Parenting help/advice needed

[Omaha Cy]

Our son turned 1 on Wednesday. We've got him on a pretty regular schedule, and as a result his 2 naps a day and bedtime typically go down without much opposition from him. Hooray.

Our next hurdle right now is eating. He LOVES the carbs. He could live off cheerios, pasta, wafers, chips...especially crunchy things. However he won't eat other items, such as vegetables. He will however plow through those veggie pouches that you can suck the stuff out of, so I know he's not against some of those flavors. However our doctor said it's time to move away from those and get around to eating with the rest of us. He's at the age where we need to break him of this bad eating habit, because I don't want a super picky 3 year old eater....like his cousin who we occasionally baby sit.

I know we're down to a test of will here to force him to eat the less desirable stuff before the good stuff. Any thoughts on what you did that worked or can help the transition? He was not happy yesterday when he didn't get cheerios because he turned everything else down.

I have thought that putting vegetables inside his shell pasta will probably work, or even vegetables inside his grilled cheese sandwich as well. He's a maniac for cheese....even plain cold shredded cheese by itself is one of his favorite things. I really think he's a texture eater, and prefers certain textures as to what he will eat by himself. Today I put banana chunks in his mouth and he ate those. Even a little buttered cauliflower as well and he ate that.

 

[CycloneErik]

Sounds like you've done some nice thinking and have the answer.

It's probably just a matter of getting him used to it until he changes tastes and his own approach again, maybe even tomorrow.

 

[mj4cy]

Kids change like the wind. Next week he could be all about veggies and hate all the carbs. He'll be just fine. Just keep introducing a variety of foods. Maybe when he's super hungry, only offer him foods he doesn't like as much first with the foods he does like 100% out of site/out of mind.

 

[KCCLONE712]

 

[NickTheGreat]

Starve him for 30 days, and hand him some carrots. He'll eat the **** out of those carrots!!!

 

[cyrevkah]

I have thought that putting vegetables inside his shell pasta will probably work, or even vegetables inside his grilled cheese sandwich as well. He's a maniac for cheese....even plain cold shredded cheese by itself is one of his favorite things. I really think he's a texture eater, and prefers certain textures as to what he will eat by himself. Today I put banana chunks in his mouth and he ate those. Even a little buttered cauliflower as well and he ate that.[/QUOTE]

You have some great ideas!!


Our 20 month old eats every 2-3 hours. Her three main meals is where I try to get her protein, fruit/veg, and dairy in.

Her breakfast is currently 4-8 oz applesauce with baby cereal mixed in. I used to just dump any babyfood in there and mix it up. Sippy of milk.

Morning snack: This varies if she eats any or not. Usually crackers/cheese/yogurt

Lunch: whatever I fix. This week was pinto beans and carrots all week. I focus on veg and protein for this meal. Sippy Cup Milk.

Snack 1: This is usually with grandma. So it is fruit, crackers or yogurt. She can eat her own 6-8oz full.
Snack 2: With dad after getting home. Usually cheese sticks. She eats about 1 sometimes more and wants dad's yogurt.

Supper: This depends if she'll eat what we're having. Last night was subway. So I gave her half my chips, half my green peppers cut up, cucumbers, and some bread. Sometimes it is just what ever veggie and protein we're having.

I personally wouldn't be too concerned about the amount of carbs, unless you have a very pudgy and inactive toddler. They burn it off pretty well.

 

[CyStalker]

My advice: he eats what the family eats and that includes portions. Example: he doesn't get a whole plate of pasta. I wouldn't force other foods, but limit the ones he does like and when he gets hungry enough he will eat the other foods that are offered. They will make you feel horrible about it initially, but stay strong.

I also think the key with kids in most things is to make them feel like they have the control. When they are still hungry and begging for food, give them options of you can have A or B. They have the control choosing, but you win because either choice is the right choice.

Also, here is a link to a cookbook that gets kids to eat food they "think they don't like".

http://doitdelicious.com/cookbooks/deceptively_delicious

 

[Omaha Cy]

Kids change like the wind. Next week he could be all about veggies and hate all the carbs. He'll be just fine. Just keep introducing a variety of foods. Maybe when he's super hungry, only offer him foods he doesn't like as much first with the foods he does like 100% out of site/out of mind.

That's been in our minds as well. "Dude we know you're hungry, and these are your only options. EAT!!!

We're probably also bottle feeding him a bit much though. We've switched to organic whole milk recently, but I'd bet he has on average 30-35 ounces a day. We might be keeping him too full of milk, so meal times is just a luxury to jack around with the deserts of the baby kingdom.

