picky eaters?!

[meghans_mom]

Hey everyone --

question -- Meghan is an extremely picky eater...probably not all that unusual for any 3-going-on-4 year old but it worries me.

the child will not eat ANY vegetable except corn, but she will eat pureed baby food (any type, pureed, chunky, any flavor).

She only eats CANNED peaches, applesauce and berry-applesauce.

If it looks different than what she likes, no way, won't eat it.

It's very difficult to feed her unless I give her what she wants (chicken cutlets, fish sticks, french fries, bagels, waffles, pasta, tomato soup, cream cheese on crackers, grilled cheese) -- I'm just glad she drinks milk and enjoys it!!

You get the idea...I feel like I'm not giving her a good diet to grow and for her to like new things when she's older...

Will she grow out of this? I know I was a really picky eater when I was a child and now I'll try pretty much anything, just for the sake of trying something new.

I know they say w/ kids they need to see a new food something like 18 times before they'll try it or like it or whatever, and I've done that -- giving her peas every week, but then maybe she just hates peas?

I guess I'm just looking for similar experiences and reassurance, that yes - the kid will most likely eat better when she gets older?

thanks :-) laurie

[MB]

Our thirteen year old son started expanding his food horizons this year. He was fond of everything on your list plus pretzels and pizza.

He will now eat a regular dinner and a school lunch. I think he finally got hungry enough! A typical teenager.

MB

[meghans_mom]

MB - thanks...and how could I forget the pretzles & pizza? two of MM's very favorites....
I am happy to report that MM will even eat homemade pizza...on whole wheat pita bread!!

Now if I can just get thru the next 10 years with her on this diet, LOL!
And I swore I wouldn't be one of those parents who made separate meals for their kids - they'd eat what WE eat and Like It, ROFL!

laurie

[donnita]

Cassandra is the same way, she is 3.5 now. She ate anything I put in front of her until she turned 2. Since then she has gotten very picky! She will eat french fries, mashed potatoes, refried beans, peas, chicken, hamburgers, hotdogs, and yogurt, and of course candy and chips. For a while she would eat mac and cheese but it had to be elbow macaroni, not spirals or shapes, but now she won't eat any kind.
Hmmm, ten more years of hotdogs? Yuck!

Donnita

[ashliesmomheidi]

Ashlie has pretty mcuh been a very easy eater, Eating anything that would fit in her mouth and is edible and sometimes the non edible, lol

But my 6 yr old (non ds) son was my pickiest by far and still is! He only eats around 1 meal to 1 1/2 meals a day and is growing fine, He only eats american food and wont eat any other ethnic not even rice, No Red Sauce for him and when it comes to sweets nothing with Chocolate, Weird Child of mine and I have no idea how he got this way, lol but now that he is in school he is trying new things. So hopefully by next year he will like a lot more things,

[ourangelalicia]

Ali is the same way...although I'm starting to wonder if it's a behavior/control thing now. One day she really likes one food, and 2 days later she just throws it. She is definitely picky about what she eats, there are certain things she will never eat, and about ten things that she will eat...but only sometimes. I was thrilled when I got her to eat a cheeseburger two days ago, if that says anything about how little she will eat!

[Haleysmom]

Ok Haley is 8 and thinks it's a big deal if she tries Italian toast (instead of just bread) Haley I think is one of the pickiest eaters of all time! A few weeks ago she tried turkey for the first time! It has been a long 8 years of NOTHING new. This kid LOVES mint chocolate chip ice cream - one caveat - it has to be GREEN! One time I bought premium mint choc chip that was white and had to mix it with fool - I mean food coloring! It worked. I do know that Haleys likes/dislikes seem to be based on look. All her therapists when she was younger would say maybe it's texture, but she ate yogurt (smooth) grilled cheese sandwiches and toasted english muffins (crunchy) LOVES Root beer (carbonated) but also last week she tried my pulled pork sandwich - kinda funny she takes a bite (of something new) and hasn't even closed her mouth yet but informs us - IT'S GOOD!

