Toddler Picky Eating

[Ratatosk]

Okay, it's not really a CF issue, it's a picky toddler eating issue, but lately DS has been throwing FITS about dirty food. We went out for steaks a few weeks ago and he complained he couldn't LOOK at my plate -- filet, mashed potatoes & gravy... 'cuz it was dirty. Same thing happened last week when DH and I had enchilada's -- ds had tortillas with cheese -- "I can't look at your plate, it's dirty food".

Now he's giving the preschool fits -- refuses to eat lunch because of the dirty food. When I asked him why he wouldn't eat it and his friends would, he said they like eating clean and dirty food.

Trying not to make it a big deal or an issue, but we'd really like him to start eating again. We've been making sure he gets a snack before bed and he's eating okay for us at home, though we've been trying to make dinner/breakfast choices lately that we know he'll eat, so we don't have a big mealtime struggle. Argh!

 

[Ratatosk]

Okay, it's not really a CF issue, it's a picky toddler eating issue, but lately DS has been throwing FITS about dirty food. We went out for steaks a few weeks ago and he complained he couldn't LOOK at my plate -- filet, mashed potatoes & gravy... 'cuz it was dirty. Same thing happened last week when DH and I had enchilada's -- ds had tortillas with cheese -- "I can't look at your plate, it's dirty food".

Now he's giving the preschool fits -- refuses to eat lunch because of the dirty food. When I asked him why he wouldn't eat it and his friends would, he said they like eating clean and dirty food.

Trying not to make it a big deal or an issue, but we'd really like him to start eating again. We've been making sure he gets a snack before bed and he's eating okay for us at home, though we've been trying to make dinner/breakfast choices lately that we know he'll eat, so we don't have a big mealtime struggle. Argh!

 

[Ratatosk]

Okay, it's not really a CF issue, it's a picky toddler eating issue, but lately DS has been throwing FITS about dirty food. We went out for steaks a few weeks ago and he complained he couldn't LOOK at my plate -- filet, mashed potatoes & gravy... 'cuz it was dirty. Same thing happened last week when DH and I had enchilada's -- ds had tortillas with cheese -- "I can't look at your plate, it's dirty food".

Now he's giving the preschool fits -- refuses to eat lunch because of the dirty food. When I asked him why he wouldn't eat it and his friends would, he said they like eating clean and dirty food.

Trying not to make it a big deal or an issue, but we'd really like him to start eating again. We've been making sure he gets a snack before bed and he's eating okay for us at home, though we've been trying to make dinner/breakfast choices lately that we know he'll eat, so we don't have a big mealtime struggle. Argh!

 

[Ratatosk]

I don't feel so alone now. Frustrated, yes, but at least he's normal. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.amalah.com/amalah/2007/03/dcfoodie_jr.html">http://www.amalah.com/amalah/2007/03/dcfoodie_jr.html</a>

 

[Ratatosk]

I don't feel so alone now. Frustrated, yes, but at least he's normal. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.amalah.com/amalah/2007/03/dcfoodie_jr.html">http://www.amalah.com/amalah/2007/03/dcfoodie_jr.html</a>

 

[Ratatosk]

I don't feel so alone now. Frustrated, yes, but at least he's normal. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.amalah.com/amalah/2007/03/dcfoodie_jr.html">http://www.amalah.com/amalah/2007/03/dcfoodie_jr.html</a>

 

[Mommafirst]

Liza -- Sorry to laugh at your little guy, but that is hysterical. How smart is he to be so descriptive about his dislike?? Picky toddlers are tough. I have a picky toddler and a picky preschooler. All I can tell you is somewhere around 5 or 6 it does get better. My kindergartener is usually a really good eater now, although lately he has a problem with anything that is comprised of or ever touched a leaf. LOL!! So most produce is out. My husband made it worse by telling him that the fish and cow eat leaves!!! LOL!!

 

[Mommafirst]

Liza -- Sorry to laugh at your little guy, but that is hysterical. How smart is he to be so descriptive about his dislike?? Picky toddlers are tough. I have a picky toddler and a picky preschooler. All I can tell you is somewhere around 5 or 6 it does get better. My kindergartener is usually a really good eater now, although lately he has a problem with anything that is comprised of or ever touched a leaf. LOL!! So most produce is out. My husband made it worse by telling him that the fish and cow eat leaves!!! LOL!!

 

[Mommafirst]

Liza -- Sorry to laugh at your little guy, but that is hysterical. How smart is he to be so descriptive about his dislike?? Picky toddlers are tough. I have a picky toddler and a picky preschooler. All I can tell you is somewhere around 5 or 6 it does get better. My kindergartener is usually a really good eater now, although lately he has a problem with anything that is comprised of or ever touched a leaf. LOL!! So most produce is out. My husband made it worse by telling him that the fish and cow eat leaves!!! LOL!!

 

[Rebjane]

sounds like definately a toddler thing not a CF thing. It's hard because you want them to get enough healthy calories in without making an issue out of it. My son no CF is a less adventurous eater. Food cannot touch on the plate, took him forever to like things all kids seem to like, for example pizza, hamburgers, hotdogs. Maggie on the other hand is willing to try new things, it's just her personality. She does only like her meat as "clean" meat. That's what she calls it! She'll eat london broil, with salt and pepper seasoning and I broil or grill it and we cut it up and she dips her clean meat in A1 sauce, pretty much her favorite meal, she would eat it for breakfast I bet. Sammy pretty much would eat the same things day after day. It seems like his personality, like he always wants to be able to know what to expect. Anyway, it WILL get better. Sammy became a better eater when he saw his friends that he looked up to eating different things. Also, seeing Maggie try new things , made him do it too. Maybe having your son help out in the kitchen; measuring stuff, cutting stuff up[ would make him more interested. Also, we do alot of "healthy" snacks instead of lunch for Maggie, she seems not to have a regular lunch. And I don't fight her on it.

