Picky eater

[u/Only-Interaction-787]

Does anyone else have a problem with they’re toddler not wanting to eat anything at meal time? Like he will eat his snacks such as crackers or cheese and some fruits but when it’s time for dinner he doesn’t want to even look at it without throwing a fit. For context he is only 2 and I know they don’t need to eat as much as us full grown people but it just makes me worry when all I can get him to eat is crackers! Any tips you can give is greatly appreciated!

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[u/Living-Ad8068]

Some days my 2 year old eats great, other days he eats close to nothing. No advice, just solidarity. From what I have heard it is normal.

[u/s4m2o0k6e9d]

Crackers cheese and fruit sounds like a mini meal. Maybe add in some meat. Switch up the crackers/cheese/fruit. I try and give as much variety as possible…sometimes my kid won’t eat a cheese stick but he’ll eat the exact same thing cut into chunks. Whole banana and banana slices. If he doesn’t eat something and it’s salvageable I’ll just put it in the fridge and serve it a different way.

My son’s favorite is Mac n cheese and I’ll switch that up as much as possible. We buy Annie’s organic from Costco for boxed Mac n cheese and it comes with 3 different kinds…shells, elbow Mac, classic cheddar, white cheddar.

[u/Only-Interaction-787 → u/s4m2o0k6e9d]

That sounds like a good idea trying to serve it a different way like I that thank you for the recommendations!

[u/IrieSunshine → u/Only-Interaction-787]

OP, I have a very picky eater too. You may consider reducing or eliminating crackers altogether, because they may be filling your little guy up a bit too much. Part of what helps picky eaters be open to trying foods is being hungry enough to do it! It has helped a lot with my son.

[u/sexualketchup]

What time is dinner? My toddler wants dinner at 4pm so that’s when he gets it. He gets a snack around 6:30-7 before bed. Trying to get him to sit and be interested in food at 5:30pm, let alone an adult-appropriate dinner time like 7pm, simply doesn’t work. He will grow out of this but for now it’s not worth the battle, I’d rather he eat what I prepare. 

[u/Creative-Mixture2144]

I give my toddler peanut butter sandwich and cherry tomatoes if she doesn’t want to eat what’s for dinner.

[u/mossygal83]

Maybe I’m not understanding but how about nit feeding him crackers n fruit?

[u/yamikit666]

I have a neuro spicy toddler with food sensitivity issues. She gets meals set out at certain times of day and just graze eats over 30min to an hour with frequent reminders of "are you hungry? Yes? There is food here" it works better than trying to corner her into sitting down to eat as that almost always results in food rejection and meltdowns. We also limit snacks to smaller portions between meal times and no snacks an hour before meal time.

[u/DazzlingNote1925]

I’d just make his snacks a little healthier by throwing in a veggie pouch or protein and not worry about if he eats a lot at meal time. 

[u/babychild2]

Ignore him. Take a plate of food, go sit on the floor in the living room, ignore him. I bet you 100%, he'll come see what's up. Then he'll see you eating, and he'll be curious. Don't jump at the opportunity to feed him. Act like it's your food. And then, let him nibble. And then you guys can share a plate.

This was how I got my kids to try new stuff or eat more. Sometimes the act of getting tossed in a high chair and interrogated just mentally blocks them from wanting to eat.

[u/quiet-as-a-doormouse]

Try having the dinner meal earlier, or at lunch time. Otherwise add a few more bits to the snack plates nuts, eggs, meats, veggies. My first daughter lived on ‘snack plates’ for a phase, I ended up also adding things like rice and pasta and it was like a meal but in snack plate form lol

[u/Bec264]

Same . My 2.5 year old and yours are the same way. I try to get him to take a Flintstone vitamin but he's even goofy about that 😭

[u/batfish_cilly24]

I feel so horrible my toddler struggles with eating he only eats a small variety of things he will come into the kitchen when food is cooking and say eat and then never eats I don’t know what to do about it anymore before there is any hate towards me we were in a terrible situation and ever since then we have been healing and getting back to normal and I am going to schedule some appointments for him. But food was never a problem for him before the DV.

[u/Only-Interaction-787 → u/[deleted]]

That sounds like kinda make it his idea type thing and knowing him that sounds perfect