Eating problem

[Sandra]

Hi Guys,
I'm sure I'm not the only one with this problem - I have a 4 year old son Harrison and I am finding it very hard to find food that he will eat. He is very fussy and would probably live on Vegimite sandwiches if I let him. He is underweight but also of a fairly small build (he definatley does not get this from his mother!!) He has plenty of energy, but he just wont eat. Any suggestions?
Sandra

[xkwzit]

Hi Sandra
I too have a fussy foodie who would probably always have baked beans for dinner if we let her :( . She stopped eating a lot of foods when she was about 1 year. If it makes you feel better, I have read that this is an instinct that can kick in at about that age (the theory being that once your kiddie is walking, they become suspicious of strange foods, which should stop them putting all sorts of weird things that they may now come across into their mouths :confused: ). But I digress...we have recently found that she is surprising us by trying things that we never thought she would (like broccoli). She is now 3 years old. We just keep offering her all different sorts of foods and sometimes (maybe the 61st time :p ) she sees it and gives it a go. We don't provide options for dinner, we dish it up and she either eats it or goes without. We also make sure that she doesn't snack for the hour before dinner and lunch (that includes cups of milk, as this can really fill her up).

Best of luck

[I'mAMum?!]

I have recenlty been given a wonderful book called 'Food for under fives' by Rosemary Stanton. It's an Australian book - but unfortunately not in print... maybe try the library or second hand bookstores. One of the issues R.Stanton tackles is 'What to do when they live on air'. A friend who was having the same issues as you has found it incredibly helpful. The tips Samantha gave are worthwhile taking on board as they are some of the tips included in the book. R.Stanton also touches on the refusal of food being a power play. Best of luck. Kylie :)

[meges]

i have a daughter who is 2 and 11months and she stopped eating vegetables at the age of 19months she doesn't eat fruit or dairy products at all. I stopped breast feeding at 15months and put her on to calcuim juice morning and nite and she also have calcuim tablets. She ate yoghurt for a month and hasn't ate it since. She eats sauages when she feels like it, macdonalds, chicken burges, bread and vegiemite and sprinkles, toast. How do u get a child to eat vegetables. She likes cornetto ice cream vanilla for calcuim. Ask your friends and let me know. We offer it to her every nite and i don't believe in if she doesn't eat it she gets it the next day that mean. Some say it is the way to go but i think its cruel.