toddler food question

[lizanne]

I have another question-
my 22 month son is a bad eater-- and although it's "normal" I wanted some opinions-
He won't eat any meat (except chicken nuggets- not too healthy!) and although he LOVES fruit, he refuses to eat veggies unless they are baby-food mush.
Is it bad to be feeding him baby-food at his age? I figure at least he's eating meat & veggies that way...
It's not that he won't chew-- he likes bread, cookies, crackers, etc , but he hates anything with lumps, won't eat potatoes, rice, pasta...
I am at a loss what to feed this kid. He's definitely not starving b/c he is built like daddy (a brick-****-house)! over 30 lbs now!
I'm just concerned that he's not eating "real" people-food.

[tresmathews]

Don't worry about it at that age everything is about the texture of what they eat. If they think it feels funny in their mouth they won't eat it. My DD is 4 and she is still very particular. Steak, Hotdogs, and chicken nuggets, forget even trying toget her to eat any veggies except raw carrots. She only weighs 32 lbs but my doc says she is just fine. So I wouldn't even worry about it as long as he is eating.

[Still a mom]

When I was in a child rearing class in high school, we were told that all a toddler 2-3 really needs to eat is about a tablespoon of food a day to be have energy. That sounds like so little. My SIL said she read something similar in a parenting magazine. I say there is nothing wrong with feeding them baby-like food.

The little guy I watch (2 1/2) eats like a bird. When we go out with my niece and nephew for lunch he eats maybe one chicken nugget and some fries. My niece and nephew (3 & 4) they eat all their and will finish off his. But he seems to have enought energy.

Hope it gets better!!
Mandi

[Kassimom]

The important thing to remember is not to get into power struggles over food with your son. He knows what he likes and what he doesn't right now and HOW MUCh he wants.

Offer him a tiny bit of everything you are eating and let him pick and choose what he wants to eat out of that selection. If he wants it mashed, let him mash it or you mash it, but either way, it contains that same nutrietns mashed as it does whole! :) The more often you offer him a variety of food, the more often he is likely to try new foods. Eventually he will come around to liking veggies whole! And if not, so what? Have you EVER met an adult man who mashed up his squash before eating it? :)

Also, don't try to coax your son into "one more bite". Forcing your child to finish off his plate or eat more than he wants will foster bad eating habits in the future. He has to know when he is full and respect that in himself so he doesn't grow up eating more than he needs and becoming part of the obesity epidemic.

IT seems that your son eats a variety of foods as it is, (even if it isn't the variety you may like). Just be glad he sin't like the child I used to nanny for. HE was 2 1/2  and would ONLY eat PB sandwich or macaroni. NOTHING else and I mean nothing. That habit only lasted about 6 months!

[Wisegirl]

My ds is almost six and has been eating only chicken nuggets as meat for awhile.  Before he tried them he ate no meat at all.  I spoke to his Dr with my concerns when he was 2 bc he was only eating mac & cheese, pizza, and chicken noodle soup. The only veggies he would eat were corn and peas. (He picked the carrots & meat out of the soup) My dr told me not to sweat it.  kids will be kids and not to force the issue, that he would grow out of it on his own.  I later found out that he had a speech disorder too call dyspraxia, which they believe may be a contributing factor to his eating habits.  It turned out that the food issue was b/c of the different textures due to the disorder.

[Kassimom]

I also wanted to add a quick note. I keep certain kinds of baby food on hand at home to add to some dishes that my DD eats as a way to sneak in even more fruits and veggies. I only do this sometimes just as an afterthought more or less, but I figure fruit and vegie in any form are still fruits and veggies! :)

For example, I will put a whole jar of prunes in her oatmeal with brown sugar and cinnamon.(The tiny 1st foods jar) She is never the wiser. I will sometimes add squash to her mashed potatoes, then cover them with gravy (she never notices the yellowy color!). she hates sweet potatoes, so sometimes I try to sneak those in to oatmeal with brown sugar and cinnamon as well. Macaroni and cheese hide squash and carrots well. My only limit is those darn green veggies!! I can't seem to slip those in anything!! :)

This gets more advacned with your whole family as they grow too. I have pureed spinach and put a small amount into meatloaf. The list goes on and on...you have to get crafty when you have a picky DH adn kid!!

[jaydens mom]

My soon to be 3 year old is so picky as well. Will NOT eat any meat, potatoes, veggies, etc. She will only eat plain pasta, rice, cheese, pizza, the inside of bread, french fries, apples, bananas, fresh carrots. She is approx. 26 lbs. Dr doesn't seem to be too concerned I am told she will grow out of it. It is almost 3 years when will she grow out of it? If your child is thriving and growing and taking vitamins try not to worry. I know believe me how frustrating it can get but it will end soon.

[mamatoady]

I think it's most important that everything he does eat is a nutritional powerhouse.  It's really not a big deal if he doesn't eat meat--don't force him.  My dd(dear daughter) is 21 months and won't eat meat, but she does get her protein from legumes, whole grains like millet (which she loves)quinoa, brown rice, nuts and sometimes I'll give her cheese.  She is also still nursing.  If you only feed your kid white breads/pastas/rices, crackers etc. then that's all they'll want to eat.  It's important to start out early with the healthiest of foods.  We OCCASIONALLY give dd a treat, but it's usually on weekends when we all go out.  Mon-Fri she eats extremely healthy.  She's a lightweight.  Sometimes she suprised me at how much she eats and sometimes she eats close to nothing.  I never force the food issue and thus, she eats well overall.

try making smoothies for your son.  You can add soft tofu for added protein, avocado or flaxseeds for good fats and omega-3 fatty acids.