Eat it or starve? WWYD?

[Jennilyn]

Does anyone do this for their kids at meal time or do you actually make a separate meal that they will eat? I'm tired of putting food in front of the kids and them not eating very much of it but I don't want to make 2 meals every dinner time!

[BrattyMeg]

mine eat what I cook..or a sandwich

no exceptions..thankfully only 1 of my kids (son) is picky lol the rest eat anything. I refuse to cook 2 separate meals...I will make a sandwich but not another meal

[lauren grier]

lmao... I just told ce he could starve then He's been a pain in the butt with food lately. I give him two choices, don't want to eat.. fine. I'm not force feeding you.

[newfiemountiewife]

I don't cook two meals, but I make them a variation of whatever we're having. The kids don't like spaghetti sauce, so they eat the noodles and meat. They don't like fajitas so they have the rice and the chicken. It's no more trouble for me to do that, but I wish they would eat more. I'm going crazy over here.

[Darcy Baldwin]

No two meals for us. They eat what's put in front of them, or nothing. However, I do k now when it's something they really don't like and I try to add at least one other dish to go along for everyone that I know the offended will like.

I know that serving any hot and spicy dish will make the little one go screaming to his room, so I do something bland for him to go along with the whole meal, or he gets a pb&j. But I will not make an extra meal.

[Shawna]

Our rule is "You get what you get & you don't throw a fit", so they pretty much each whatever it is I fix. There are certain things I know aren't their favorite, so I only give them a very small serving so they can't complain too much!

[Paula]

I do ONE meal with my kids and they usually eat it. If they are hungry enough, they'll eat.

My mama always had to cook two meals one for us and one for my dad and I swore that I would NEVER do that and I haven't.

[mlewis]

I don't do two meals either. I mean, I don't purposely fix something I know they hate, but they can either eat what we're having or not eat. My Camden has chosen the "not eat" a couple of times, but usually he muddles through.

[Misty Cato]

My three year old has decided he is a vegetarian (shrimp and McD's nuggets are the only exception), so I try to make a meatless version of whatever we are having or make sure there is a substantial salad as a side dish. Aside from that it is eat it or starve. We just leave his dinner plate at the table when we are all done so that 30 minutes later when he asks for a snack we point to the table.

[mrs_jb]

I'm not a short order cook, you eat what I make or nothing at all. My kids are required to try everything on their plate (at least one bite), after that they just have to sit quietly if they don't want to eat.

[AddictedScrapper]

I normally will make them something and if they don't end up eating it then I try something else, but then if they don't eat that then too bad. My oldest is super picky while my youngest will just about anything so it's really hard to find something that my oldest will actually eat most of. It can get frustrating at times because I don't want him to starve but I figure if he's hungry he'll eat.

[lizzyfizzy]

eat it or starve is my motto. i don't make anything too lavish that is often too strange for children. i'm not a cook to order chef and i refuse to let my children poke around at their plate, not eat and then ask for a snack a half hour later. not ok. try letting the kiddos help with the meal. i have found that when i know my kids may turn up their noses to a dish they never do when i let them play a role in the preperation and/or cooking. kids will almost ALWAYS eat what they helped make!

[rochelle789]

Oh no. No separate meals around here. My 4 year old is super picky. I let her pick her fruit, and then if she doesn't eat what is served, she goes without until breakfast. It's not like I'm serving weird whacked out meals either. We're talking typical family fare here. She's just picky, so it's her choice to eat it or not, but there is nothing else. That has actually worked in getting her to try a few new things.

[makabe]

You all seem like the perfect group to ask this question of: How did you get your kids to understand that they eat what you give them? Our son was not introduced to foods on the normal timeline. When we adopted him (from Korea) at 13 mo. old, he was still only getting formula for the most part. As a result, he hates the texture (or so it would seem) of almost everything. In addition to that, the child is clinging to the bottom of the growth chart for dear life, so even our pediatrician said to give him what he'd eat (within reason, of course...) Now it seems like, at four years old, we should be able to start to say eat this or nothing, but my kid has literally screamed for FOUR HOURS straight and still gone to bed hungry with this tactic. I am not a wimpy mom, I assure you, but I'm at my wits end on this one.

Sorry for the long post. I'm desperate for answers!

[Jennilyn]

I need to get DH to read this thread. LOL He keeps telling me to just make something else for them. I told him I didn't grow up being catered to and I am not making 2 meals. So what am I supposed to do? Stick to making nachos, nuggets & fries, tacos, pizza or Kraft Dinner for suppers? I don't think so!

