Guest guest Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 I am at my wits end lately with my son. He is 15 months old and won't eat much of anything lately...except berries (any kind both fresh or dried) thats all he asks for and one of the only things he wants to eat. As an infant he ate almost everything, so this is a new problem and very frustrating. I hear these kinds of food jags are normal, but he is in the low 10 percent for his weight already (always has been) so I worry that he eats enough. I've tried so many things, and now he is losing interest in the things he used to like, especially vegetables, he won't eat any lately. so my other concern is now my husband is starting to think we should give him meat! (husband eats meat, but myself and son don't) any advice for how to handle this?? Thanks for your thoughts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 You are right, this is normal. Toddlers need lots of complex carbs for energy and good fats for their growing brains. Around this age my daughter went through a phase where for about two weeks all she ate was frozen blueberries, frozen peas, and hoummus mixed with a hard boiled egg. Kids love to dip: a dish of yogurt with kiwi, apples, etc; hommous or salad dressing (kids seem to love ranch, I don't know why) with broccoli, carrots, etc; sweet potatoes seem to be irrisistible; whole grain pasta with a dish of sauce; a quesadilla with a whole grain tortillla and any cheese, cut into strips and dipped in mild taco sauce, also good with carrots and broccoli; whle grain toast with nut butter or sunflower seed butter. Kids love to help and are more likely to eat what they help prepare; let your toddler stir, let him pick a vegetable for dinner, etc. Don't let meals be a struggle. Many toddlers need to eat very often. Your son does need to learn that meal time is family time and he is expected to sit at the table; be sure to give him a bit of what the family is eating (I am not a believer in separate meals for kids). Good luck, relax and enjoy all of the wonderful developmental changes your son is going through! mylameoww <mylameoww wrote: I am at my wits end lately with my son. He is 15 months old and won't eat much of anything lately...except berries (any kind both fresh or dried) thats all he asks for and one of the only things he wants to eat. As an infant he ate almost everything, so this is a new problem and very frustrating. I hear these kinds of food jags are normal, but he is in the low 10 percent for his weight already (always has been) so I worry that he eats enough. I've tried so many things, and now he is losing interest in the things he used to like, especially vegetables, he won't eat any lately. so my other concern is now my husband is starting to think we should give him meat! (husband eats meat, but myself and son don't) any advice for how to handle this?? Thanks for your thoughts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 I don't know if I'll be much help, but I know what you are going through! My daughter is actually in the negative percent for her weight and 3% for height. But I don't put too much stock in those charts. Do you still Breastfeed? I do and so I know she gets lots of nutrients from that, including protein. Some kids are just small! She is currently 21 months old and starting around 14 months all she would eat was fruit! Like your son. This went on for 4 months. I would give her lots of other things and she'd have a bite then not eat anything else until the fruit came out! I was worried for a while, but then I just started putting lots of good stuff in her smoothie (hempseeds, ground almonds, tahini, wheat germ) that would increase her protein intake and she would just drink it up. I also added spirulina for a while and she actually started gaining weight! But now she won't touch it if it has spirulina :-( Anyway, you've probably already tried smoothie, so I don't have any other advice except keep trying and don't give in! We don't need meat to survive! And he will come around to eating veggies again! Now my daughter eats just about anything (except pasta for some reason...don't know why....)! At least he has picked a good time of the season to eat fresh fruit! It was hard to find good fruit in the winter! Hope this lets you know you are not alone anyway! Elizabeth On Mon, May 19, 2008 at 8:18 PM, mylameoww <mylameoww wrote: > I am at my wits end lately with my son. He is 15 months old and won't > eat much of anything lately...except berries (any kind both fresh or > dried) thats all he asks for and one of the only things he wants to > eat. As an infant he ate almost everything, so this is a new problem > and very frustrating. I hear these kinds of food jags are normal, but > he is in the low 10 percent for his weight already (always has been) > so I worry that he eats enough. I've tried so many things, and now he > is losing interest in the things he used to like, especially > vegetables, he won't eat any lately. so my other concern is now my > husband is starting to think we should give him meat! (husband eats > meat, but myself and son don't) any advice for how to handle this?? > Thanks for your thoughts! > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 So frustrating! First, confirm to yourself that this finicky behavior