 

[Rebjane]

sounds like definately a toddler thing not a CF thing. It's hard because you want them to get enough healthy calories in without making an issue out of it. My son no CF is a less adventurous eater. Food cannot touch on the plate, took him forever to like things all kids seem to like, for example pizza, hamburgers, hotdogs. Maggie on the other hand is willing to try new things, it's just her personality. She does only like her meat as "clean" meat. That's what she calls it! She'll eat london broil, with salt and pepper seasoning and I broil or grill it and we cut it up and she dips her clean meat in A1 sauce, pretty much her favorite meal, she would eat it for breakfast I bet. Sammy pretty much would eat the same things day after day. It seems like his personality, like he always wants to be able to know what to expect. Anyway, it WILL get better. Sammy became a better eater when he saw his friends that he looked up to eating different things. Also, seeing Maggie try new things , made him do it too. Maybe having your son help out in the kitchen; measuring stuff, cutting stuff up[ would make him more interested. Also, we do alot of "healthy" snacks instead of lunch for Maggie, she seems not to have a regular lunch. And I don't fight her on it.

 

[Rebjane]

sounds like definately a toddler thing not a CF thing. It's hard because you want them to get enough healthy calories in without making an issue out of it. My son no CF is a less adventurous eater. Food cannot touch on the plate, took him forever to like things all kids seem to like, for example pizza, hamburgers, hotdogs. Maggie on the other hand is willing to try new things, it's just her personality. She does only like her meat as "clean" meat. That's what she calls it! She'll eat london broil, with salt and pepper seasoning and I broil or grill it and we cut it up and she dips her clean meat in A1 sauce, pretty much her favorite meal, she would eat it for breakfast I bet. Sammy pretty much would eat the same things day after day. It seems like his personality, like he always wants to be able to know what to expect. Anyway, it WILL get better. Sammy became a better eater when he saw his friends that he looked up to eating different things. Also, seeing Maggie try new things , made him do it too. Maybe having your son help out in the kitchen; measuring stuff, cutting stuff up[ would make him more interested. Also, we do alot of "healthy" snacks instead of lunch for Maggie, she seems not to have a regular lunch. And I don't fight her on it.

 

[PACmommy]

Totally not a CF thing but sounds more like a power struggle.
I have 3 young ones, they have learned that we all eat what mom makes or we don't eat at all. In fact if they decide not to touch thier meal, I save it and when they ask for something later, I pull out thier plate which must be finished before any kind of snack.
I have to say, that after a couple of times doing this, I haven't had much trouble since.

 

[PACmommy]

Totally not a CF thing but sounds more like a power struggle.
I have 3 young ones, they have learned that we all eat what mom makes or we don't eat at all. In fact if they decide not to touch thier meal, I save it and when they ask for something later, I pull out thier plate which must be finished before any kind of snack.
I have to say, that after a couple of times doing this, I haven't had much trouble since.

 

[PACmommy]

Totally not a CF thing but sounds more like a power struggle.
I have 3 young ones, they have learned that we all eat what mom makes or we don't eat at all. In fact if they decide not to touch thier meal, I save it and when they ask for something later, I pull out thier plate which must be finished before any kind of snack.
I have to say, that after a couple of times doing this, I haven't had much trouble since.

 

[Ratatosk]

Just drives me nuts sometimes I swear he's not our child. We LOVE to eat and he's just not really interested -- he is a good snacker, so I don't think he's starving. Before bed he had carrot sticks, peanuts, white grape juice and some pretzels. And the other day I had a slice of swiss cheese on my plate and he grabbed it an ate it and said -- mmmm Mouse cheese. Figure I'll take him grocery shopping tomorrow night and let him pick out some things.

It's just that he usually eats fairly well at preschool -- peer pressure, so this is just a new thing. Probably trying to pretend he's cool in front of the other 2-4 year olds.

 

[Ratatosk]

Just drives me nuts sometimes I swear he's not our child. We LOVE to eat and he's just not really interested -- he is a good snacker, so I don't think he's starving. Before bed he had carrot sticks, peanuts, white grape juice and some pretzels. And the other day I had a slice of swiss cheese on my plate and he grabbed it an ate it and said -- mmmm Mouse cheese. Figure I'll take him grocery shopping tomorrow night and let him pick out some things.

It's just that he usually eats fairly well at preschool -- peer pressure, so this is just a new thing. Probably trying to pretend he's cool in front of the other 2-4 year olds.

 

[Ratatosk]

Just drives me nuts sometimes I swear he's not our child. We LOVE to eat and he's just not really interested -- he is a good snacker, so I don't think he's starving. Before bed he had carrot sticks, peanuts, white grape juice and some pretzels. And the other day I had a slice of swiss cheese on my plate and he grabbed it an ate it and said -- mmmm Mouse cheese. Figure I'll take him grocery shopping tomorrow night and let him pick out some things.

It's just that he usually eats fairly well at preschool -- peer pressure, so this is just a new thing. Probably trying to pretend he's cool in front of the other 2-4 year olds.

 

[LouLou]

Liza, I'm trying to remember were you the one that doesn't like to drink a beverage after it's been served for 30+ min. I recall some mother telling us this story and how her son picked up the habit.

When I read about the dirty food it made me think of this other story because I was wondering where did he get this idea of "dirty food."

 

[LouLou]

Liza, I'm trying to remember were you the one that doesn't like to drink a beverage after it's been served for 30+ min. I recall some mother telling us this story and how her son picked up the habit.

When I read about the dirty food it made me think of this other story because I was wondering where did he get this idea of "dirty food."