[BrattyMeg]

Originally Posted by makabe

You all seem like the perfect group to ask this question of: How did you get your kids to understand that they eat what you give them? Our son was not introduced to foods on the normal timeline. When we adopted him (from Korea) at 13 mo. old, he was still only getting formula for the most part. As a result, he hates the texture (or so it would seem) of almost everything. In addition to that, the child is clinging to the bottom of the growth chart for dear life, so even our pediatrician said to give him what he'd eat (within reason, of course...) Now it seems like, at four years old, we should be able to start to say eat this or nothing, but my kid has literally screamed for FOUR HOURS straight and still gone to bed hungry with this tactic. I am not a wimpy mom, I assure you, but I'm at my wits end on this one.

Sorry for the long post. I'm desperate for answers!

(((Karen))) hugs...

Is there anything he DOES like? That you are ok giving him and introducing new side items or things that "look alike" (example..he'll eat chicken nuggets..so maybe introduce fish sticks then go from there?)

I'd start with little things..mac n cheese? baked potatoes...etc

Maybe get a kid cookbook and let him help you cook?

You are in a tough spot..I have texture issues too but I will eat most things..I'm not picky just don't like some things (regular white bread is one lol)

Good luck!

[jsikardi]

ITA about getting a cookbook and letting him help, makabe. It's how I get Carter to try new and wonderful things (and there are no outside issues with him - other than his father traveled for the first years of his life... and I was ok with living on nuggets, frozen pizza, mac n cheese, etc)

Also? I think I'm the most hard-core here - lol - if my kid doesn't want it for dinner (and I KNOW it's something he's eaten before with no issues)... guess what's for breakfast.
Now I'm sorta feeling mean...

[cheltzey]

I won't battle on food. Too many other important things to take a stand on. LOL If I know that Logan doesn't like something, I'll make extra side dishes to go with it. Like he is not a huge fan of pot roast, so I'll do lots of carrots and potatoes and rolls. If all he eats is the veggies and bread, then I'm fine with that... but he gets a bit of everything on his plate. He is growing just fine and has actually started liking some things that were once hated.

Exactly what I do. But I'm a softie and left them have dessert anyway if everyone else is having some. I don't want them to connect eating a ton with getting a reward of more food.

I've found that timing snacks so that they're not too soon and not too much really helps things. And my kids are great eaters!

[rach3975]

This is a hard one in our house. I'm a vegetarian and DH is a meat eater, so there are usually 2 meals to begin with. (NOT both cooked by me.) I make some things, DH makes some things, and we combine everything into meals everyone will eat. My 4 year old is a picky meat-loving kid who still doesn't eat combination foods well, and my 2 year old doesn't like most meat.

So for example, tonight we had pork chops. I made sure to serve pasta as a side so that DS2 and I could eat pasta and still have a real meal. If we're having baked ziti, I know to save some plain pasta for DS1. So I would say I don't make separate meals (except for me, LOL) but I make sure there's something for everyone in the main meal and will allow variations that aren't much extra work. The kids get some of everything on their plate even if I know they don't like it. My 4-year old is required to take a bite of everything on his plate, and we'll start the same with my 2 year old when he gets a bit older. If DS decides he won't eat something, he knows he can have a peanut butter sandwich instead.

My tip for the occasional battle when they don't want to take the required bite: don't turn it into a battle. I take the food away and put that item into the fridge with no argument, just a reminder. When it's time for snack I take it out again, and they have to take the bite first. Usually DS takes his bite with no problem then because he's had some time to cool down.

Originally Posted by makabe

You all seem like the perfect group to ask this question of: How did you get your kids to understand that they eat what you give them? Our son was not introduced to foods on the normal timeline. When we adopted him (from Korea) at 13 mo. old, he was still only getting formula for the most part. As a result, he hates the texture (or so it would seem) of almost everything.

Have you tried working with a speech or occupational therapist on this? If not, it might be worth a try. Someone who works on sensory issues would also be great, though they're harder to find. I think when there are real issues behind the aversion, just making it a rule or trying to force it isn't enough. You may need to teach him to accept textures gradually, starting with the ones he's comfortable with and varying things a little at a time.

[meems]

my son's pickiness drives me crazy, although at the same time I feel like it's b/c I forced solids on him before he was really ready. He seems sensitive to some textures. But I think he would happily dine with Misty's son b/c shrimp and McD (and Culver's) chicken nuggets are 2 things he will eat.

It's hard enough for me to cook 1 meal let alone 2. But if my kids won't eat what I make then they get cereal or rice or pasta, whatever I have on hand. It's hard for me to get them to expand their palates when I'm a bit picky myself.

[Kat Stokes]

I generally don't fix two meals. However, we like spicy food so I usually have to make DS#1's less spicy and/or chicken strips or a peanut butter sandwich. He has to try everything I put on his plate - just one small bite. I figure after about 30 or 40 times he will either like it or not. At least I will know for sure whether or not he likes it if I continue to make him try it.