It seems to be a constant battle here. My children are 7 and 9. Before my divorce my ex wife pretty much catered to them in terms of asking them what the want for dinner, even going so far as to make two seperate dinners for them.
This has trained them I believe into thinking that they should get whatever they want to eat. Typical situation would be I make pasta and sauce with chicken breast strips on the side with some vegetables. My daughter may eat all the chicken, and nothing else, my son will refuse to eat both. This is a daily event, and at times concerns me that my son does not get enough to eat. He is small for his age.
And they refuse meat. Aside from my daughter eating hot dogs, they will not eat any meat, has anyone ever had this issue? And if so how should I approach this situation? Its very frustrating as a single father to prepare a dinner, that no one but me eats.
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» How Do I Get My Children To Eat Regular Meals At Dinnertime?
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8 Responses
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idontwan says:
Sounds like you’re having as much fun as I am with my kids, ages 8, 6, and 4. Make sure you are giving them a multi-vitamin everyday, that way they are getting vitamins and minerals they are missing from their meals. Try letting them help prepare the food…might get them more interested in eating it if they help to create it. Think of new ways to sneak good stuff in there…like making cool designs with the food or wrapping the food in other food (make good combinations though!)This is a touchy area as you don’t want to give your child unhealthy eating habits so forcing them to eat it is out. They aren’t starving or they would eat more regardless of what it was you made them. Have you outright talked to them about it? My kids are VERY stubborn and I know alot of the time they want to get out of eating something, not because they don’t like it, but it’s not exactly their favorite and they didn’t get to pick it out. In those cases it is TOUGH LUCK…I make them take 3 bites of the food in question and move on…I tell them though that dinner is dinner and they aren’t going to be having a sandwich or whatever later…I do still give them a small snack before bedtime..usually half-way healthy. Kids are a pain in the butt sometimes when it comes to food…and I know how you feel about preparing a dinner that no one will eat but yourself..my husband works from sun-up to sun-down so it’s the same way with me half the time. Good luck on changing their eating habits…I hope for your sake you find something that works
smj6441 says:
I would make suggestions of what is going to be offered on for dinner. They need to make a choice. Once the food is fixed, then they eat or walk away hungry until the next meal. No dessert or snacks until the next meal.
recipe_a says:
First of all, stick to your guns and they will learn. They will not starve themselves. Second of all, some kids are naturally more inclined to wanting more veggies over meat. My OS is like that. I still make him eat what we have, but I also don’t really make him have as much. Kids still need protein etc. but they can get it from other sources, such as beans, peanut butter, etc. Also, do not give them as many snacks before dinner so they are more hungry and do not allow snacks after dinner, so they learn they better eat at dinner. If you are consistent, they will learn and they will eat what you make. They might still be picky over certain things, but aren’t we all?
spyderma says:
dude, im in same situation. i am single father of 11 and 5 yr olds. i have eliminated options. they either eat what i make, or they dont eat anything. now of course, i take suggestion from them and try to make things they like, but we all sit down together at a mutual time and we all eat together. if my kids dont want to eat at dinner time, they dont eat anything for the rest of the night, period. remember that you are the parent, no negotiating.
An excellent advice giver says:
Give each child the opposite of what they eat then. Say if your daughter eats only chicken give her only veggies first and say u wont give her the chicken until she eats all her veggies etc. Dont let them leave the table until they finish. If they still dont eat it let them sit there until bedtime. You are the parent. Be stern but not mean. Just be clear of what you want and dont yell. You can also take away things they love , like their computers, games, etc.
Cathy says:
This will sound dorky but here it goes….
Have you ever watched “The Brady Bunch”?
I would have a family meeting. You and the kids jot down a list of the foods what they would like to eat for dinner. Then list a calendar of what’s for dinner each night.
trump says:
quit feeding them until they eat whats in front of them
deamon_j says:
you ask your kids what they like or have you ever tried rewards like $