Getting my preschooler to eat healthy.

[csr22]

My son is four years old and hardly eats a thing, especially what is healthy for him.  How can I get him to eat a balnce diet without punishing him for not eating.  My pediatrician told me I should let him go to bed hungry for a few days, then he'll learn his lesson.  I do not want to starve my baby because he does not want to eat what the rest of the family eats.  Is this something I should worry about, or is this a phase he'll out grow.  He has dropped a couple pounds lately, and I am worried he is getting too thin.


Thank you for your time!!!

[LukeL]

Whatever you do, do NOT bribe him or reward him for eating healthy. Food should never be used as punishment or as a reward.

Try to make foods he likes to eat while still having healthy choces. Most kids will eat carrot sticks and fresh fruit. Also things like cheese and crackers are tollerable for most children.

Cooking your vegetables and adding a little butter to them can help out a lot.

Also try plain white rice and buttered noodles along with canned soup.

[star queen]

When one wants a child to eat healthy, but buys unhealthy foods they are sending mixed messages to the child.  If you don't want your child to eat chips, candy, soda, etc.  Then don't buy it or have it in the house except on special occasions.  These foods should be a treat, not a daily thing.  When your child demands something other than what is offered, you can honestly tell them that you don't have the food.  They cannot eat what is not there.  They will pout, have "fits", maybe go without a meal or two in an effort to get you to purchase the foods for them.  This will only make you feel guilty for a short time.  They will not starve.  You will not be a "bad" parent. Children can be very stubborn, but in the end they will eat what is there rather than hold out for what is not.  You need to endure and not give into their manipulations.

[myproblem]

My 2 1/2 year old daughter is very pick too, and I have a hard time getting her to eat much other than hotdogs, chicken nuggets, and peanut butter sandwiches. I too worried about "starving" her, because she would rather go hungry than try anything new. My solution was to not let her have anything else until she's eaten her breakfast. She eventually gives up after a few hours and eats her breakfast. I have yet to do this at dinner, becasue she would go to bed hungry. As far as fruits and veggirs, I still feed her the baby food in jars. To her that's a treat, and she is unwilling to whole fruits or veggies of any type. If she does not eat healthy food, she gets no candy or other treats for the rest of the day. She also eats yogurt as long as it's the smooth kind.

[myproblem]

Also I don't let her have any snacks for at least 3-4 hours before dinner. That way she is more likely to eat something she doesn't really love. Tonight she ate a whole baked chicken leg. Usually she'll only eat chicken with breading, but if I "starve" her first, she's more willing to eat.

[Little Darling]

I try offering a variety of foods. For dinner, my toddler usually has a choice of 10 different things. Just because he didn't eat it the first time doesn't mean I won't try again. Sometimes he will eat something after he has been offered it a few times.

The other thing is don't start the problem in the first place. When a friend of mine complains that her toddler only will eat junk, I think to myself, where did her child get junk food? My toddler has never been allowed to try some of the junk that her kid won't live without. If they don't know it exists they can't whine for it.

[Angie O Plasty]

Ditto to the comment about not starting the problem in the first place!  If you teach your kids from the beginning to eat healthy rather than giving them junk food, it will be much easier later on.  I know that when I have kids I will keep the junk food in the house to a minimum and offer healthy snacks instead.

[rusalka]

As a preschool teacher "The Hungry Caterpillar" Is a great book to encourage children to eat healthy. Emphasise the part where the junk food makes the caterpillar sick and that eating green things make you feel good.  It worked for our preschoolers, they now love broccoli, lettuce, carrots, capscicums (peppers) and anything new and untried. We also say to the children you must try it first and then if you don't like don't eat it. Also getting your child involved in the food making process encourages them to eat and taste new things.  Let them explore with food too.  I find generally kids are lazy chewers so blanch raw veges and make food fun. Really allowing junk food other than for treats after a healthy snack is just irresponsible.

[madhatter]

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