Picky 7 yr old

[Guest guest]

I am sooooo there!!! My 9yo son has been nicknamed the Carb King. He will

eat white pasta sprinkled with cheese (dairy), toast, popcorn, occasionally a

salad with strawberry dressing on it, candy/desserts, and sometimes a piece of

fruit. Period. His diet has become more and more limited over the last two

years or so, to the point where I thought he was becoming autistic (at least

in his eating habits)! This too shall pass????? Lord, I hope so! Marilyn

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Here's what I do with my fussy guy. I do NOT make him separate meals, nor do

I let him just eat dessert! This is not a power struggle that I can see. I

don't argue, so there's no struggle! I have always told him that he can eat any

fruit or vegetable he wants, regardless of what we're eating, as long as he

gets it and prepares it himself (no cooking involved, except with pasta,

which he can handle now). Grabbing a piece of fresh, raw fruit is absolutely

okay

with me! If it's a brand new recipe I really want him to try, I will try and

coax him to take a teeny little bite--really, really small. Most times he is

adamant, sometimes he tries it. Usually he won't come back for more, but

occasionally he surprises me and likes something new.

 

I never thought I'd deal with this--my fussy one's the 8th of 9 kids and all

the older ones have been fine with food, basically. I told my husband before

he was born " This one's gonna be trouble! " . I laughed when I said it--I just

KNEW he'd throw us for a loop--MANY loops! Mother's instinct, I guess. But

he's got a really adorable smile--God makes the challenging ones cute for a

reason! Marilyn

 

 

 

**************It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel

deal here.

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[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

 

I need some advice because I am losing my mind lol. I have a 7 yr old girl who

refuses to eat most everything. She use to eat extremely well as an infant and

toddler. I guess through the years she kept cutting back on certain foods. I

never really paid attention to that. Now at 7 I cannot get her to eat anything

except candy, chips or any other junk food. I dont give it to her so she goes

hungry. The only foods she will eat will be the oriental top ramon noodles, mac

and cheese (sometimes), bagel and cream cheese (bagel has to be a certain

brand), very few fruits, certain cheese, thats about it, oh and PB & J.. She will

eat NO vegetables even though we have been veg for 15 years now. I need some

advice on how to handle this. I know not to give her the junk but she will go

days without eating and then she gets very cranky. I do give in and give her

the noodles, or mac and cheese plus when she is at friends house I find out that

she has eaten the

junk food even though I told the parents not to give it her. Only to offer her

fruits or veg sticks ect. My 9 yr old will try everything and eats very well.

So, if anyone has advice on how to even start getting my daughter on the right

track again will be very appreciated.

 

Thank you

Denise

Mom of Tyler and Tara

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I think that you know the answer to this, but we will all reinforce this for

you.  When kids are hungry enough, they will eat.  If all that is available is

healthy foods, then healthy foods will be eaten.  My daughter went through

phases where all she would eat was kiwi and blueberries and hommous. 

 

Involve your daughter in meal shopping, planning and cooking.  Let her pick a

new fruit or veggie to introduce to the family. You may want to give her a

multivitamin during this phase.  Try kid friendly food:  fruit with yoghurt dip

and veggiies with hoummous or salad dressing to dip.  Rollups:  whole wheat

totilla with hommous or cream cheese and shredded veggies; roll up and slice.

Don't turn this into a battle, as this can create food issues down the road.  I

would insist that she stay at the table during meals, whether she eats or not,

because this is family time.

 

This will pass.  I will be happy to trade my about-to-be 13 year old for your 7

year old!

 

Robin

 

--- On Tue, 8/19/08, Denise Pomerantz <dmpomerantz wrote:

 

Denise Pomerantz <dmpomerantz

Picky 7 yr old

 

Tuesday, August 19, 2008, 6:19 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Everyone,

 

I need some advice because I am losing my mind lol. I have a 7 yr old girl who

refuses to eat most everything. She use to eat extremely well as an infant and

toddler. I guess through the years she kept cutting back on certain foods. I

never really paid attention to that. Now at 7 I cannot get her to eat anything

except candy, chips or any other junk food. I dont give it to her so she goes

hungry. The only foods she will eat will be the oriental top ramon noodles, mac

and cheese (sometimes), bagel and cream cheese (bagel has to be a certain

brand), very few fruits, certain cheese, thats about it, oh and PB & J.. She will

eat NO vegetables even though we have been veg for 15 years now. I need some

advice on how to handle this. I know not to give her the junk but she will go

days without eating and then she gets very cranky. I do give in and give her the

noodles, or mac and cheese plus when she is at friends house I find out that she

has eaten the

junk food even though I told the parents not to give it her. Only to offer her

fruits or veg sticks ect. My 9 yr old will try everything and eats very well.

So, if anyone has advice on how to even start getting my daughter on the right

track again will be very appreciated.

 

Thank you

Denise

Mom of Tyler and Tara

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much Jacuqueline for your advice. I never thought of it as a power

struggle but I think you hit it right on the nose. I just worry so much that

she is going to grow up and have bad healthy habits and become obese (she is at

an great weight now). I dont want to be the one to contribute to that. It does

make sense on what you are saying. I will give it a try and then go with it.

