Trying to get my son to eat better

roxielu0422

My son is 10, and he eats like crap. Before you get all over me, yes, I am the one feeding it to him, so I know it's my fault. I am asking for some constructive ways of helping me help him to change his diet slowly to a more healthier diet. He hates fruits and veggies. I've tried to get him to even try a bite and it turns into a fight. I do give him V-8 fusion juice, so at least that's something.

Typically he eats chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, cheez-its, yogurt (one good thing). Drinks milk, water and capri-sun. I've cut him back on his soda to 1 a day if that. We don't keep it in the house anymore.

Suggestions?

Thank you!

Laurend224

Get him interested in shopping and food prep. Let him run wild in their produce section and pick something he wants to try. Then look up recipes and have him help you cook it. 10 is plenty old enough to be in the kitchen! Alternately, hide veggies in foods you know he'll eat

Kalikel

Tell him that the doctor said you guys need to eat better, so "We are going to have to try some new foods. I don't know how they're going to taste. I don't know how to make them. We're going to have to learn as we go here! I need your help. I need you to tell me which ones you like and don't like. If you have ideas on how to make stuff better, I need 'em!" You're a team. You're in this together.

Make it an adventure and something you need help with. You will note that there was no asking there, lol. There was no break where the kid gets the opportunity to say "No." Here's what we are doing, here are the challenges, on we go. Also note, no focusing on what is being taken away. Just what is being added in.

If he balks a lot, just keep saying things like, "Well, the doctor said we need to, but I don't know how to make pork. What can we put on it?" The fact that you must is non-negotiable and a given. The focus is on the How, not the What.

Get him involved in making them. And really let him help. No humoring him with, "Here, stir this." Let him choose how many edamame beans are going in, etc. If he wants to look through cookbooks, let him choose some recipes. Go to the library to find new recipes.

Kids who help prepare the food are much more invested in trying it to see how it comes out. When it's not good, ask him if he has an idea on how you could make it better next time. Use those ideas, even if they're bad and even if you guys hate the food that way.

When kids know they aren't being humored (and they know the difference) - when they know they're really In Charge of picking what is for dinner and deciding how to make it - HUGE difference.

Getting him involved is the best way and will help him learn how to cook.