So angry that I tried force feeding him yogurt (a technique that used to work many moons ago) which he promptly spit out while writhing in pain from an apparent poisoning attempt.
He won't eat. Well let me clarify: he won't eat anything that isn't juice, chips, crackers and whatever other kind of unhealthy junk he can scavenge from the cupboards. The first thing he asks for when he wakes up in the morning is juice and he continues to ask for it all day long. His diet is 90% liquid and 10% crap. He doesn't even like cheese. What kid doesn't like freaking cheese? It's UNAMERICAN!
Most days I can handle it, but today I snapped. I'm sick of chasing him down and asking him a million times a day "do you want a bite?" while waving a spoon piled high and dropping bits left and right all over the floor. I mean I know the dog appreciates it but hell, I'm about to lose my ever-loving mind. He's not starving, obviously, the kid weighs as much as a baby elephant. But, and you might find this offensive so quick, get over it, I'm afraid I'm raising a future fat kid.
What's wrong with fat kids?
A lot.
High cholesterol before the age of 10 isn't something we should be celebrating or even tolerating. Maybe I'm all up in a fuffle because I watched Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution last night. I mean it was obviously tailored for the reality show crowd what with it's confrontational approach and lunch lady showdowns and whatnot, but his message is good. Americans eat crap. We feed our children crap. They grow up playing video games and eating more crap and eventually turn into overweight adults who sit in dark rooms eating takeout playing even more video games and touching themselves while talking online to people they've never met in some sort of weird alternate reality universe. Okay maybe that won't happen to everyone, but you have to admit, you know some people like that.
I'm not saying I want my children to be some picture of fitness and health or that I'm obsessed with proper nutrition or body image or that every morning I'm up at 5 am working out. I haven't "worked out" in like 6 months sadly enough and just for the record. That's not at all what I'm trying to say. I'm just saying I don't want my kid to die an early death because his colon was so lined with sludge that he couldn't poop right, er, you know... POOP IS IMPORTANT and not-good poop can kill you.
Really, poop holds the answers to all of our questions and problems in life.
I know, I know, it's a phase right? All toddlers go through it. But freak man, I'm ready for him to move on already. Eat some real food. Enjoy the wonder that is a delicious sandwich, or a fine plate of pasta, or some steamed broccoli. And berries son, berries are good! Get over your texture issues and eat some freaking berries!
purple crayon vs berries and I will pick berries every time
Quick, now someone convince the 19 month old.
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My cousin's kid would only eat Pringles and Key Lime Pie Yoplait. No lie. He rew out of it and he's fit as a fiddle.
it'll take a while, but he'll come around. Maybe keep him near a boy who is eating healthier things and perhaps he'll copycat? Or you could just starve him for a good bit till he caves.
#1 rule. try not to worry about it anymore. He has Jedi skills.
LOL! Laney is the same way. Especially since I got preggo. Josh generally doesn't want to cook, and between morning sickness, sciatic nerves, bronchitis, etc. (this has NOT been a fun pregnancy), we have eaten out a ton. To the point that I say, "Laney, what do you want for dinner?"
"Huh." She says, thinking. "Mmmmmm. Chips restaurant (Mexican food)."
Yeah--nice. Oh, and at least your kid wants juice first thing in the morning. Mine says, "Mom, can I have a cookie?"
I don't know if this will help or hurt, but I FEEL you. My kid is the ultimate picky eater. At his 18 month appt my dr told me "just offer him good stuff at every meal along with something you know he will eat". Nolan never touches my offerings. But i KNOW it is all about control. The more he knows we care if he eats, the less likely he is to eat. Take a breath, offer options, and then act like you don't care.
As long as he's not dehydrated, he'll be fine.
The other thing we did, though it's a sucky sacrifice for you, is get rid of the candy and crap. Put out a bowl of fruit leather and real fruit fruit snacks and stop stressing. Seriously.
Will he drink some of that V8 juice that has veges AND fruit together? It doesn't look too bad. I think it's called V-fusion. Or maybe you could buy some of those liquid vitamins and mix it into his morning apple juice. I don't know. I have the same problem with both of my little ones. At least my almost two-year-old will still eat cheese.
Hahahah! Yep, kids go through weird eating stages, but what worked for me (note, I said for me) is I didn't give my son juice, or chips, or whatever, when he started being able to eat real solid food. It was an occasional (and still is) treat. I only offered him wheat bread, fruits or veggies, & I only offered him water at first for a LONG time so he never knew what he was missing.
He's 2.5 now and no, I'm not some freak who refuses to let her kid eat sugar and stuff because believe me I do. I just wanted him to get good grounding in the beginning. He used to love beans, any veggie (he'll only eat steamed broccoli) but he will eat ANY fruit. Does it frustrate me? Yeah, but I read somewhere to just act like it's no big deal, and you actually have to offer something 10 times at LEAST. Just offer it to him, and don't react, I think sometimes it becomes a game. Sorry this is SO freaking long!! Good luck! Slowly but surely I bet he'll come around :) An easy way to hide veggies is in smoothies. Have you tried that? I can give you some recipes if you'd like. And I'm excited for Jamie Oliver's show!
My almost 7 year old hasn't eaten dinner in years. She's the pickiest kid in America. I don't give her any other options. She just goes hungry. She's anything but fat. I'm hoping she'll grow out of it by 18.
Oh babe, I feel ya here. All of my kids have gone (or are going) through this phase. I have to keep reminding myself of something our pediatrician told me when Seth was about that age. You have to look at a toddler's diet throughout the week. He may only eat one thing a day, but look to see if there is any variety throughout the week.
I am sorry. I know this part stinks. And good poop is good for him. He'll get it, promise.
I watched Jamie Oliver last night also and was DYING at what the kids were and weren't eating. Eeek.
you are killing me with this post. i can SO relate. #1 didn't eat anything until she was like four. and #2 started out promising, eating everything in site. now he's two and doesn't eat. anything.
it's aggravating as all get out, i know.
but, one thing i've learned is that the minute you stop making it a battle, something miraculous happens. they eat! when it's no longer fun for them to torment you over the issue of food, you win.
and isn't winning what parenting is all about? ha!
I wrote about something sort of similar so I absolutely feel your pain.
http://lunargoat.blogspot.com/2010/03/if-you-know-me-in-real-life-this-will.html
I've been told that a toddler won't starve themselves so it might take some tough love but I think his habits are still able to be formed at this point. Also, it takes at least 15 tries before a kid's tastebuds decide if they like something or not. GOod luck, we are figuring out how to feed our toddler too now. It is HARD.
I saw an episode of The Doctors that was a-mazing. Seriously. They had a little buddy that was about 18 months old and he would not eat. It was like a war zone every single meal. The Doc told the parents to sit him at the table with everyone else and put an empty plate in front of him and then completely ignore him. Don't force, don't offer, don't anything. They all chatted and ate and it wasn't ten minutes and the kid asked for an apple slice. His mom almost died on the spot, but recovered, handed him an apple and he munched it down along with a variety of other food he would not previously even consider.
I wouldn't have believed it if I wasn't watching it in action.
Gratefully, my little buddy still thinks solid food is nearly as good as a bottle, so we've yet to deal with all this (except for eggs. My son HATES eggs). Best of luck!
Yep.
My mom always tells me (and once in a while I listen, but most of the time I don't) just feed them what they want (as long as it is kind of healthy), and when they get older they'll be ok. Personally, I like to fight with my kids until we are all in tears. It makes me feel good (or, maybe not so much). Then I have nightmares about having kids with eating disorders because I made such a big deal about food.
Either way, good luck to you. My kids are the same way as your guy. I could go on for days.
Oh Kalli, I have an 19 month old and let me tell ya... I AM THERE WITH YOU. She wouldn't touch a vegetable even if it was coated in sugar. (I've tried with the glazed carrots) She is my second though so I am just patiently waiting because trust me, it is a phase all 18-24 month olds go through for SURE.
That being said, my oldest is sort of picky. So, I just offer her healthy foods anyway. I put them on her plate and make her at least taste them and take a bite. (she is 3) I Am happy to say that most of the time if I keep offering it and keep making her take at least a bite, she will eventually eat it no problem. It's all about introducing it over and over.
It is frustrating but he will get over it. I think its because at this age they start inserting their independence. If you are worried, just make him eat a gummy vitamin. He looks healthy!
Lol! I have absolutely no advice for you, I'm just going to sit here and laugh hysterically over your post. Love it!!!
Yep, always a party isn't it? I have one daughter who will eat just about anything and another who's super picky. My youngest now subsists on yogurt, cheese and tortilla chips and she's fit as a fiddle! :)
Hands down (don't really know why we use that expression) one of my favorite posts EVER. Blair and I were laughing so hard!
I always watered down the juice so it was 90% water and 10% juice, because otherwise the kid got the squirts from all of the sugar and no fiber. So you can try that to make yourself feel better about the juice consumption.
But other than that, I totally agree with the "ignore it" ladies. Sit on the couch with a big salad or some pasta and absolutely ignore him. Every now and then make a groan of pleasure about how delicious it is. I bet he will come over and ask for a bite.
Yen, I try to avoid emitting groans of pleasure around the children in general. It's not conducive to a normal childhood.
I'm not going to lie, I laughed right out loud reading this. I sympathize, Kall, I sympathize.
Jamie Oliver rocks.
Good luck.
I like the empty plate idea though. Will have to try that with my next picky eater.
I also watered down juice to prevent the runs.
OK, I know this is old, but I had to comment.
I so get this. I don't want my kids to struggle with weight issues like I have.
My middle daughter was BORN HUNGRY - the girls thinks of nothing but food from the time she gets up in the morning until she goes to sleep at night. She will sneak food from the pantry when I'm not looking. So far she isn't overweight - she's perfectly fit -
but I worry about the future.
So far my strategy has been to make sure she stays very, very active, to let her have occasional indulgent snacks, but to try to make sure actual meals are always healthy. I tell my kids "this isn't a restaurant - if you don't like what I made - starve." I'm nice like that. And no sugary cereal because when she starts the day off with a bowl of sugar she is SO snacky for the rest of the day that it's insane.
And we don't do fast food unless Mommy's having a melt-down.
But my kids are way older than your nub, so I realize this is probably totally useless info.
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