[momofrussell]

Sounds like it could be toddler thing. Most toddlers don't like variety, they like what they know.. and they pick and graze and somedays are worse then others. Then, attach that to a child w/DS... LMAO... see where I am going with this? heehee

I say... don't worry about it. I have to tell you, Russell has NEVER eaten well. Use to bother me. He is 6 now, and eats pasta or chicken fried steak, frozen meals for dinner, apple sauce, peaches, mand oranges, pancakes, eggs, oatmeal (ONLY the Maple flavored LOL) and will ONLY eat banana's if I feed them to him and are with his eggs for breakfast.. won't eat them any other time of the day.. he likes yogurt.. and that is about it... so I'd say your daughter eats WELL!!! Russell does NOT eat veggies AT ALL.. I have tried EVERYTHING a mom could do.. I don't worry about it anymore. The docs ask.. I say, this is what he eats and that is that. At Russell's school, the kids all have DS and the teacher told me a child ONLY ate ONE same thing for lunch ALL YEAR... would NOT eat anything else... LMAO!

Needless to say.. I by lots of frozen meals and Chef Boyardee micro meals for lunch and dinner.. that is about it for him!

Good luck.. and don't sweat it. If you are concerned, keep introducing foods every so often.. and also keep in mind some toddlers like "pretty" displays... Reece, my 4 yr old is TOTALLY like that LOL

A.

[christie]

Wish I could help you out with this one girl BUT OMG Chris will soon be 12 and OMG he is the worst Picky eater I have ever found But then again so am I LOL

The only thing so far that has helped us is have LOTS of Ketchup around, LOLOL

I will tell you my good friends son, also DS, when he was tiny would eat hardly any real people food. Then one day Hmmm I think he was 5 he just started eatting everything. She said she just always offered it to him and one day he said OK ;D For me I am still waiting for that day

Good Luck girl and BTW how is your Mom doing?? Thinking of you guys.

CC

[Staci]

Aidan was a little bit picky when he was younger...but I now blame that on his tummy troubles. This kid is my vegetarian, I swear! He LOVES all veggies and all fruits...but will NOT touch meat! The kid ate spinach, a whole helping, for crying out loud My husband and I wouldn't touch the stuff, Aidan ate it all up! Yuck! But I'm really glad he's into his veggies...

My picky eater is Parker! That girl will NOT eat! She hates to try new things, if she does try new things, she has to feed it to herself LOL. Very independent. The only thing that is working for her is just putting it on her plate over and over and over again...tonight, she tried steamed cauliflower when she wouldn't touch the stuff the many, many times I've tried before. Go figure. Sorry I'm not much help, but just wanted to sympathize with ya! Try, try again...hopefully she'll want to try more when she's older.

Staci

[Connie]

Just wanted to add because I'm one of those mothers with a picky eater......and vegetables......LOL you have got to be kidding!!!

But, I thought thats why they made FLINTSTONE VITIMANS.....LOL

Connie

[momofrussell]

"The only thing so far that has helped us is have LOTS of Ketchup around"

LOL

In our house it's RANCH dressing LMAO!!!

A.

[Claire]

We had the same problem with Adam. The fact that he was on pureed until he was 5 made a big diference in him liking new textures. One thing I found that if it looks nice he will eat it. ;D Like I will make a hard boiled egg for breakfast and cut it in 2 then add raisins for eyes and a nose. Or I will cut his sandwiches with cookie cutters in different sapes. I made him a pancake yesterday and put 2 1/2 stawberries for the eyes, 1 chocolate chip for a nose and whip cream for the mouth. He just loved it. Now it's trying to get him to eat what doesn't always look so pretty like in restaurants. ;D ;D ;D
But at least at home he is trying new stuff. If he doesn't like it the first time I wait about a week and then re-introduce the food texture. Hope this helps a bit.
Claire

[Debbie]

My mother said I was a picky eater when I was real young. She would call the doctor because I would not eat meat! She was at the end of her rope. He just said to put sugar on the meat. I did eat it then. I couldn't stand brussel sprouts though. We had to stay at the table until we ate them. My sister was more stubborn and she succeeded in trying my parent's patience. I would hold my nose and guff them down. I like most veggie's now with the exception of the brussel sprouts, caluflower, green pea's and turnup green's. ;D I can't stand them actually.