Picky Eaters

A&A'smommy wrote: As I was sitting here watching Autumn eat Alyssa's grilled cheese thinking how I have one child that is a HORRIBLY picky eater and one that will eat anything you give her. Its amazing to me I almost don't know what to do because she will literally eat anything, we pretty skipped all the stage 3 baby food except for a few things and went right to just table food (I introduced a things to her before being completely done with stage 2 stuff) we have only found one thing she doesn't like and I can't even remember what it was. I remember Alyssa being this age and she wouldn't touch green beans and if you got it in her mouth she would throw up (which i think she has more of a texture issue than anything) she still to this day ONLY eats a few things its really hard and frustrating but I have learned NOT to force her to eat which I will admit I have in the past because I didn't know how to get her to eat. Anyway does anyone else have two oposite eaters? My niece and nephew are like that she eats EVERYTHING in site except shrimp and he eats just like Alyssa with a few other exceptions.

coasterqueen replied: Yes! Kylie will eat just about everything, but is picky about meat. I'd almost classify her as vegetarian - she says most meats are too "chewy". Megan, on the other hand is very picky and has lots of texture issues. Although, Megan is less picky than I am, which is a good thing. Being that she is allergic to a lot of foods and add picky eater on top of that, this kid can be difficult!

moped replied: Same thing here, Jack is SO PICKY.....Laila will eat anything and LOVES everything you give her. It amazes me too and I keep thinking one day L is going to turn on me too, so far so good.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: I used to have a picky one and one that would eat anything, but now they are about the same. Not that they both like the same things, but they both have about the same amount of things that they like and don't like. I think for mine it was an age thing. Andrew would eat ANYTHING from the time he started eating table foods until he hit about 2. Allie was the same way - she started getting a little picky a few months ago.

Danalana replied: Kade loves everything! He is a terrific eater (like me!)
Jess, I watched some special on picky eaters...I remember one suggestion was to always OFFER something else that they might not usually eat. Or something new altogether. They might not eat it, but if the choice is there and not forced, they are more likely to try it. I also remember it saying not to worry because they WILL eat when they get hungry enough.

A&A'smommy replied:
yeah I have read and watched just about everything possible about picky eaters, Alyssa. I use to make a seperate meal for her but I HATE doing so when I stopped she started trying things.. another thing they say NOT to do is bribe them to try it I can't remember why but I found that pretty interesting

Danalana replied: I'm not sure either...personally, I'm not a fan of bribing, so I'm not sure I would do that unless I were desperate I think the whole idea is to male it available...if it's not pushed on them, curiosity just might take over!

Jamison'smama replied: Jamison is VERY picky but it is mostly whole categories of foods she won't eat. She won't touch fruit or any fruit related item (fruit snacks etc.), she only drinks water and veggies are tricky. She physically cannot try new veggies or fruit. She sobs, has a look of terror, and cannot be bribed, she has accidently tried other drinks (didn't realize the water was flavored or was sprite) and gags and is horrified like we poisoned her.

Jack loves most food, he tolerates others, he likes all fruit except melon and will try most things at least once.

coasterqueen replied:
Oh we bribe in our family. Specially for new items. Sometimes it's the only way to get them to try something, especially if the item looks a bit weird. But usually once they try it once, we don't have to bribe to get them to eat that again. Although, with Megan we pretty much have to bribe her to eat every day (at least at dinner time) or she wouldn't eat at all.

A&A'smommy replied: I SERIOUSLY wonder why some kids are like that!!! I have always been a good eater a bit picky about some things but NEVER EVER did I refuse veggies, I was like Kylie and rarely ate meat steaks disgusted me but I got my protein from eggs, sometimes chicken and fish go figure. Alyssa refuses all veggies except corn and lots of fruits she will eat grapes and sometimes apples everything else she wont even touch. Autumn you put in on her tray or hand it too her and she is all to happy to eat it she will make a face with new things but after that first bite she at least tries it again. Alyssa wouldn't touch it again I have cried over her eating more times than I can count, I'm amazed she ever made it to 40lbs but she is so tall when she looses weight (during her times when she wont eat or when she has been sick) she has lost down to 37lbs and even when she was well and could eat again she looked scary.. to the point where I can't hardly look out her without nearly crying. Anyway its hard and I can't imagine adding other problems to the mix

TheOaf66 replied: Well when Tanner was little he ate everything he could find (literally)

Now he is picky about everything unless it is som processed chicken nuggets or something.

Aiden is picky now so hoping he will scarf all food when he gets to be Tanner's age

MommyToAshley replied: When Ashley was small she would eat ANYTHING and everything. She didn't refuse anything and she would eat A LOT. People at restaurants would even comment to us about how much she was eating. LOL. But, now she has a few things she doesn't like -- spaghetti, tomatoes, barbecue sauce, lettuce and lemons... hmmm, I think that is about it. At one point she decided she didn't like ketchup (which didn't bother me one bit) but now she will use it sparingly every now and then. She will tolerate spaghetti if I make it, but it's definitely not her favorite meal. I should be thankful though because she loves fruits and veggie, and eats a pretty balanced meal. I just think it is funny how her tastes have changed. So, maybe your picky eater will start to like a few more things.

My3LilMonkeys replied: Madison is not picky at all, there are a few things she doesn't like but she tries new foods without a problem.

Brooke is picky in weird ways - she likes most food, but she likes it to be plain - no sauce on her spaghetti, no butter on her bread, stuff like that. She is much harder to get to try new foods though.

I have a bite rule - you have to try at least a bite of a new food. If you don't like it, fine, but you have to at least taste it before you tell me it's gross.

wcs40110 replied: I sneak pureed veggies into food. She doesnt know so she eats them. If my kid had any say in it all she would eat is cheese.

Calimama replied: Miabella is sooo picky. She wasn't as a baby.. or I've blocked it from memory. She'll eat any veggie or fruit (she prefers raw.. not canned or cooked but she'll eat them) and any kind of cereal, but besides that it's a battle. She'll only drink milk and water and gags if you give her juice but will drink fruit smoothies.

Swood75 replied: Kam and Kyleigh both eat pretty much anything..Kyleigh WON'T use mustard,ketchup,mayo etc on anything though and won't eat cooked tomatoes,spaghetti sauce,onions,etc..Kam will eat a mayo sandwich if you would let him..LOL..Both of them are solid and very active but Kam weighs about 82 lbs (almost 10 yrs old and about 4 1/2') and Kyleigh is about 60 lbs (6 yrs and about 3'7" or so) mine go through periods though when they won't eat certain things they normally love..