Do you make your kids eat what they are served?

[newchickenfamily]

I won't fix them something different for dinner. I put the food on the table and that's what we are having! My point to them is that they get to mostly choose what they want for breakfast and lunch, so dinner is my choice!

However, when I am planning a meal, I choose at least one thing I KNOW they will eat, but we do ask that they TRY at least 2 bites of everything else. If they refuse for whatever reason, that's their choice.

 

[MissPrissy]

My 2 year old DS has some favorites - beets, carrots, asparagus, corn on the cob, tiny english peas and LOVES spinach salad - could care less about potatoes. Given his taste preference I can't complain about his not wanting to eat a potato that is not a french fry.

My 10 yr old DD is picky but LOVEs anything stir fried, can eat her weight in raw broccoli with ranch dressing and will choose salad and fruit at school for lunch. Getting veggies that are not in a salad down her is a trying chore. She also has weird meat eating habits. One days she has decided she is a 'vegetarian' and the next she is eating country fried steak and loving it.

I think the main thing is how far you let them carry their pickiness and how far you let them push you and make demands. It is a good thing to let them be a little independent in their choices but it is up to you to set the limits on what they get to choose from. Sometimes the choice includes going without supper.

 

[SewingDiva]

We do not tolerate fussy eaters even if their friends come over for dinner.

 

[luvzmybabz]

my 2 year old went on a no veggie trip for about a month. I can not stand a picky eater so I finally went there. Peas for breckfast, green beans for lunch and brocoili for dinner the brocoili got scarfed up because he was very hungry at that point. Now he will eat his veggies.

My older son does not live with me 100% of the time will come over and whine (7 years old ) about the food but I make him eat it or go hungry and he has actually gone and told his GMA to make this or that.

My fear for picky eaters the way that our financial future as a country is getting to be is that we will eat a lot more starches and less meats etc. I am not fond of rice but I will eat it ( it's cheap) .

 

[wegotchickens]

I grew up in a 'clean your plate' family. I too sat in front of a bowl of stew for 4 hours, finally ate it, and then put it back in the bowl the hard way. Swore I would do different.

And I do, but within reason. The kids can refuse starches after 1 or 2 bites. But they HAVE to eat the vegetables and at least 1/2 the protein. They have to take at least 2 bites of every new food, or a food that's prepareed a new way. And if they are still hungry after they've eaten what they have to of our meal, they can have fruit or raw veggies.

And they can have fruit or veggies any time they want without asking for permission. They aren't allowed to have 'snack' foods without permission.

About eating out: I insist that they try the new foods, taking small portions. They need to give it a chance. They need to be polite in expressing their feelings about something, so that no one gets hurt feelings. And they can politely decline what they don't want.
And then they can eat fruit or veggies when they get home.
They CANNOT refuse all the nutritous stuff and then gorge on desserts when at a potluck kind of event.

And yeah, at restaurants, if you order it you EAT it!

 

[Godsgrl]

I grew up with a very difficult step-parent, and a lot of grief revolved around food. As a result, I grew up with an eating disorder. Only in the last few years have I overcome it for the most part.

So I am not really strict with my kids involving food. If they want something else at meal time, I let them make it, and don't make a big fuss over it. I don't want to make eating a battlefield like I grew up with.

 

[vfem]

I try to do what Sienfield's wife does. I have some veggi puree and I mix it in with meals. My daughter is 18 months and isn't picky so much as she'll try everything once and just not finish eating.

So I make my own pizza and add spinich to the sauce, and I add corn and peas to most of my sauces anyways. Then I offer it on the side as well. I just want to make sure she gets enough!

If they don't see it, they don't taste it, they can't possibly not like it.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Yes and No...I hear it leads to children being overweight so we try it a different way. I do like Miss Prissy..they have to at least try it and they serve themselves...they DO eat what they take that is a rule we have always had...if they can't eat it than they don't get tv/music/phone that night. It's wasteful and now a days you can't be wasteful. SO they have all learned to only take a little to start and they can always go back for more.

 

[chookchick]

OMG this is such a hot button for me! My stepson is an insanely picky eater, and I know picky eaters because I was a pretty tough one, But he takes the cake. We have to put together a totally separate meal for him at every mealtime.

For instance--the only cheese he will eat is Tillamook brand medium cheddar--freshly grated and he wants ME to grate it instead of his Dad because the strings are longer.
He will eat Bologna, but only Bar S brand. He will eat white chicken meat, or hamburger or steak, but it can't have any seasoning or char marks on it, has to be perfectly cooked. Only soup he will eat is chicken noodle-O's (not stars) and still he picks the meat out because it is not "white enough". un

Anyway you get the picture--it drives me insane! Going to any gathering is embarassing and he can't go to camp. The reason he got this way is that his parents catered to him from a young age and never let him go hungry (always gave him something so he would eat), I wasn't in the picture until he was 8, and have made a few changes, but we have had to choose our battles with him and Dad isn't completely supportive of letting him go hungry. Now at least he has to have a fruit or vegetable with every meal, can't have desert unless he finishes his dinner, and has to try something new once in a while.

I think Kids need to learn from a young age that you have to eat what is offered you. Don't force them to eat anything, but don't let them manipulate you by acting like they are starving to death! (My stepson is the absolute master of that move).

 

[SterlingAcres]

I hide vegetables that I know the boys won't eat. However, I won't make a separate meal for lunch OR dinner. They can pick breakfast. If they don't eat, they go hungry. When they get hungry enough, they'll eat. No biggie.

My nieces on the other hand... PICKY. And pampered