View Full Version : 5 year old won't eat
tortoise
May 16, 2007, 02:56 PM
OK well she will eat but not proper meals like chicken or beef, she won't touch potatoes unless they are chips or crisps. She does eat yoghurts and some fruit, bread and ham but that is it and it is driving me crazy. I know not to get mad as that won't solve anything but how do I get her to change her eating habit? I know at least she is eating and I do give her vitamins but I would love for her to sit and have a meal with my husband and I . Am I being too fussy? Please any advice would be grateful, thank you.
tickle
May 16, 2007, 03:34 PM
Then you will have to disguise the chicken, make it crispy, appetizing looking, maybe stir fries with lots of colourful veggies, for both chicken and beef.
I am assuming you are from the UK because you say 'crisps'. There are a lot of ways of offering protein, nuts are one that comes to mind and nowadays everything is trans fat so a lot of foods are interesting that can be offered.
If you have the time keep the major veggies ready in the frig, offer celery sticks, carrot sticks and dip with yogurt in it for calcium.
Get some books to guide you I am sure there is lots out there, and good luck!
NowWhat
May 16, 2007, 03:56 PM
You could also get those vitamin drinks like pediasure - it comes in all flavors. You will know that she is getting some of the essentials everyday.
We have also discovered V8 fusion. It taste like a fruit drink or smoothie - but it actually has veggies in it. My daughter has no idea.
J_9
May 16, 2007, 04:04 PM
My daughter went through a stage very similar, although we could only get her to eat yogurt for about 3 months. We took her to her pediatrician for a check up and a blood test to make sure all was well with her.
Some children go through these stages, as long as she is eating healthy foods, don't force her, it could cause eating problems later.
Let her eat her yogurt and fruit, as the pediatrician said to us, "she could be eating worse foods, at least that is healthy."
I like NW's idea of the V8 fusion and pediasure if you have it in the UK. If not, a visit to her pediatrician may be in order just to ease your mind.
Dweedle
May 16, 2007, 04:48 PM
I'm a fussy eater I refuse to eat vegetables cooked for some reason I love to eat Raw Veges(except potato and freinds) See if she likes a raw carrot or something... Try make Meat fun Like for chicken buy Chicken sticks or nuggets and with Beef... hmmm Beef Vindaloo anyone? Hard to say with beef... maybe you could get creative with the beef mince/loose meat and cook it in different shapes like Letters or Numbers(I don't have much of an imageination do I)
vlee
May 16, 2007, 06:23 PM
Blend up veggies in a blender or food processor and hide them in mashed potatoes, spaghetti sauce, etc... It's a pain but your child won't know they are there and will get the nutrients she needs. Also, doctors say that even if a child refuses to eat a food you should continue to put it on their plate every time you prepare it. I've read that a child needs to view a "new" food 6 or more times before being comfortable eating it. My son is super picky. I often hide veggies in other foods. But if we are having a veggie I can't really hide, I put it on his plate and he must eat one bite or can have no snacks. When he sees his sister getting a bowl of ice cream, he'll eat almost anything to get one for himself! Of course there are times he still refuses, so I stick to my guns and don't let him snack.
Fr_Chuck
May 16, 2007, 06:25 PM
Well, first cut out the chips and junk foods, cut out snacks unless it is fresh veg or fruits and healthy foods. Then serve her meal, if she don't eat one or two, by three or four she will eat.
Maybe not every item, but most.
NowWhat
May 17, 2007, 05:36 AM
Have you ever seen a kid's cookbook? They have things that are "normal" meals that are served to look like say a smiley face or something that would attract a kid. You could get your child to help you prepare things so she is involved.
A lot of kids don't like meat. I remember my nephew that would not eat hamburgers at all. If you think she is missing her protein - peanut butter could give her that.
startover22
May 17, 2007, 09:27 AM
I agree with Fr_Chuck, if she is hungry, she will eat. Why would she change her eating habits if you offer her the same things, or keep them around to become a choice? That being said, it is easier said than done. I finally got everyone in the house enjoying dinner together, we have four children and it is hard to please everyone. At first everyone got all most what they wanted, now we all have the same thing. Every once in a while someone in the house REALLY hates what we are having so I let them slide. But other than that, I say she eats what you tell her to. You do not want your baby to think she can have whatever, whenever, do you? Good luck, this is a hard act to follow.
babydestinysmommy
May 17, 2007, 06:39 PM
My daughter at the age of three went through a phase where she would barely eat anything at all. I remember it getting to the point I called her doctor in tears because she wasn't eating as much as I thought she should. Keep the child's options open but do not stray from your meals. It will do no more than make food a power tool for the child. Children look for any way to get a power card even if it means holding out and not eating so they get exactly what they want 20 minutes later. It's a battle for control for them. Secondly unless your child has health problems or something such as a low iron count they won't starve themselves. A healthy child will eat if hungry enough. Another thing I found is to watch the child's liquid intake before meals. I don't know how you feed your child but I still to this day do not allow my daughter to drink before a meal or during a meal. She gets a drink after she is finished.
lricks
May 17, 2007, 06:59 PM
I think you're doing fine with here giving her vitamins and I'd try that pediasure or even Ovaltine also. I also have a five year old and he's my third child. That's not counting all the neices and nephews I've helped raise. Most five year olds are picky eaters. It's normal. So don't worry she'll eventually grow out of it. You can also try fixing foods that are healthy for her and make them look like it'd be fun to eat. Like for instance, put smiley faces made with veggies on top of something she will eat and maybe that will entice her to eat the veggies. Try different foods until you find what she'll eat. But if she won't budge, remember that it's only a phase.
xandrea86x
Jun 5, 2007, 01:12 AM
Startover 22 mentioned if she is hungry she will it my son went 2 days with out eating anything because I cut out his snacks because he wasn't eating any of his dinners or t`s he had his breakfast in the morning and that was it so I bought some yoghurt drinks he loves them let your daughter help you with things and with veg call broccalie and couliflower green and white trees and tell her your eating you trees and what colour your eating same with peas and carrots say there colours I started it and now my son eats them all I caught him the other day eating curried mince he's nearly 3 n loves curry he was picking the mince of his potato saying he didn't like the mince but kept putting it in his mouth try serving it on a saucer too smaller plates they think they have eaten more, sounds discusting but try broccalie raw dipped in melted chocolate let her help she will soon eat it once its dried sounds yukky but that worked for me too and my friends blends all different veg to a more than paste way and puts them in ice cube trays when kids want a treat give them an ice cube it works for her kids xxx xxx