starting to get picky, especially at dinner

[JayLeigh]

I am not sure if DS appetite is diminished by dinner, but he never likes what I prepare lately. And he is getting pickier with his veggies!  Up until now, he would eat just about anything we put in front of him. But he has become pickier, even just by the looks of something!

The old standby trick of eating it in front of him and exclaiming how good it is, is now hit or miss. He even hands things back (which IS better than throwing) and says "all done". Anyone go through this? How can I encourage veggies when he is so independant?

[muddyfeet]

My pediatrician said most of them do this. She said you just have to ride it out. Give them a selection of appropriate foods 5 times a day (3 meals, 2 snacks) and what they eat, they eat. He may love beans one day, the next day they're poison. Keep rotating them through, and one day he'll like them again. Don't fight about it though...not worth it, and it puts too much emphasis on food in general, eventually leading to eating disorders (or so the "experts" theorize now).

[JayLeigh]

Thanks, I have been trying very hard not to fight or even let it seem like not eating a particular food is a big deal, when he wants it taken away, I just take it.  For DS it has always work very well if we don't make a big deal of something we don't want him to do. IE "ok, you don't have to sit down with me to read" or "you can have your juice later then". I guess I just need to keep trying. It is amazing though how they can easily spot the foods you WANT them to eat, from a mile away, and not even try them!

Have you had more luck with one-dish meals or casseroles?

[Mom to M&M]

DS loves sweet potato fries (I make my own or only use Alexia brand when in a pinch), as well as regular homemade fries. And if I roast carrots and cut them into strips he happily eats them too. Green veggies he'll only eat in something like veggie lasagna (which he usually loves and has grated carrot and zucchini, as well as spinach and mushrooms), scrambled egg (I make with spinach and cheese), zucchini muffins, broccoli potato pancakes, etc. Oh and he likes roasted chickpeas too!