and i have resorted to sustagen to get nutrients into him LOL
He eats no veg except mashed potato or chips and only bananas or pureed apple no other fruit. His meat sources are nuggets and sausages with the odd bit of plain chicken.
He will eat pizza so maybe I should get pizza hut to hide some veg in there LOL I may try making my own pizza and see how that goes actually. (This thread has helped me think things out myself too LOLthanks girls)