3 Year Old on Hunger Strike

ryanthegirl

G used to be such a good eater. He would eat almost anything you put in front of him (including squash, sauerkraut, and brussels sprouts). In the last several months he's not so much become picky - as he's just not interested in eating much of anything. 

He has go-to foods such as cheese, mac n cheese, and hot dogs, but I really would like to steer him back to eating other foods. I've started buying veggie dogs since I'm not a big fan of hot dogs in general but I would like him to eat things other than hot dog-like items. But even with these go-to items, he doesn't eat much of them. He may take a few bites of the hot dog or a spoonful or two of mac n cheese - then proclaim that he's done.

Any advice? 

waltsgirl102503

Noah went through a stage where he existed solely on apple sauce and air.  Kids eating ebbs and flows.  Brody used to eat strawberries like crazy - I gave him some for lunch the other day and he told me he doesn't like them.  

My pedi told me when I was worried over Noah that it's my job to serve him a healthy balanced meal.  It's his job to eat it.  As long as I do my job, then I can't really worry about whether he does his job.  He won't starve himself, he'll eat when he's hungry.  

egpitt22

I can remember Amber posting about her pediatrician's advice years ago when I was going through something similar with Jake, and it has stuck with me all these years later! (and my own pediatrician had similar sentiments about kids and eating when I asked there)

Liam is getting to the point where he's more picky than he used to be, and just not eating nearly as much.  He used to house food at every single meal, no exceptions.  Now he has his times where he still eats adult-size portions, but those are now spaced out and I find that he may have one larger meal a day and the rest are smaller.  So if he eats a huge lunch, he just kind of picks at dinner.  I try to serve one "sure thing" item at dinner (a fruit he loves or any type of veggie, he will eat nearly any vegetable)...that way, if he decides that day he doesn't like baked chicken anymore, he can then eat as much of the veggies that he wants to.  (sometimes I will bargain with him, "if you want more applesauce, you need to eat 2 bites of chicken"...and we slowly work our way through a meal that way)

It's definitely trying, and it's an adjustment when you're so used to them eating everything in sight!

ryanthegirl

Thanks, ladies! It's such a drastic change that it's bumming me out, glad to hear it's not just G! His three year appointment is in a few weeks and I had planned to address it with his pediatrician so thank you for sharing that insight too.

To be honest, I'm so sick of cooking/eating the same thing all the time. Since 90% of the time it's just me and G due to Casey's work schedule I don't want to make 2 separate meals so I end up eating hot dog like food and mac and cheese, too! Oh well, this too shall pass I'm sure.

Thank you!

lala5507

My 4 year old is doing this now.  I think she literally ate 2 bites of mac and cheese last night for dinner and that was it.  She eats a pretty balanced breakfast and lunch, so I know she is at least getting something in her everyday.  It's frustrating for me, because I just don't understand how she isn't starving by dinner time. 

I will also say, I don't cater to the kids.  I make one dinner and they can either eat it or not.  I try to have one sure thing that I know the kids will eat with each dinner,  but even some times that doesn't work (i.e. the homemade mac and cheese from last night)

waltsgirl102503

The other thing the doctor told me (I just remembered - it's been a long time!) is to think about everything he's eaten over the day...and not to just focus on one meal that he's not eating.  So don't get upset that he didn't eat anything for dinner, because he ate cereal, fruit, yogurt, etc throughout the day.  And that's probably enough for him.  

sundaygirl

Good advice here already.  And sometimes I have to think about how balanced his food intake has been over the past three days, not just one, and that's ok. 

Try taking him to the grocery store with you if you don't already.  Let him pick out a new fruit or vegetable to try, a different flavor of yogurt.  That may spark some interest.