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My child's a really picky eater.

"Hello Annie

My daughter is three and is a very picky eater. She has a sweet tooth and will only eat a few things like yoghurt, ice cream, crackers, some fruits and occasionally a piece of cheese. She refuses to eat meat or vegetables, potatoes or anything else I cook. She won't even try it. She just pushes her plate away and screams if I insist she eat anything. I don't know what to do. My friend said I should relax and she'll eat more when she's ready. Is she right? I don't want to force her or she might stop eating altogether.

Natalia

"

Hello Natalia

That sounds like a pretty limited menu. I know some kids are picky eaters. However, the fact that you're concerned that she might stop eating altogether if you press the issue, makes me believe that she has a hold over you in this area and is making use of it. Looking at what she's eating it would appear that her diet is very nutritionally limited and I would suggest that a change of menu would be a great idea. Her food choices also seem focused on the dessert end of things which might suggest that she's refusing her main course in favour of dessert. If that rings a bell, then I would do the following. Tell her up front that you are going to make a change because she is not getting enough of the good nutrients that make her grow. When you all sit down to dinner, give her the meal and wait half an hour for her to eat it. Don't make any comments to her about the food, but include her in pleasant dinner time conversation. If she starts to make a fuss, which she surely will, tell her that's what you have for dinner. Mention calmly that if she doesn't want it, that's fine, she needn't eat it. If she starts to scream, then a couple of warnings and a trip to the naughty place should suffice. At the end of the half hour, remove the food whether she has eaten or not. Don't make any comment about this and make sure that between meals you don't offer the dinner back again or any snacks. Next meal time do the same thing and hold fast. Don't provide any of the foods that she likes unless they they are part of a normal main course, like macaroni and cheese for instance. If she eats the main course, offer a dessert but do it matter of factly. Dessert is part of a meal but not the best part. Make sure you don't get emotional about her response to the food no matter how much fuss she makes and follow through. Finding someone to support you while you change things might also be a really good idea. Remember that young children will not normally starve themselves and this is largely a test of her will versus yours. Best of luck.

Annie

Date Entered: 2006-07-30 19:48:45.0
Date Last Modified: 2006-07-31 13:06:40.0

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