is typical!! Then, consider trying some foods that are naturally higher in fat. Avocado, tofu, beans mixed with a bit of olive oil, etc. You never know what might work. Try cookie cutter shapes of food and making silly faces on the plate. Also remember that making weight gains WITHIN his percentile (from age to age) is the important thing, not going to a higher percentile. I am responding not because I have the best answers, but because I remember freaking out when my daughter would not eat at that age (she is vegan, now 5, and also at that age ate EVERYTHING), and then tuning out all the well-meaning relatives around me and just reminding myself that at this age the body instinctively knows what it needs, and that I was offering her healthy choices. Good luck!! , " mylameoww " <mylameoww wrote: > > I am at my wits end lately with my son. He is 15 months old and won't > eat much of anything lately...except berries (any kind both fresh or > dried) thats all he asks for and one of the only things he wants to > eat. As an infant he ate almost everything, so this is a new problem > and very frustrating. I hear these kinds of food jags are normal, but > he is in the low 10 percent for his weight already (always has been) > so I worry that he eats enough. I've tried so many things, and now he > is losing interest in the things he used to like, especially > vegetables, he won't eat any lately. so my other concern is now my > husband is starting to think we should give him meat! (husband eats > meat, but myself and son don't) any advice for how to handle this?? > Thanks for your thoughts! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 My son is also 15 months old (in a few days) and he is going through this also. I find it harder and harder to find things he will eat. He won't touch a vegetable unless it is cut up really small in stuffing or breads. This of course causes comments from family and friends: " How do you expect him to be a vegetarian if he won't eat vegetables? " He will eat some fruit, some breads, and occasionally soy yogurt, but that is about it. It is very difficult and frustrating because I am also always worried about his weight as he is on the thin side. People tell me if he is happy, healthy, and reaching developemental goals then not to worry, but that is really hard to do. I just thought I'd let you know you're not alone. -Dawn mylameoww <mylameoww Monday, May 19, 2008 9:18:45 PM help for finicky toddler! I am at my wits end lately with my son. He is 15 months old and won't eat much of anything lately...except berries (any kind both fresh or dried) thats all he asks for and one of the only things he wants to eat. As an infant he ate almost everything, so this is a new problem and very frustrating. I hear these kinds of food jags are normal, but he is in the low 10 percent for his weight already (always has been) so I worry that he eats enough.. I've tried so many things, and now he is losing interest in the things he used to like, especially vegetables, he won't eat any lately. so my other concern is now my husband is starting to think we should give him meat! (husband eats meat, but myself and son don't) any advice for how to handle this?? Thanks for your thoughts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 I am in the same situation. I just keep offering my son other things, put it in front of him, and hope he takes a bite. He ate EVERYTHING when he was little. Now, he is very picky . I can understand the frustration. I was worried last week because for 2 days, he ate so very little. Maybe, since your son eats berries, you can try other fruits. Put the berries and the fruits on a plate or tray together. Maybe he will only pick out the berries, but it is worth a try. Will he eat a smoothie? You can mix all sorts of things in that. Make it with the berries, soy milk, and add some veggies for good measure. You should be able to find a recipe somewhere. Will he drink Pediasure? You could try that too, until he gets out of the jag. If nothing else works, I would talk to his pediatrician and see what he/she says. He may not eat anything else, but maybe you can get supplements or something so that he doesn't lose anymore weight. Good luck!! (I have also heard that when they go through a slow growth period, the don't eat as much because their calorie need is lessened. This may be the case and when he goes through a growth spurt, he may increase his intake. They always say kids won't starve themselves.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Great article. Thanks!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 We've also had periods like this and we're vegan. Just stay strong and confident to knowing that their bodies know how to balance what they need and its simple 'cause all we have to do is offer an array of healthy choices. From what we've learnt breastmilk is still a large source at this age. Listen to your gut instinct and yes forget about the silly comments from people who aren't on the same brain wave you are...they just don't get it. Support from other like minds have helped us alot so get around/find more of these people to give you the support you need. Hope this helps, Nicolette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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