Picky two yeard old! Help!!

tierra85

I am coming into this child's life at 2 years old. Her dad doesn't eat much better himself but he'll be easy to switch over lol. She doesn't like pretty much anything besides the typical kd and hot dogs. I don't want to force feed a child but i really want the best for her and i am hoping to get her eating healthier. I have no experience with kids so i have no idea what i am doing hahaha But i am hoping to get her eating better so it becomes habit for her future. Anyone have any tips or recipes??

Voncreepy2

If she's hungry she will eat it. On her behalf though, maybe you can go on parents.com or some other site like that. They always have a lot of more kid friendly food recipes. I am pretty fortunate. My kids will eat a lot of vegetables, even salad on occasion. The stuff they don't like we make them try it at least. Sometimes it takes several tries. Turkey taco salad is a fave at my house. You can also sneak in zuccini and other squash or peppers , even carrots, to spaghetti, broccoli into a chicken casserole or hamburger helper dish. It helps. Apples and peanut butter, lower sugar chocolate milk, yogurt, fruit in cereal, etc. Good luck. If your man will support you, that will help. You guys have to be on the same page or she will see an opportunity to divide and conquer to get her way. Children give you fits at meal times typically beacuse it is the one thing they can control. Mine always did.Hope this helps.

msbanana

I don't "do" kids BUT my gramma is a goddess and she's converted many a picky child with "no thank you bites." The way it worked- kids were given VERY small portions (usually 2 or 3 bites worth) of all "new" food or disliked food on the table the kid was told it's "ok if you don't care for something but I'm going to ask you to take 2 or 3 bites of it and if you hate it you don't have to have any more." When the two or three bites were taken she would ask "would you like some more?" and offer the bowl. At that point the child could politely decline. "No Thank You." If the kid made it all the way around the plate and declined all of the food they could sit there and watch everyone else eat. Even tough kids would break down with the smells of dinner wafting around the table and everyone eating in front of them and ask for more of SOMETHING. She may be too young for this but it may be a good tool to instill for the future. In the mean time... she's 2 I think StephDoobie is right- if she's hungry she'll eat it.

sanura

I once heard from a chef that people (kids especially) need to try a new food 8 to 10 times before they really know if they like it or not. I would recommend letting her have a small portion of something she likes with a small portion of something healthier. don't try a lot of things at once, maybe try a couple vegetables for a week. also a small choice helps to reduce stubborness, for example "We are having carrots with our macaroni, would you like them cooked or raw" or "do you want carrot sticks or circles?"
be patient, let her see you making good choices and enjoying your food, good luck!!

tissyazd

I have a two year old, who ONLY eats veggies and fruit!! Lol! But, I am always worried she is not getting enough to eat. I just offer her stuff all the time and don't make a big deal if she doesn't want it. I feel like she will come around eventually. Her doctor said this is completely normal and just keep offering. Even if I know she won't eat it, I offer her things like hamburger, turkey, etc. The other day she took two bites of roast beef! WHAT?? Anyways, if she is at a healthy weight, I wouldn't worry about it. She'll eat healthy if the people around her do.

Dammitviv

Kids are incredibly adaptable. Make healthy foods that they can have fun with, and they will eat them. (It also helps if you don't offer sweets or junk as alternative if they refuse to try something) My kids always ate with good variety, but my 2 year-old neice is a bit more picky. Some things she simply refuses to try, even if she loved it the last time, so for her, my sister simply puts 4 or 5 different heathy foods (all a part of the family dinner) on her plate and lets her eat what she eats. The great thing about small children is they will eat when they are hungry, and they won't eat once they are full. Overeating is a learned behavior, for most of us from the 'clean your plate' rule.

Just try a lot of things, if she eats it great, if not no big deal, as long as she is eating, and you're not serving junk food. And don't be disheartened if she likes it this time and won't touch it next time, kids are just like that sometimes.

(ketchup helps, with everything)

MelodiV2010

There is a book out called Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld (Jerry Seinfeld's wife). She has a bunch of recipies that disguise veggies into kid friendly foods. Brownies even! A little work on your part (alot of veggie purees) in the beginning, but could pay off in the end. She also recommends putting veggies on the kiddos plate even though you have it in the other food so they still have direct experience with the veggie in it's whole form.

Good Luck!

NutritionDivaRD

My recommendations are that you not make meal times a battlefield. Be firm, consistent, and patient. Many toddlers are picky so be prepared for that. Stay away from offering typical junk foods. Toddlers typically prefer finger foods and they notorious for loving a food one day and refusing it the next. They also experience "food jags" meaning they may find something they like and eat it over and over again before they suddenly move on. These are normal behaviors. Toddlers love to eat what they have created! So let her help you prepare some of the meal or come up with snacks she can create herself such as "ants on a log" ( celery stick with peanut butter and raisins on top).

