Any one else struggling with meal time?
I am shocked to find out how picky an eater Avery is. She will only eat about 4 foods. Rice/beans, yogurt (as long as there is no fruit in it), oatmeal, and veggie burgers. She won't even try most anything else. If I do "force" her to try anything else she spits it right out. This includes milk, cheese, ALL meats, ALL fruits, ALL vegetables, pasta, and eggs. She even spits out mashed potatoes.
Should I just keep feeding her those same 4 foods over and over? Keep reintroducing these others? Any ideas?
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Struggling
Posted by Tracy at 9:14 AM
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14 comments:
Wow. That's a tough one and it's harder because you can't just talk about it. Mine eat about anything and lots of it. They want 2nds,
3rds.... so I cut the food up really small and only give then a spoonful or two at a time or they just about swallow the plateful whole.
Kenson, while picky, was not overly defiant. We tried to get him to eat a few bites of the "normal meal and then let him have the comfort foods he liked. (PB, bean burritos, etc.) After a few weeks of that, once we thought he got it, that he wasn't going to starve in our care, then we didn't offer alternate meals. (I did try to offer one of those preferred foods for a snack so I knew he was getting some protein becuase he usually refused the meat at meal time.) He now eats just what we eat and knows he has to take a couple of bites of everything. When we were transitioning, I would offer him a bite of something he liked followed by a bite of something he didn't like. He could only get another bite of what he liked if he ate a bite of something he didn't like. Now Conleigh might be another story She is much more stubborn and just refuses food if she doesn't want to eat it. Won't even put it in her mouth. I'm thinking I will probably wait a few weeks before I get too pushy and then once I think she's sure that food will always be available, then just offer the choices of eat the meal or go hungry until snack time. I'm not a big fan of letting kids dictate meal choices so that will influence my decisions on that. When kids get hungry, they'll eat. However, my current philosophy may be subject to change...you know how you "think" you know what you'll do but it is always up for change.
Our kiddos eat bananas like crazy! Also cereal - especially dry cheerios. Don't know if you've tried them. Does she eat crackers, bread french fries? I remember the orphanage having graham crackers for snacks. We got some Yo-J for them to drink, and now I've started mixing it 1/2 and 1/2 with milk and they're drinking it quite well. But, we're luckky that they will eat just about anything.
Elijah tries to hold out sometimes, but when I get out cookies/bars for dessert and start to eat mine and feed Josephine hers, he'll quickly finish whatever is on his plate so he can have one. Did have a tantrum the first couple times though.
I think I'd try to get her to eat a little bit of something first each meal before letting her see the food of the 4 that you've prepare secretly, and let her sit in her high chair for a bit while the rest of you eat - even though she might throw a fit for a bit. Just make sure you have a high chair where she can't get out of - ours has a 5-pt harness that works wonders.
We are friends of friends, but I just wanted to encourage you! Her eating habits are very normal, just keep introducing things over and over again. I just read an article that it takes 8-10 times of a food being introduced before it may be accepted, and that doesn't factor in 'everything in my world changed in the last month'. Food is one of not too many battles that a 2 1/2 yr old can win. It doesn't need to go there and you end up losing and going crazy in the end. : ) Hang in there!! There are worse things than yogurt and oatmeal. Are you able to use milk to make the oatmeal or add a protein powder to it? Such a blessing you were able to bring her home, she'll eat more...someday... : ) Be encouraged and hang in there!!
Jenae would not eat anything green. But once we took a bite of it, then offered one to her, she would try it. Now, she's chowing down (salads, broccoli, etc.)
I guess you could try sneaking other foods into the ones she likes...
Hope it's just a quickly passing phase. :)
I'd go w/ always offering at least one of those foods at each meal and then either sneek other stuff into them or alongside them until she eventually gets used to them. And I maybe would make the servings of the things she likes best smaller, so that if she's still hungry, she'll have to eat one of the other things. Kira ate about 10 things when she was that age! And you can mix apple sauce and many other pureed fruits into oatmeal and she probably won't notice it. Cool that she likes veggie burgers, though!
0take it in stride and let some of it go. she has been through SO MUCH in the past month. Let her eat what she likes for now and eventually she will branch out. my daughter was not a fan of certain textures like meats but she would eat pasta. i don't have suggestions for introducing new stuff, but i would recommend just letting it slide for now and let her just eat what is comfortable for her. i remember being in ethiopia and being homesick and just wanting to eat the hostess cupcakes i brought along because it reminded me of home. give her lots of patience, grace and compassion. try not to take it personally, she is a baby and doesn't know better.
I think she will eventually get sick of those foods and see you all eating new options and venture out. Have you tied avocado or acrambled eggs? A know a few families said their kids like avocado (out daughter too). She likes it salted.
Nathan (who has also been home for a week) will eat cheerios with yogurt in it (again, no fruit in the yogurt).
What about Mamba (peanut butter). All the kids at the O love that.
I don't have any advice on which foods to give. I just wanted to show some support. Persistance and a whole lot of love with any two year old goes a long way. Your doing a wonderful job. One thing I do know... never give into a temper tantrum, you'll be doomed :) Keep up the good job and never ending hard work.
I am a native speaker of French and live in Charlotte, NC. If you ever need help communicating with your daughter, please don't hesitate to contact me. (I have a five year old son and a one year old daughter.)
704-846-8981
I've been in Africa bringing home my son, so I missed all the excitement! Congratulations! At least she likes somewhat healthy stuff? My guess is as her comfort level increases so will her tastes.... but I am certainly no expert!
don't have much advice on the food issue. but....
you did win my raffle tonight!!!!
Shoot me your address to attachinghearts @yahoo.com and I'll get you your prize asap.
hang in there. remember, they are in transition shock for 6 months. it is a lot for a little heart to go through. she'll get there.
Yep, the same trouble here...those are about the same foods she likes. There are certain foods though I just keep trying and eventually she has tried them. Fruits and vegetables she will occasionally try, but promptly spits them out. I have in desperation been giving her baby food fruits and vegs and she loves those. May be crazy but I just want her to have the nutrition. I still try the regular ones though. Some foods, like pizza, she hated at first but now likes. So I say keep trying and give the favored foods too. It is hard.
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