any advice for super-picky eater? 5 yr boy---?
Answers:
There could be several reasons why your son is a picky eater,
1. he is a typical 5 year old child and will eventually grow out of it.
2. He may have oversensitive tastebuds and smells and this really puts him off certain foods. I forget what this is called. I'm like this with smells and the way certain things feel. So he may not be able to handle the taste,smell or different texture of the foods.
My youngest son is also very picky. He is 8 now and a bit better now than a few years ago. What we did back then was gave him a teaspoon (the one we eat with not the ones I use for measurements) portion of each thing that was one the menu and had him eat it or at least try it.
If he did he would get to eat a peanut butter sandwich and chips. At first that didn't really work until I fed it to him. Then it worked wonderful. Was a pain, but he was slowly eating.
He for the most part now has no problem with eating his meats by himself, but veggies, no way, no how. But, he will if I do for him. And there is no sandwich after it now a days. He is still a very, very picky eater, only a handful of foods he will eat with no problems, still will have full out fits over.
But my point is it's not every night any more and in fact the other night was the first one in several months. Plus he will now eat more food then he would a few years ago. Which is a good thing. Plus I don't have to feed him every little thing he hates. Just the ones he really hates, even then he is starting to eat them by himself now.
Plus another thing you might try ( his therapist approved it) 3 times a week my boys stock up on snacks and what I mean on snacks is fruit bars,fruit snacks,wheat thins,graham crackers,crakers with peanutbutter,cereal bars, etc and they are in control on when they eat and how many they eat. On Monday they get a total of 6 snacks each, Same on Wednesday and then on Friday 9 as it has to last them all weekend.
At first my picky eater ate his all at once but once he realized I wasn't restocking him up he started spreading his out till he actually had some saved over.
Also you might have your son help you plan out your menu for the week. That way he feels more in control and more likely to eat. Also if you have say like manwiches and if you know he wont eat the meat filling but he will the buns and the chips then dont' make a fuss and let him eat the buns and the chips. Just make him wait and eat with the family. I do.
Once in a while I'll cut a bun in half and then again, put a small amount of filling on it and have him try it. If he still doesn't like it, then I'll wait about four- six months before I'll try again.
Other Answers:
mix them into foods he will eat at first works with my 3 year old
I have an 18 month old. Not quite a 5 year old yet but my son doesn't eat much either. What I do is make his favorites, for example, Mac and cheese, Grill cheese, Chef Boyarde, things he can relate to. He's old enough to understand. "This is not a restaurant. Eat what you're given or the next meal is (insert appropriate meal here)." Missing a meal won't kill him.
Why does everyone think they have to cater to their kids?
Picky means too many choices. Children that do not get empty calories such as apple (or any) juice, crackers, lunch ables, french fries,cookies etc. do not have trouble eating a well balanced meal. My husband's son is the typical spoiled American raised on nuggets. Too bad parents are so afraid of their children these days.
But then again, I am the same mother who took the door off her daughter's bedroom.
Take him to the market and offer him choices within your limits. "Should we have pasta or pork chops for dinner?" Have him help picking it out and putting it in the cart.
Let him help prepare meals. He can wash the potatoes, cut up the carrots, make a sandwich, make a salad, set the table. Children who help prepare meals are more inclined to eat them.
Help him plant a fruit and vegetable garden. He can plant beans, corn, tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, carrots, potatoes. He can water the plants, pull the weeds, and pick the food for the meals.
The children in my preschool classroom do all of these (choose a snack, prepare it, tend to a garden). Their parents are always surprised to see what their children will eat at school. Good luck! Don't give in, I have the same problem with my step children when they visit for the summer, all they want is chicken nuggets, french fries, and chocolate milk. I think this is what their mom feeds them, but I beleive they are coming to live with us and I will not put up with it, I am gonna slowly introduce them to a new food. I agree with the people saying that he is NOT the boss, and he will get hungry enough to eat what is put in front of him if he skips a meal becuase he is being picky. Good luck
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