Food Issues

Sheila - posted on 01/08/2011

OK my son is 17 months tomorrow, I have a 12 year old daughter as well. I am no expert, but having been there befoe this time around I am definatley more relaxed. But I went thru a spell about 4 months ago where Carson would not eat anything but yogurt and sweet potato puffs. My doctor assured me that he will eat when he is hungry, and he does. some days he will eat like a horse and I wonder where he is putting it, others it is Milk all day. What I did find is that he is very independant! Once I gave in and let him control the fork ( baby fork, metal tines) he ate like a horse. He wanted to be like us and control when he ate. Somedays he will sit in his high chair, other when we eat in the livingroom, I place the plate with me or on the table and he will clean the plate. Remember thier stomachs are very small and it only takes a little bit to fill them up. Try the Angus Beef hot dogs with cheese in them, string cheese, cherry tomatoes ( of course cut them up so they are managable) Carson knows where the string chese is in the fridge and when he wants one I will sometimes let him walk around with it. He never finishes the whole thing but it allows him to be independant with his snack. For breakfast he enjoys cherrios ( very small amount) with milk, and I spoon feed him. Today for breakfast he ate scrambled eggs and bacon, but on his own with his own fork. yesterday was one bite of buttered toast. Baby food was out months ago. He drinks nothing but Whole milk now, and as for peanut butter he has eaten it, doens't care for it entirely, but doctor said it was ok after 15 months in small amounts at first to make sure of allergies. We have switched our yogurt to gogurt, seems more fun for him to eat that. When it comes to meat, Carson will chew on it for an eternity. When I know I am feeding him meat, I always leave something off the plate that I know he will like better, cherry toms, cheese, fruit, (cheeto sometimes) that I can add to the mush, (yes put it in his mouth) he will eat it and it forces him to swallow the mush. I had a Chinese Chicken salad this past week on vacation in Disneyland, once Carson had a fork in his hand he ate most of the Chicken out of the salad all on his own. Give them some independance, if you don't have small forks yet maybe let them pick out their own. Applaude them greastly when they put the fork in their mouth help them with the movement of getting the food on the fork, but let them control it. You may have to work with them the first time separately, but then together so they can see each other working it.

Itsa - posted on 01/06/2011

Rachel, try some of the recipes on www.annabelkarmel.com
If some of them seem a bit much, just try simplifying them. I made some of the purees for my son and he loved them! I adapted a few of the recipes to suit us though.

Aileen - posted on 01/05/2011

Katrina - I meant to add, thanks for mentioning it. I should have said something about our pediatrician recommendation in my original post.

Aileen - posted on 01/05/2011

Actually, since we have no history of food allergies (either my husband or I nor our older children) our pediatrician advised trying thinly spread peanut butter at 15 months as another source of protein. We tried it for several days as the only new food and he had no issues. There are many differing opinions in the medical community right now about food allergies, I realize, and I do not mean to give medical advice, which is why I also mentioned soy butter or almond butter as other protein spreads.

Blackwood - posted on 01/05/2011

Aileen I see that you use peanut butter, just letting you know and not meaning to come across any other way then helpful. Children under the age of two should not have peanut butter becuz of allergies.

Blackwood - posted on 01/05/2011

My son only eats, yogurt, peas, veg crackers, cheerios, gold fish and strawberries and still on formula 2 times a day. I feel like he isn't getting enough either. I will try new things and just recently he likes ham (some of the time). I can't give you much advise, I'll I can tell you this I know the worry you are going through, becuz I too go through it. I spoke to my doc and he said that as long as he is hitting milestones, developing and growing then he is just a picky eater. My son will not eat oatmeal, apple sauce, doesn't like juice, not other vegs, fruit or meat. I have too say it doesn't sound like your children are doing that bad at all. If you are worried about the snacky type foods you can now get most of them in whole wheat. They may also have sore gums from teeth coming in. Best of luck.

Aileen - posted on 01/05/2011

I can totally relate. My middle child (daughter, age 10) is INCREDIBLY picky. She can tell the difference between brands of milk. Anyhow, does Ephraim eat the yogurt you feed them? My son (16 mo) won't eat veggies but loves yogurt and I mix veggies into the yogurt along with baby cereal. If you can get him to eat yogurt or fruit mixed with baby cereal at the very least you know he's getting some good nutrition. Also, I feed my son the Gerber's or Earth's Best baby snacks with nutrients added because he loves the crunchy things, too. Will he eat crackers with something spread on them? Try a very thin layer of cream cheese, spreadable cheese or peanut butter (almond butter/soy butter) to add some "punch" to the crunch. You can even do this to animal crackers, if he'll eat them. If you make the layer thin enough it doesn't interfere with the crunch. And then he's getting some good stuff along with what he wants. I truly believe that until they are old enough to understand that you have to eat different foods to be healthy it is important to give them something you know they will eat at every meal. Of course, don't stop trying new things - you never know when they will eat it! - but the most important thing, I think, is not to stress about it. Good luck! I know it's tough - my 10 yr old understands that she has to eat good food, but sometimes it's just so hard for her to do it. So it's a constant balancing act.