My little one has been flat out refusing all veggies since I first started feeding them to him as a baby. But every single day I still offer him vegetables and fruits. I do not make a big deal out of it when he refuses. I just consistently continue to offer them. Also, at dinner time I get over dramatic about eating healthy foods myself. I will put it on my fork and say, "Oh doesn't that smell good?" Then I'll eat it and say, "Mmmmmmm...that is so delicious!" Well two weeks ago we were having lunch at a restaurant and I was devouring my salad when suddenly he reached in my bowl for the lettuce! So I immediately dished some onto a plate for him and included a few extra veggies (olives and tomato) and he ate it ALL! He has since eaten salad with me several times! I always make a big deal about how yummy it is and we eat it together. He also has suddenly decided he likes green beans! Typically I have to mash them and mix them with either rice or mashed potatoes but now he eats whatever I put on his plate. I've noticed he loves to pick them up and eat them with his hands. I'm not going to argue that point right now, he's eating veggies! So my persistence to put them on his plate every night and my patience to overlook when he refuses them has paid off. Thank goodness! Two nights ago he refused baked sweet potato but I have hope now! I'll continue to put it on his plate!

Also you may try offering them in varying textures. Some cooked, some not. I hated broccoli as a child but learned as an adult that I just don't like it cooked until it's mushy (cooked broccoli smells awful). I like it raw or lightly steamed (still crunchy). Everyone is different! And the Deceptively Delicious cookbook ROCKS! Its time consuming but at least they are getting the proper nutrients! Good luck!

PS...my little one turns two next month

youngtweezy

Give her veggie dogs. Too many hot dogs will definitely be terrible for her health. She's 2, control what she eats. You set the example for her future diet.

elsa11170

My kids are not into vegetables and are super super picky. But here is a simple recipe that they surprisingly love.
(And my daughter hates spinach any other way)

Spinach Pie
Spinach (I buy one of those frozen bags, defrost and squeeze out all the water)
Cottage cheese (a container, up too you how much I usually put the whole thing in)
Cheddar Cheese (2 cups or more if you like cheese)
one egg
and one of those frozen pies crusts

mix everything together. Put it in the frozen pie crust, cover it with the other pie crust.
Bake at 250 for an hour or until brown.

elsa11170

well not brown..but golden brown..haha. sorry. writing this in a rush.

live4something

I have been going through the same thing with my seven year old, her whole life. Even as a baby, she was picky with jar foods, spitting them out and refusing to eat them. I completely understand what you are going through. It is so frustrating. I talked to pediatricians about it and no one really seemed to take it seriously, so I decided to take it a step further and go to a nutritionist at Texas Children's Hospital. I explained to the specialist that my daughter will not eat ANY veggies AT ALL and the only meat she eats is chicken nuggets. Everyday she eats the same things; breakfast - plain cereal with no milk or mini-muffins lunch - peanut butter honey sandwich, grapes, apple juice, chips and sometimes an apple dinner - either Tyson chicken nuggets, mac and cheese or ramen noodles with a glass of milk PLUS she loves water and drinks it all day. Anyway, after I was done venting my frustration to the doctor, she calmly said to me "it's ok. she is healthy, smart, a good weight, average height. she is just fine". My jaw dropped! I really wanted her to be as upset as I was and tell me how to fix it. (I had already been through, if she is hungry enough she will eat whatever is given, didn't work). The doctor told me that she has a patient that only eats M&M's and drinks Poweraid and that is definitely as issue! Anyway, the specialist told me that the more of an issue I make it, the more of a complex my daughter will develop about herself and of food. The doctor also said, that whatever I eat for dinner MUST go on my daughter's plate. She doesn't have to eat it but it must stay on her plate. This way she will know that the food isn't going to hurt her or anything like that. The doctor assured me that one day, she will become more adventurous and will try more things. Until then, make sure she takes a daily vitamin and drinks a lot of milk. She said calcium is the most important thing for children and even if I had to put chocolate in it, it was fine as long as she got it. I also talked my daughter into trying Strawberry Banana V8 juice, and she loves it. It has 7 different fruits and veggies in it and taste great. I think if you are really concerned you could search out a local nutritionist in your area and see if they have any advice for you too. Wishing you the best of luck!

Claudia007

Such great suggestions! Just remember, you have to get her dad to follow through with YOUR decisions. He has to be on board also and not give in and give her hot dogs when she begins to scream for them. He too has to be strong and support you in trying to change their lives- for the better! Good luck :flowerforyou: