Question to those with young kids

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Replies

  • josaleigh
    josaleigh Posts: 73
    We keep a stock of Gerber Graduates for toddlers lil' entrees for my FH's 2 yr old daughter. That way if what the family is eating is too tough or something she won't eat we can pop it into the microwave and know shes getting a balanced meal also.
  • KelieHerrera
    KelieHerrera Posts: 93
    I refuse to make two meals, so they eat what I make, or they don't eat. :) Eventually hunger wins. My kids are a little older (6, 8 and 10), though. I wouldn't be so harsh with a 2 year old.

    But seriously, a little creative coddling never hurt. For instance, my 10 year old daughter was easily swayed into eating a lettuce wrap by being told that's how mermaids eat their food. Now anything wrapped in lettuce is dubbed "mermaid style".

    For younger kids there is a great episode of Yo Gabba Gabba that deals with trying new foods with a catchy song that repeats, "Try it! You'll like it!" over and over. I highly recommend it, it's a really cute show.
  • amygibson82
    amygibson82 Posts: 28 Member
    Im going to sound like a mean parent here but when I make dinner....thats dinner. If you don't like it you don't have to eat it but you won't get anything else. I used to give my son whatever he wanted if he didn't want what I was having but I make things that I feel he should at least try. And what do you know? He usually likes things once he has tried them. So that is the rule in our house. You might go to bed hungry one night but the next night before you say I don't like it, I bet you'll try it.

    On the other hand if I know it is something he TRULY does not like and I really want to make that for dinner I will make him a baked potato with a turkey sandwich and he is happy as can be. He LOVES potatoes in any way, shape or form. So baked potatoes are my saving grace :)
  • AlyRoseNYC
    AlyRoseNYC Posts: 1,075 Member
    I refuse to make two meals, so they eat what I make, or they don't eat. :) Eventually hunger wins. My kids are a little older (6, 8 and 10), though. I wouldn't be so harsh with a 2 year old.

    But seriously, a little creative coddling never hurt. For instance, my 10 year old daughter was easily swayed into eating a lettuce wrap by being told that's how mermaids eat their food. Now anything wrapped in lettuce is dubbed "mermaid style".

    For younger kids there is a great episode of Yo Gabba Gabba that deals with trying new foods with a catchy song that repeats, "Try it! You'll like it!" over and over. I highly recommend it, it's a really cute show.

    Good tips! My daughter will eat carb-friendly crab cakes, since I told her that they were Krabby Patties and Spongebob gave me the recipe! lol
  • Fat_2_Fit_Mommy
    Fat_2_Fit_Mommy Posts: 569 Member
    bump. My kid is really picky I will fix some thing healthy for dinner which my husband will eat but my daughter wont on some of it.. so I make her some thing else like eggs, or I give her some fruit, yogurt, make a sandiwch some thing she can eat. But she loves dressing so if I put dressing on her plate with little veggies like carrots she will eat it.
  • fionarama
    fionarama Posts: 788 Member
    Although I haven'et read all the posts, I agree, its not right to feed your child junk in order to eat healthy for yourself.

    I try to modify what I am eating so we both have the same, for instance last night we had brown rice and chicken and beans, I knew she wouldn't reallly like the chicken and beans that much so I also put some baked beans on her plate which she demolished. I gave her youghurt for afters.
    Baked beans on toast is a great standby in our house if I am eating something really child unfriendly, also proper organic child ready means spag bologniase etc are usually pretty good. I am lucky as my daughter eats her main meals at nursery so really just needs a light supper, but she does feel left out if i eat dinner at night and don't give her a proper dinner.
    Another one is boiled eggs and toast, but really in general I try to give her pretty much what i have.
    There are plenty of healthy meals you don't have to have a salad to be healthy, and I don't think it fair or very kind in reality to focus dinner jsut on what you want and then think of your childs meal as secondary.
  • knittnponder
    knittnponder Posts: 1,953 Member
    I'm kinda mean I guess since I won't make a separate dinner. If we're having salad, they're having salad. We have a one bite rule where they are required to take at least one bite of everything served. After that if they don't want it they aren't required to eat it but the kitchen isn't open for them to scrounge. That said, I try to make sure there are things involved with dinner that do appeal to them. As someone else said, if we're having salad and they aren't fond of lettuce they can eat all the other things in there and skip the lettuce (provided they eat their one bite!)

    We've had nights where they will sit and stir their soup around rather than eat it. They won't starve to death if they choose not to eat their dinner and breakfast is free choice so they'll eat then. My kids are now 17 on down to age 7 and all of them eat a variety of foods, many of which they didn't want to touch when they were younger. We have abundance here and can afford to be picky but that's not the case for all of the world. I grew up with times of very little food and remember opening the fridge to see nothing but some ketchup in there. My sister and I watered it down and warmed it up so we could pretend it was tomato soup. It's probably why I'm mean when it comes to food.

    I know not everyone will agree with our methods but I'm okay with that since I have kids who will ask for broccoli or brussel sprouts for their special birthday dinner and actually cheer when I tell them we're having salad for dinner. Oh, and they hate mac n cheese if you can believe that! :D
  • tmacs
    tmacs Posts: 60
    On nights like this...chicken nuggets, hot dogs, or grilled cheese...add a veggie and a piece of whole wheat bread and butter...VOILA!
  • tmacs
    tmacs Posts: 60
    My son also loves pita and hummus which is super easy.

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