how can I get my son to eat more table foods, especially meats?

Sheryl - posted on 01/29/2009

My dd is 14 months also and is sooo picky.  She has to test everything before putting it in her mouth.  The advise I got from my mom when my son was little was dont worry, they are not starving.  As long as they are getting some form of nutrition they with be fine.  One trick I always used with mac & cheese is I hide veggies in it.  Peas with my son and carrots with my dd.  Every thing is good with cheese sauce on it!!  They will eventually eat what you want them too.  Just keep putting it in front of them.  With pastas, use whole wheat pasta and I always use the macaroni noodles.  Just like mac and cheese!  Tricky.

Gina - posted on 01/28/2009

My daughter is not a picky eater but has her moments! When something is being thrown over the side I change the style it is given to her... Instead of squares - strips, medium diced instead of small diced. I try and be creative - throw a little sprinkle of parmesan cheese on it add to the taste. As far as meat - try cooking it differently bake instead of pan seared. I know being concious of what my daughter eats has helped with what I put on the table at night for my husband and I to eat - and I firmly believe in they eat what you eat - non of this short order cook because you are just setting your self up for the future. Also try cutting dowm on snacks a good hour before dinner time. The more hungry - the more he might be willing to eat what is presented to him.

Danielle - posted on 01/24/2009

thank you everyone, some great advice and tips here. i appreciate it and feel better we are not alone on this issue!

Lynne - posted on 01/23/2009

For my daughter Anya, we pureed meats and veggies, and mixed them into cornmeal pancake batter.  She adores her (slightly green) turkey/spinach pancakes.  Until we started doing that, she'd only eat her baby yogurt and cereal.  I've also mixed all sorts of things into her yogurt, as well, and she doesn't seem to notice.  It occasionally backfires, like when she offers me a bite.  I've since stopped mixing fish into her yogurt :)

April - posted on 01/23/2009

My son is 14 months and has a similar issue, he loved meat baby food and used to eat sandwhich ham etc but recently he won't eat any meat just breads, pastas. My husband and I eat dinner with him every night and we offer him the same food we eat including the meat and he will spit it out. We have let him go to bed without eating and it doesn't bother him, so I know he is not starving. I am to the point where he knows what his body needs and will eat it when he wants it. I continue to offer him 3-4 food groups and he eats what he wants.

Vanessa - posted on 01/22/2009

This is the same problem I have! my son will only eat breakfast foods like oatmeal, granola bars, pancakes etc. and for lunch and dinner its pasta. thats it! anything else I give him he wrinkles his nose and throws on the floor, or by chance it actually gets to his mouth he gags and then refuses to eat any more. he wont eat any type of vegetables or fruits and it is extremely frustrating. i heard to give them a food but if they wont like it not to give in and hand them something you know they will eat. as hard as that is i think i might just have to try it! I'm also going to slow down on how much milk/juice he drinks during the day that way he will have more of an appetite come meal time.

Lynn - posted on 01/22/2009

my son was born the same day and I have the same problems. I give him a little of everything we eat but he either doesn't touch it or spits it out.

Jenny - posted on 01/22/2009

I agree with Rachel. Sit down and eat what your child is eating. If I'm eating something different from my daughter, she wants what I have. This has made me eat a little better too. I try to offer her at least two choices of finger foods. Maybe your little one wants to feed himself. Also I heard that most parents offer a food 3 times, but it takes a little one 7 times to actually aquire a taste for something.

Bibby - posted on 01/21/2009

hi my son was born on 11-01-07. he will eat anything we give him but meat! I've heard that some kids just dont like it, I've also been told that he could be gifted, and that he needs his tonsiles taken out!!!!!!!!!!!!! So there are many different things that u can get told! my pesonal belief is just give it time1 each child is thier own person so they will develop and do things at thier own pace. if you really do get concerned than your best bet is to take them to a doctor because just relying on what is put on here you will have a thousand reasons!!!! Good Luck

Nicole - posted on 01/21/2009

My 5 year old son still really doesn't like meat. As he is getting older he has started to try more things now. And i believe that it is important to feed your kids what you eat and not always be making them something special. I know it is hard. Beans, Tofu, Lentils, and other Legumes and soy milk. I hope that helps... good luck

Rachel - posted on 01/21/2009

My advice overall would be to just keep offering foods over and over and over, even if he does not eat them keep offering them. I agree with the person that said to eat the same foods you offer him. Especially at dinner time my husband and I both sit down with him to eat and we all have the same things on our plate. If my son choses not to eat what we are having I don't give him something different, he just doesn't eat at that meal. As horrible as it may sound, children will not starve themselves. My son chose not eat his dinner 3 nights in a row (although he ate breakfast, lunch and snacks those days) and the 4th night he ate everything on his plate. Also, I don't put fruit on our plates until the end of the meal. It is too tempting to have it with all the other food that really want him to eat. If you really can't get him to eat anything else try hiding pureed veggies and tofu and meat in things he likes like mac and cheese. For ideas try Jessica Seinfeld's cookbook Deceptively Delicious. Good luck. Even though my child is a good eater and I know he is healthy it still drives me insane when he refuses to eat. So I feel your pain!!

Erin - posted on 01/21/2009

My son also was slower with table foods b/c of the gagging. It scared me to death! We've had luck with morning star farms products. He seems to really like the "chicken" tenders and mini-veggie corn dogs. They are made from vegatable proteins. You could also try tofu. The extra firm kind is easy for them to pick up and feed themselves. He also really likes to eat black beans. Just keep trying new foods. One day he may hate it and the next he'll love it! My son also started doing much better with variety when I gave him more control over feeding himself.

Treasure - posted on 01/20/2009

hi there, i found with my son would eat things he would see me eating and anything i was eating taht he wanted to try i would give to him. My son wnt from not liking table food to loving it. I personally think its all a matter of his taste? My son loves spicy food with lots of flavor, cant stand bland food. Hope that helps.