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Does or did, anyone here have any trouble with their kids being bad or fussy eaters?

My eldest is excellent, if anything eats too much, but he can pack away food of good substance.

For my youngest though, if it isn't hot chips or Sausages he won't eat it, and obviously we're not letting him have those things too often. He's about to turn 6 and has always been this way, if anything getting worse. Anyone else been through similar that might have any suggestions?

Hmmmmm...... hot chips and sausages....... Yummmmmm.

therisingblues wrote:Hmmmmm...... hot chips and sausages....... Yummmmmm.

At least the kid has good taste

JK wrote:Does or did, anyone here have any trouble with their kids being bad or fussy eaters?

My eldest is excellent, if anything eats too much, but he can pack away food of good substance.

For my youngest though, if it isn't hot chips or Sausages he won't eat it, and obviously we're not letting him have those things too often. He's about to turn 6 and has always been this way, if anything getting worse. Anyone else been through similar that might have any suggestions?

My youngest is the same. So the Mrs makes ravioli or spaghetti but in the sauce mince's up a heap of veggies so that way the little devil is at least getting the nutrients of veggies with out knowing!

My eldest wasn't a huge veggie eater but its simply blackmail with her, Don't eat some Veggies there is no desert simple as that. I gave the youngest ice cream with sprinkles for desert in front of her without letting her have any and sure enough the next night she ate some veggies. Simply start with 1 piece and progressively work up from there you'd be surprised how quick they'll start eating everything.

We did the hide the vegies in the sauce trick for pasta and the like...

That being said if we made it sound gross like they were eating bug guts then they would eat it all...

My boys (13 & 11) love green mash mashed potato, broccoli and peas all mashed together with butter... looks green but tastes great... bthey wont eat broccoli or peas by themselves but mash together with potatoes and they cant get enough of it...

Yep they have the answer, hide the veggies by mashing them into the food they are eating.
I was/am lucky, my three kids eat everything, including brussel sprouts!

carey wrote:My eldest wasn't a huge veggie eater but its simply blackmail with her, Don't eat some Veggies there is no desert simple as that. I gave the youngest ice cream with sprinkles for desert in front of her without letting her have any and sure enough the next night she ate some veggies. Simply start with 1 piece and progressively work up from there you'd be surprised how quick they'll start eating everything.

Spot on mate, this also works with both mine.
Reverse psychology goes a long way as well.

One of our youngest was fussy, I started originally by bribing her (I'll give you $1, no dessert if you don't eat etc.), then I just turned into a food nazi and said you get what you're given and you'll eat what's on your plate because mum worked hard to make it.

Wouldn't let the kids leave the table until it was eaten despite the tears, but would always praise them on their efforts and tell them I was proud etc.

Couple weeks of that and now all our kids are really good eaters despite the odd hiccup.

Beware the grandparents though.
My in laws allow my nephew to eat anything for dinner, including chocolate and custard with 100s and 1000s. Developed very bad habits early on and now does not even eat lunch or dinner, just biscuits, custard and chocolate.

My daughter is a pain in the arse when it comes to fussy eating and she's 18 and still at home. We cook what we want now and if she doesn't like it, she can stick it up her arse and get her own dinner.

Bum Crack wrote:My daughter is a pain in the arse when it comes to fussy eating and she's 18 and still at home. We cook what we want now and if she doesn't like it, she can stick it up her arse and get her own dinner.

Lol

MW wrote:Beware the grandparents though.
My in laws allow my nephew to eat anything for dinner.

Yep, we have the same - I don't understand it, surely when they were parents they wouldn't have condoned a diet like that, they should have the best interests of the child in mind not bloody keeping them happy

Bum Crack wrote:My daughter is a pain in the arse when it comes to fussy eating and she's 18 and still at home. We cook what we want now and if she doesn't like it, she can stick it up her arse and get her own dinner.

Junior, just 20, hits us with "What's for dinner?"....up until a few months ago I'd tell him, then turn around to see him with Subway or some shit. Now when he asks "What's for dinner?" I say "Hang around long enough and you'll find out".

It must be the youngest...ours is a little bit fussy too and is coming up six now.
Basically, we've always managed by putting a quotient on what she has to eat, there's no point fighting with her.
We don't let her fill her own plate too much, when we have meals where you serve yourself - she's less likely to eat much if there's a massive amount on her plate.
We let her eat until she starts complaining and then we tell her six more spoonfuls, or five, or whatever, depending on how much she's already eaten.
We tend not to penalise her, as she's stubborn and she gets her back up.
The other thing we do is find healthy options for the things she won't eat - for example, fruit - we let her eat fruit packs, fruit blends.
I'm figuring our kid isn't as fussy as yours, judging by your post, but these things help us.

Bum Crack wrote:My daughter is a pain in the arse when it comes to fussy eating and she's 18 and still at home. We cook what we want now and if she doesn't like it, she can stick it up her arse and get her own dinner.

You've cultivated a very self-sufficient form of recycling.

Dogwatcher wrote:It must be the youngest...ours is a little bit fussy too and is coming up six now.
Basically, we've always managed by putting a quotient on what she has to eat, there's no point fighting with her.
We don't let her fill her own plate too much, when we have meals where you serve yourself - she's less likely to eat much if there's a massive amount on her plate.
We let her eat until she starts complaining and then we tell her six more spoonfuls, or five, or whatever, depending on how much she's already eaten.
We tend not to penalise her, as she's stubborn and she gets her back up.
The other thing we do is find healthy options for the things she won't eat - for example, fruit - we let her eat fruit packs, fruit blends.
I'm figuring our kid isn't as fussy as yours, judging by your post, but these things help us.

The hardest part, penalise and make it a daily event where you're both stressed or let it be and if they get hungry they get hungry.

correct. they won't starve.

Some great feedback, thanks lads.

Unfortunately the length my lad goes to, to be difficult with food, is at a level I've never seen before, so have no familiarity with.

When all else fails and we're concerned he's not eating enough then we can get by with a vegemite sandwich, bowl of cereal, or plain rice/pasta. I'm a bit at my wits end, it's almost like we need to see a food psychologist or something lol.

Even on the odd occasion we spring for family pizza's he gets all excited, then maybe eats 5 pieces of Ham off it then he's done. We can't hide the Veggies in a Bolognese or the like because he just refuses to eat that kind of meal anyway.

The point about the Grandparents was a good one .. She's a great GM and being a Wog she's a brilliant cook, but whilst his brother eats all the hearty stuff, the little f***er's meals there consist of Ice Creams, Popcorn, Chips etc.

I had one option as a kid, eat what is put in front of you or go hungry.....I never went hungry......but then I was never a real fussy eater. I put my foot down when tripe was dished up and also brains.

JK wrote:Some great feedback, thanks lads.

Unfortunately the length my lad goes to, to be difficult with food, is at a level I've never seen before, so have no familiarity with.

When all else fails and we're concerned he's not eating enough then we can get by with a vegemite sandwich, bowl of cereal, or plain rice/pasta. I'm a bit at my wits end, it's almost like we need to see a food psychologist or something lol.

Even on the odd occasion we spring for family pizza's he gets all excited, then maybe eats 5 pieces of Ham off it then he's done. We can't hide the Veggies in a Bolognese or the like because he just refuses to eat that kind of meal anyway.

The point about the Grandparents was a good one .. She's a great GM and being a Wog she's a brilliant cook, but whilst his brother eats all the hearty stuff, the little f***er's meals there consist of Ice Creams, Popcorn, Chips etc.

Sounds like it has to be good old fashion tough love mate. Eat this or go without....