So wasteful

babytmarie27
babytmarie27 Posts: 161
edited September 2024 in Motivation and Support
I have a two year old picky eater and it is so hard to watch perfectly good and delicious food being thrown away because he wont eat it and I'm not supposed to. I grew up with 7 brothers and sisters and their was barely enough food to go around let alone food being thrown away. I hate wasting food and I usually eat whatever he doesnt even if im not hungry. LOl i dont mean like a few bites of mac n cheese, Im talking about whole plates of food he refuses to touch. Ugh RIP golden delicious corndogs lol.

Replies

  • Newmammaluv
    Newmammaluv Posts: 379 Member
    I had a hard time with that too... I'm sad to say. But now I try to save as much leftovers as possible hoping that she will change her mind later and if she doesn't then the dog gets a feast. lol It prevents me from eating it at least even if my dog is getting fat,
  • ShellyMacchi
    ShellyMacchi Posts: 975 Member
    give much smaller portions then...*S*
    if they eat it all and want more, fine.. but at least you are not throwing anything away, and the stuff not already served out can be kept to serve again another day *S*

    (i am such a cheapskate.. and hate throwing away food too *L*)
  • gennybunny
    gennybunny Posts: 59
    I used to have the same problem. I have read in a magazine and something I try to stick with is think that when you cook the food, the food is already wasted. You can't go back and put it in the box so unless you want to freeze it, it is already wasted. This way I don't have to feel guilty about wasting food. A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips. Hope that helps
  • deeharley
    deeharley Posts: 1,208 Member
    Another thing about being wasteful, is that if your body doesn't need that food for fuel, then you're wasting it by eating it too.

    "If it goes to waist, it goes to waste."

    And I agree with the other gal about smaller portions. If he eats it, you can always give him a little more.
  • jerzypeach
    jerzypeach Posts: 176 Member
    Don't encourage your 2YO to eat if they don't want to.. I think that's how many of us ended up here.....we were taught (forced?) to clear our plates when our bodies were telling us to stop eating.

    Make less food overall at each meal.....I hate left overs, so I'd rather have a little less of a main meal and make it up with extra salad or some veggies if I'm still a bit hungry. This helps on the budget front as well.

    I tell my kids that they don't have to eat if they don't want to, but that 1. they have to sit at the table and visit with the family, and 2. I'm not making anything else for that particular meal, and they are welcome to join the family and eat what is being served at the next meal.

    Just remember, that little kids need to eat more often than just 3 times per day. Make their snacks just as healthy and balanced as what we would serve for a regular "meal".....protein, veggie, whole grains. Day-Glo goldfish crackers are not an option....LOL!

    It's more important to me that my kids learn to listen to their own bodies as to when they are hungry and when they are full, rather than adding new members to the next generation of the "Clean Plate Club".

    Having little kids is a MAJOR challenge.......it does get better, though. i send my best wishes to you on your journey!
  • squeaktones
    squeaktones Posts: 195 Member
    hi, if it helps i grew up with four sisters and two brothers too. i can completely understand the feels of being hungry and not getting enough to eat when you are young. it is probably the main reason i am fat now because i spent years trying to makeup for what i didn't get as a child (lack of attention and food) by treating myself. two year olds are very picky and most don't generally eat grown up size portions. my sisters children have their own little plates that she feeds them from. most grown up food is icky to them. they don't like the texture of most things. that will change. i know that you feel like you are wasting the food if you toss it. if you can't give yourself permission to toss it then i will. you don't have to clean her plate. wrap it up in plastic and give it to them the next meal. disguise it at something else. offer them ketchup or ranch dressing to cover it up with. little kids like to dip stuff. they also like finger foods but a whole corn dog is too huge for little hands to hold and is very over whelming to see. cut it up in small bite size pieces and give your child a little at a time. you are not being a bad mother if you child refuses not to eat a meal every once in a while. on the days when you absolutely can't get your little one to eat give them a shake or smoothie or something so they are at least getting in some nutrients.
  • babytmarie27
    babytmarie27 Posts: 161
    @squeaktones yes I am convinced that spending so much time hungry when I was younger is why i overeat now. I actually feel anxiety when i get hungry. What works for me is eating really small things throughout the day to prevent me from that feeling. Otherwise I will freak out and binge on anything in sight....I was giving him corn dog bites not much bigger than nuggets. He has eaten them before but that means nothing these days. I am going to start making him shakes or smoothies...thanks for the tip
  • babytmarie27
    babytmarie27 Posts: 161
    @jerzypeach I tried letting him eat when he wants to and not pushing food but then he lost weight and that made me uncomfortable.
  • babytmarie27
    babytmarie27 Posts: 161
    Thanks for the advice everybody!
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Ooooh, I had that with my pair when they were younger too! I just had to train myself not to get stressed about it. And work on things they liked to eat - I used to make a "smiley face" out of healthy finger foods like cheese, raisins, breadsticks, tomato etc.
  • CharityAngel
    CharityAngel Posts: 111
    I love freezer bags. I used to put left overs in then to offer later or create something 'new' with later. I do not like wasting the food because the budget is tight, and also I went hungry a lot when I was younger too. Sometimes I was shamed if I ate 'too much' because there was not enough for everyone.

    Toddlers are picky they change their tastes, so definitely look for ways that you can save it and use later. I would not stress about him not eating it, when the next growth spurt comes along you will be glad you have some extra stuff in the freezer.
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