Thanks again.

 

Denise

 

 

 

 

Jacqueline Bodnar <jb

 

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 5:19:53 PM

RE: Picky 7 yr old

 

 

Hi Denise,

 

I'm wondering if she's resisting to much because you are pushing so

much. She's at an age where she may be trying to establish some

independence and this is her way of trying to do it.

 

What I would do is:

1. Not give her junk food. If you give in and meet her demands then you

are setting her up to demand it again.

2. Prepare meals, offer them to her and say nothing whether she eats

them or not.

3. Don't pressure her to eat at all. Just prepare healthy food and

nicely offer it. If she refuses just say " well, it's there in case you

get hungry " and then leave it at that.

 

At seven she can't buy her own food. She's going to get hungry. Once she

realizes it's no longer a power struggle with you she will start eating

the food. Right now it sounds more like a power struggle than an issue

with not liking healthy food. That's my two cents...

 

Jacqueline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thanks again Jacqueline. I just remember as a child that my dad was a steak and

potato man and that is what we had every night. I hated it so much I would go

to bed hungry most nights. During the day I got stuff that I liked but boy did

I hate the dinners. When I met my husband he was born and raised a vegetarian so

that was easy for me to convert. I give in to much to my daughter and make her

seperate meals. I feel if I fix the same dinner for the whole family then she

will go to bed hungry. Well, im over that now and I have been really looking at

her eating habits. I dont like what I have created. I just want her to be

healthy. I am going to go with your advice and there were others too and go

from there. I know I will get her back on track and we will all be happy. This

is such a wonderful group, thanks to all of you.

 

Denise

 

 

 

 

Jacqueline Bodnar <jb

 

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 6:14:10 PM

RE: Picky 7 yr old

 

 

I also don't make my kids try anything or force them to eat anything.

There's no power struggle, because I just act as if I don't care if they

eat it or not. I prepare healthy vegetarian food and offer it at each

meal. Kids eat when they are hungry and don't when they are not.

Sometimes parents want to teach their kids to ignore their hunger cues

and just eat by the clock. That leads to obesity. Kids, especially young

ones, are good about eating when they are hungry and pushing their plate

away when they are not. That is how it's supposed to be, we train them

to do otherwise.

 

In my house there are some things the kids don't care for, such as stir

fry. On those nights I still offer it to them, give them everything else

I've prepared (we always have a vegetable, a fruit, etc. with dinner).

If they want something else they are allowed to have healthy cereal

(Cheerios or Oatmeal Squares that have lots of iron) or a PBJ (good

whole wheat bread, natural peanut butter, all fruit jam). Most nights

they eat what I fix, it's just certain meals they don't care for. It was

the same with me as a kid. I never liked chili. Ever. My mom would let

me eat cereal on chili nights. To this day I still don't care for chili,

and I've tried it many times as an adult.

 

Jacqueline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

In the

mean time, to get some veggies in her, you may want to try giving

her some of the " juices " that are on the market now that contain

veggies.

 

Good idea! Even better, to get some living enzymes from the fruits and

veggies, is to buy a juicer like a Champion, Green Life, or Breville, and make

your own juices. It's super easy to do, and you can sneak in any veggies you

like (carrot is a favorite here). Marilyn

 

 

 

**************It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel

deal here.

(http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047)

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

People have given great advice on it being a power struggle...In the

mean time, to get some veggies in her, you may want to try giving

her some of the " juices " that are on the market now that contain

veggies. I think Juicy Juice has one. You could even pour it into a

pitcher so she has no idea that it is healthy!

Or, if she is up for it, tell her that you can make a fun treat

together and let her help you juice some fruits. Before or after,

when she is not looking, add some veggie juice...

Good luck!!!

 

 

, Denise Pomerantz

<dmpomerantz wrote:

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I need some advice because I am losing my mind lol. I have a 7 yr

old girl who refuses to eat most everything. She use to eat

extremely well as an infant and toddler. I guess through the years

she kept cutting back on certain foods. I never really paid

attention to that. Now at 7 I cannot get her to eat anything except

candy, chips or any other junk food. I dont give it to her so she

goes hungry. The only foods she will eat will be the oriental top

ramon noodles, mac and cheese (sometimes), bagel and cream cheese

(bagel has to be a certain brand), very few fruits, certain cheese,

thats about it, oh and PB & J.. She will eat NO vegetables even

though we have been veg for 15 years now. I need some advice on how

to handle this. I know not to give her the junk but she will go

days without eating and then she gets very cranky. I do give in and

give her the noodles, or mac and cheese plus when she is at friends

house I find out that she has eaten the

> junk food even though I told the parents not to give it her.

Only to offer her fruits or veg sticks ect. My 9 yr old will try

everything and eats very well. So, if anyone has advice on how to

even start getting my daughter on the right track again will be very

appreciated.

>

> Thank you

> Denise

> Mom of Tyler and Tara

>

>

>

>

>

>