*26 Month old PICKY EATER* What are some ways I can get my son to

Kathleen - posted on 10/26/2011

Deceptively Delicious is AWESOME. Make it fun, but don't adjust your meals is my honest opinon. Son did that for awhile, and realized quit quick I was not a short order cook. This is for dinner and that's it. He likes eggs and bread try Toad in a Hole. Cut a shape out of the middle of the bread, melt some butter in a pan, brown the bread both sides and then drop an egg in the middle. Mix fruit into his yogurt first pureed or smooshed then chunkier. If he likes chicken nuggets make other things that resemble the shape. Mac and cheese though I think was my favorite and easiest to change. I make it with whole grain pasta now, add a jar of sweet potatoes or carrots (orange) use real cheese not cheese products. Son never knew. If he doesn't want to eat what is prepared...in our house we just said fine and put his plate on the counter or fridge, then if he said he was hungry tell him ok i'll go get your plate and set the plate back in front of him of what you made. The only advice i would really give of not giving him right now is if he really is that picky do not put things that are acquired tastes in front of him such as brussel sprouts or asparugus. Just make it interesting and colorful. There is a better juice out there though that we love and does have less sugar. Though I LOVE vfusion and V8 lol my son LOVES the fruitables. They should be found with the other boxed juices in your grocery store. It's a combination of fruit and veggies and of course it's in a box form so kids like it lol

Wendy - posted on 10/25/2011

A good way to sneak in some veggies are to give them the juice called Vfusion and V8splash. They are fruit juice with veggies in them, but the sweetness of the fruit covers the taste of the veggies. Vfushion has no high fructose corn syrup and I'm pretty sure the other one doesn't either. Just dilute it a little if you are concerned about too much sugar.
There is a cook book out called "deceptively Delicious" That has vegetable purees snuck into sweet recipes and even into macncheese.Here is the recipe for macncheese:
just scroll down when you get to the page
http://www.doitdelicious.com/cookbooks/d...
Here is for a sweet desert:
http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/healt...
and heres a few more:
http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/healt...
They worked on my 3 year old son,

Brook - posted on 10/24/2011

Kimberly! That is some awesome advice and a different way of looking at the whole situation. I definitly am going to put your advice to use and see where it takes us. I am not expecting to much but from these tips I bet he will at least progress. Thanks so much!

Kimberly - posted on 10/23/2011

Brook I know your pain having a daughter who was very hard to feed!!!! It very frustrating when we cant get them to eat other thing but a few tips I have learned are. Quality or quanity is a big one so I had to make sure whatever I could get her to eat was the best option eg: if it chicken nuggets I would try to make my own so at least I knew what was in the coating. Another way is on the first night give him his reg meal and maybe put a tiny amount of peas on the plate, he doesnt have to eat them just have them on the plate. Second night do the same thing but maybe get him to touch/smell them, still doesnt have to eat them, third night same thing but ask him to put just one in his mouth and leave it at that, four night same thing but ask him to eat three, fifth night ask him if he can eat his peas and be happy with any amount. If he tries them before the third night thats great and always say how proud you are that he tried them but dont force him to have more that way he feels a little more in control. Also make sure he can see you guys eating and enjoying the same food you want him to eat. It can be a long progress but they usually will come around but there will be some foods they simply dont like.
Some other foods to try are scrambled eggs with little bits of bacon, yogurt with fruit, cereal that is low gi or whole grain, grill cheese/toasted cheese sandwhichs, add bits of chicken or ham to mac-n-cheese. Does he like rice? My daughter will not eat scrambled eggs on there own but if I put it in a fried rice she loves it. These are just some ideas hope they help you but the biggest thing I learned is to have patience even though you want to scream!!!!!