 

[CycloneErik]

That's been in our minds as well. "Dude we know you're hungry, and these are your only options. EAT!!!

We're probably also bottle feeding him a bit much though. We've switched to organic whole milk recently, but I'd bet he has on average 30-35 ounces a day. We might be keeping him too full of milk, so meal times is just a luxury to jack around with the deserts of the baby kingdom.

He's probably gotten a lot of his protein from the milk. That would also explain his focus on carbs.
Also, carbs are fun.

 

[cyrevkah]

That's been in our minds as well. "Dude we know you're hungry, and these are your only options. EAT!!!

We're probably also bottle feeding him a bit much though. We've switched to organic whole milk recently, but I'd bet he has on average 30-35 ounces a day. We might be keeping him too full of milk, so meal times is just a luxury to jack around with the deserts of the baby kingdom.

That might be a good idea too. Z doesn't get bottles any more, but the last few days has been wanting more milk. I personally think she's growth spurting.

Do not be discouraged if he changes his mind on a liked/hated food. It's just what they do. I still can't get her to eat egg, but she likes different pastas and hates them other days.

 

[CycloneErik]

Does he like food from one parent more than another? That can be a fun trick for introducing new foods.

 

[cyrevkah]

Does he like feeding himself too? Z will sometimes demand a fork for bananas and sometimes will eat them with her fingers. Consider the texture of the fruit/veg and maybe try to serve it differently.

 

[cyrevkah]

Does he like food from one parent more than another? That can be a fun trick for introducing new foods.[/QUOTE

Dad could give her dirt and I think she would eat it.....

 

[CyStalker]

That's been in our minds as well. "Dude we know you're hungry, and these are your only options. EAT!!!

We're probably also bottle feeding him a bit much though. We've switched to organic whole milk recently, but I'd bet he has on average 30-35 ounces a day. We might be keeping him too full of milk, so meal times is just a luxury to jack around with the deserts of the baby kingdom.

Be careful with milk. I know we tend to think, 'milk is good for you, so it's not bad that they drink a lot of it'. Too much milk can actually be bad. Kids can become anemic when they drink too much milk because it fills them up and they tend not to eat as much protein. Not saying milk is bad, but too much actually is.

 

[Omaha Cy]

A couple other side notes. Blaise is 89th percentile on height, and like only 45th-50th on weight, so weight is not really a concern with all the carbs. Just don't want a picky kid for the sake of being picky.

We do have a 50/50 shot of spoon feeding him non-carb stuff. Baby yogurt, re-fried beans, burrito meat filling, etc. Never know what to expect out of him though with that stuff. Hit or miss some days, but always worth a shot.

I was a picky eater as a kid, but I was given free reign on what i chose to eat, so that was bad. My mom also purchased crap like 75/25 hamburger meat because it was cheap...YUCK!!! I hated hamburgers until I was 17 and worked at a restaurant and actually ate a real burger for a change.

 

[3TrueFans]

Does he like food from one parent more than another? That can be a fun trick for introducing new foods.

Dad could give her dirt and I think she would eat it.....

You feed a kid dirt one time and you never hear the end of it.

 

[cycloneG]

That's been in our minds as well. "Dude we know you're hungry, and these are your only options. EAT!!!

We're probably also bottle feeding him a bit much though. We've switched to organic whole milk recently, but I'd bet he has on average 30-35 ounces a day. We might be keeping him too full of milk, so meal times is just a luxury to jack around with the deserts of the baby kingdom.

Be careful with milk. I know we tend to think, 'milk is good for you, so it's not bad that they drink a lot of it'. Too much milk can actually be bad. Kids can become anemic when they drink too much milk because it fills them up and they tend not to eat as much protein. Not saying milk is bad, but too much actually is.

Agree about too much milk being bad. 2-3 cups is plenty in one day. Anymore and they'll be too full to eat other nutrient rich foods. Anemia and iron deficiencies could develop.

 

[Omaha Cy]

Does he like food from one parent more than another? That can be a fun trick for introducing new foods.

I'd say no.

 

[Omaha Cy]

Does he like feeding himself too? Z will sometimes demand a fork for bananas and sometimes will eat them with her fingers. Consider the texture of the fruit/veg and maybe try to serve it differently.

Agreed. Carbs he does all by himself, but some of the other stuff I have to spoon in. Today he took bananas and a few pieces of cauliflower via spoon.

 

[cyrevkah]

Some kids just don't like something too. One niece will not eat meat. Her mom can get her to eat other things sometimes, but she mostly eats noodles with sauce on the side.