We have officially hit the picky toddler phase and it's driving me crazy! When we first introduced solids Cassidy ate everything we offered. She thought vegetables were amazing and I knew that she was growing a body based on the utmost nutrition. Then she got sick and nothing has been the same since. It's probably just a coincidence and more a factor of her development, but we honestly can't get her to eat more than fruit. I know, I know, things could be worse, but I would love to get some protein in there somewhere!
We continue to offer a variety of things at every meal, but 9 out of 10 times she won't even try them let alone eat them. I became so frustrated I even purchased a book called "The Sneaky Chef" in hopes of at least adding some vitamins and nutrients to things we know she'll eat. For example, I made these pancakes with wheat germ, yogurt, apples, blueberries, wheat flour, and even chocolate. She ate a few bites, but would much more prefer the buttermilk kind.
So, here's my mommy SOS, how do you get your little one to eat nutritionally balanced meals? Any tricks or advice? Or just plain sympathy? Lot's of people tell me she'll outgrow it, but I'm afraid we're creating a very sweet palette here...
So, here's my mommy SOS, how do you get your little one to eat nutritionally balanced meals? Any tricks or advice? Or just plain sympathy? Lot's of people tell me she'll outgrow it, but I'm afraid we're creating a very sweet palette here...
4 comments:
Response to SOS: Gus is more of a picky eater lately too. He used to eat everything we put in front of him, just like Cassidy did, but lately he's partial to fruits, pretzels and animal crackers. He likes peanut butter sandwiches, so that's some good protein, and he's been into yogurt with granola, grilled cheese sandwiches, peas and corn. One way we get him to diversify a little is to frontload all the have-to stuff at the beginning of the meal, and then pull out the blueberries and cantaloupe once he turns his nose up at the scrambled eggs. I heard that book Sneaky Chef was good though!
I haven't dealt with a picky child but I am quite the picky eater so I can relate.
Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld has some great suggestions, I've actually used some for myself. I can't stand veggies (yeah, a vegetarian who doesn't eat vegetables...) even though I know what I'm eating it is more palatable to me since it's disguised. I make my own nut butters, which are much healthier than Jif and a great protein source. Will she eat cubed or string cheese? Carrot juice might be a good way to get some veggie in her, it's actually not bad mixed with other juices.
Good luck! My parents had a horrible time with me so hopefully she's just going through a phase!
Oh, and Ants on a Log. I still eat that all the time.
noah will pretty much eat whatever you put in front of him with some coaxing but cass is a little young for reasoning. he still prefers what we call his grecian diet -- grapes, cheese and yogurt. there is tons of protein in milk and milk products. another good trick is to cook pasta (if she eats that) in spinach or really with any vegetable. even if they don't eat the vegetables, they get some of the nutrients from being cooked together... as well as vegetable pastas.. and, one thing we did with noah when we didn't want him to have hot dogs was to buy organic carrot hot dogs! noah thought they were the real deal and liked them.. you have at least a year before you an enforce food rules. another book a friend of mine used said you put the food on her plate and she chooses what she eats. and then she doesn't eat again until you decide. i guess eventually they learn to eat what they've got. good luck!!! it all changes every 6 months no matter what you do!!!
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